From all accounts, the first Ballan Farmers Market since the coronavirus pandemic struck was pumping on Saturday morning.
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Like many small communities across the district, residents have been waiting for their local market as a sign of normalcy returning - and for the opportunity to pick up some local produce.
Social distancing rules were observed, organisers said, but there was still a "buzz".
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Farmers Market committee president Jacqui Sfetcopoulos said she was thrilled to see new stallholders attend.
"We have maybe 400 people through the gate on average, and I would say we're up there," she said.
"We had people from Werribee - I was chatting to people wandering around, people had been keeping their eye out and looking for markets."
Ms Sfetcopoulos added being able to support other local businesses, like cafes and butchers, was a bonus.
"After two months off, we missed our stallholders and the public, and the buzz around town," she said.
"We'll take some time to get back to normal, it will be all over the country, but it's good to see smiling faces and kids eating sausages from the local butcher."
Ballan Newsagency's Ian Ireland has watched people come and go for more than 32 years - he said he's still cautious as the restrictions begin to lift.
"Listening to customers, there's more people out in the streets," he said.
"As long as they're keeping their social distance, because if we all play the game it'll all be over quicker."
He said his business is "still ticking over", and it was good to see others in town begin to return, but said retail owners in small towns should be planning for the long term, in case the thriving activity becomes a short spike.
Moorabool Shire councillor Paul Tatchell said businesses in small towns "don't have a lot of fat to play with when things go wrong".
"Will they all survive? We can only hope," he said.
"I think there'll certainly be some changes on the main street, but we need to support them as much as we can, with this crisis, it drives home that buy local (sentiment)."
However, residents, business owners, and governments of all levels should avoid any complacency as the economy begins to recover.
"That's a concern in itself," he said.
"One thing about country towns, they're a bit more sensible - when you're walking down the street in Ballan, they definitely do social distancing.
"When you go to the city, people just don't."
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He added he was also concerned about the mental health of some business owners who will face a difficult road back to normal.
Ms Sfetcopolous said it was important to try to keep a positive mindset.
"In a small town, it's all about community to us, and we're a strong community in Ballan," she said.
"I just want to see Ballan keep thriving."
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