And the loss of SpringFest for 2020 will not only be felt for market stall holders, but right across the Ballarat community with the late November day in the sun acting as the biggest fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Ballarat.

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In a year where charity is more important than ever, the loss of SpringFest, coupled with the ongoing loss of the Sunday Market at the Showgrounds will be a bitter pill to swallow for many a Ballarat resident who might rely on support of charities to get by day-to-day.

Rotary Club of Ballarat president Alan Campbell said last year community partners including the Mount Egerton and Bungaree primary schools, the Dragon Boat Club, Miners Rest Primary School and Phoenix College all received over $4000 from the day, money that just wouldn't be there this year.

"Our club also gets some money from SpringFest which all goes to local charities. It's everything from furnishing flats for emergency housing, food relief, all sorts of organisations we try and help out."

"Unfortunately, we just had to announce it now, all those 540 stall holders, they plan and work for months to produce their sales items, they needed to know now, rather than too far down the track,.

"And right now, we had no hope of maintaining social distancing with 35,000 there. It just can't happen."

The loss of SpringFest is just another blow to the Ballarat Festival scene. Already this year the city has lost the Red Hot Summer Days music festival, Heritage Weekend and Winter Festival, the latter two forced to move online.

The Ballarat Show has also been cancelled for the first time in 160 years and it's still unknown whether the Spilt Milk music festival, such a success in its debut in Ballarat last year, will also proceed.

The only information available about Spilt Milk is that 'the Canberra show' is still to be announced. There is no indication as whether Ballarat can or will be included in this year's touring party should it go ahead.

Mr Campbell said for not-for-profit organisations, any loss of funds hurts, with these community charities simply unable now to budget for that piece of support.

"Any fundraising organisation like Rotary is in the same boat, the Rotary Club of Ballarat South has lost its Sunday market this year.

"You can't even run a Bunnings barbecue now. Every week clubs could raise around $2000, and that's not happening, all those community organisations that rely on that sort of funding are suffering."

Mr Campbell said discussions would continue about ways of helping out charities, potentially moving to an online fundraiser.

"We thank the community for their support and look forward to bringing everyone together to celebrate SpringFest Ballarat when it returns bigger and better in 2021 - Sunday November 28, 2021," he said.

SpringFest Coordinator Nicole Bartlett said an alternative opportunity for an online event was being considered.

"We will have more details on how the public can support and get involved over the coming weeks." Mrs Bartlett said.

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