Weekend markets around the Ballarat region are preparing for an influx of new visitors thanks to easing COVID-19 restrictions in regional Victoria.
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Events like the Creswick Market and Daylesford Farmers Market have been operating in a limited capacity during the pandemic, only offering food and drink products.
Creswick Market manager Tim Dryle said the biggest change he is waiting for is clarification surrounding whether the market can resume selling homemade crafts that fall outside of the food and drink category.
"We're waiting for some specific changes to be announced around offering the sale of things other than food and drinks," he said.
"Being able to offer things like homemade wares and plants would be very exciting."
Looking at his expectations for this weekend's attendance, he said while he isn't forecasting a huge change, it will be exciting to see people from other areas of regional Victoria potentially in attendance.
"We're hoping to see more people from other parts of regional Victoria because our numbers have obviously dropped quite a lot during the pandemic," he continued.
"I think people are feeling more secure now that numbers are at a much lower level in regional Victoria."
A similar message was put forward by a Daylesford Farmers Market spokesperson, who added this weekend posed a unique organisational challenge.
"We're in a difficult position, because we now have heaps of stallholders wanting to come back to the market, but no idea how many people to expect," the spokesperson said.
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