It was particularly noticeable in smaller towns on the outskirts, which had overcome another vicious storm and extended power outages just 24 hours earlier - for example, the car park at the Trentham Golf Club was packed.

Taylors Lakes resident John Williams couldn't be happier to be back outside again.

"It's a bit of exercise and fresh air, and catching up with some guys that are regional - we're metropolitan, so we haven't caught up in months," he said.

"(I played) awful this morning, but it doesn't matter, I don't care about the golf, it's just about getting out there."

Up the road, business owners had been waiting months for visitors to return - the Plough Trentham was preparing for its proper reopening on Saturday morning, and owners Mark and Ruth Mills said it felt like they were "about to go on stage".

"It's actually a relief, it's like now is the time that we aren't going to be locked down, we shouldn't be, we're going to open up and have business as normal," Mr Mills said.

"We've invested everything we could knowing that we've got the support of the double-vaccination - Melbourne is coming out to the regions, a lot of people are coming - we're excited, it'll be good," Ms Mills added.

Saturday morning felt like rush hour in Daylesford, while back in Ballarat, the state government-supported Play On gig brought a rare Gareth Liddiard solo show to Field Street on Saturday night.

The gig was a test for double-vaccinated patrons, one of several in the regions and in Melbourne, but to most punters it felt like a return to pre-pandemic shows.

On Sunday, as costumed kids hit the streets for Halloween, the Ballarat New Cemetery's Gatehouse cafe held its Dia de los Muertos celebration.

Owner Annmarie Sloane said there were families from Melbourne who had been unable to attend funerals during lockdown making their first visit to loved ones, and the traditional celebration was another way to honour them.

"Having a celebration like this gives people a chance to stop, take a breath, remember those who passed away, and those who are still walking on this planet with us that we should love and cherish more than ever before," she said.

There were also people exploring the cemetery's Ballarat International Foto Biennale exhibition in the grounds of the cemetery, which reflected the boost in visitors, according to festival director Fiona Sweet.

She said good numbers were expected throughout the extra-long weekend.

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"When they announced (the reopening), our ticket sales started to escalate, and we knew so many Melbourne audiences wanted to come just based on Facebook and emails, but you never know if it'll translate to coming to Ballarat," she said.

"It was a very positive start to the next two months of the Biennale - we never planned for it to happen like that, but as of Saturday, it feels like we've just now started the festival, it's like a reset."

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