There's no mail deliveries, schools are closed but there's plenty of people who are still working.

Garlor Fashion owner Carmel Halsall said her business would be open today.

"We opened last year (on Show Day) and we'll be open today," she said.

"We can't afford not to be open to be honest."

Ms Halsall said her trade was affected by the Show, but it was her decision to stay open.

"A lot of people don't even go to the show and just go away for the long weekend," she said.

"Last year was pretty good but our Saturday trade was also affected because people were heading out of town."

Commerce Ballarat's Executive Officer Jodie Gillett said a number of businesses chose to stay open last year, but found the result under whelming.

She said having the Show Day holiday was still difficult to juggle for many businesses, especially those where staff are split between contracts and those on an award.

"They have half their staff away on Show Day and the other half have Cup Day off," she said.

"It can be confusing."

A spokesperson at Ballarat Bearings confirmed that some of their staff had taken Melbourne Cup Day off, while others would take today off.

They said the split in days off enabled the business to stay open throughout the week, servicing farmers, factories and other businesses.

The VicRoads customer service centre in Learmonth Rd in Wendouree will be open, but local Centrelink and Medicare offices will close.

Ballarat Wildlife Park and Sovereign Hill will both be open, while Australia Post have confirmed there will be no mail deliveries in Ballarat today.

The City of Ballarat have confirmed the waste transfer station will remain open, but the Town Hall and Phoenix building will close.

The Eureka Pool and the YMCA complex will also be closed.