Easter bunny brings the crowds for long weekend

ACROSS the shire, businesses report bumper trade over the Easter long weekend with record crowd numbers out and about enjoying all the region has to offer. Nick Cooper, president of the Mansfield Bush Market, confirmed while they didn't do a tally of foot traffic at the market, previously the team have counted about 10,000 visitors walking through on a busy day. "Easter Saturday felt like around 30 per cent on top of that,” he said. “At the end of the day, we were shocked and a little speechless as experienced stallholders who go to many other markets, came up and started telling us unprompted that this had been the most successful market they had ever done. “Ever,” Mr Cooper said. “Something must have gone very right in terms of trade. With the number of sites limited by space and volunteer count, Nick said the bush marker team have been working really hard on the stallholder side, with a view to building the Bush Market into one of Victoria's most iconic markets. “Of over 200 applications, just 133 stallholders snagged one or more of the 170 sites available on the day,” he said. “I think the reputation of the market is spreading, and the stallholder waitlist keeps growing. “In response, we focus intently on high quality products especially from the naturally talented locals along with stallholder selling items people will still be glad they bought once they get it home, so they'll be excited to come back to the market next time. “We also took postcodes of those entering the Easter Egg competition - typically families with children - and tallied that 58 per cent of the visitors were from outside the shire, which we were really glad to see as we focus on the market being a shared space for locals and visitors alike.” Mr Cooper said volunteers worked hard to create a welcoming, fun and safe space with plenty of shade and seating. “Local legend Liam 'Bugsy' Wilson brought good vibes as always, with full control of the decks, playing funk and classic tunes and pulling out his signature dance moves for the crowd,” Mr Cooper said. “At times the music was so infectious kids, shoppers and volunteers had no choice but to join in too. “Easter also had not one but two face painters, hair braiding, egg painting, and an Easter egg hunt that took families and shoppers all over the market in search of chocolate.” Other businesses across the shire also reported record trade, with Andy Dolling at the Jamieson General Store kept busy Friday, Saturday, Sunday and going into Monday feeding the masses that had descended on the tiny township. Easter Sunday which she had anticipated to be more of a "slow burn" using the previous year as a guide, actually broke Jamieson General Store records, with staff kept busy from open until close with a relentless stream of customers. Up on the mountain, a long weekend full of activities kept visitors to the shire and those more local busy and entertained. Alan Arthur Mt Buller Mt Stirling resort general manager said it was fantastic to see so many people up on Mt Buller, the village bustling with visitors making the most of the sunshine over the Easter break. "We had more than 200 participants take part in the Mountain High Fun Run on the Saturday, and the Easter Bunny was kept busy hiding 10,000 eggs for our annual Easter Egg hunt," he said. Forecast showers held off for the hunt with kids of all ages heading home with stashes of chocolate in their pockets. "It was great to see so many families enjoying what is now a Mt Buller tradition. "Dozens of mountain biker riders enjoyed great conditions on the Mt Buller gravity and XC trails and kept the bike café humming and shuttles full over the entire weekend. "And more than 200 jumpers enjoyed AirZone over the Saturday and Sunday." Mr Arthur confirmed the end of the green season, with both Mt Buller and Mt Stirling now gearing up for an exciting winter.

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