A RETURN to cooler weather helped with the success of a street market at Beachport on Saturday.
This weather was in stark contrast to the previous day when temperatures had climbed well into the 30s for much of the day.
As a result, hundreds of tourists and locals donned jumpers and sweaters in search of a bargain or a keepsake.
Held three times a year for more than two decades, the seaside markets are a fundraising initiative of the Beachport District Development Association.
Undeterred by the grey skies, the 32 vendors from near and far set up market stalls along a closed Railway Terrace at 9am and all remained until lunchtime.
Among the popular stalls for the hundreds of local and out-of-town shoppers were those selling homemade baked goods and preserves, jewellery, bric-a-brac, handicrafts, honey, woodwork and plants.
Beachport District Development Association president and market coordinator Ros Brown was on duty at 6am and spent much of the day manning a sausage sizzle stall.
The funds raised by the market will support various Beachport community projects.
Ms Brown said her group had been able to set up a Beachport website, stage the New Year’s Eve fireworks and help Beachport Primary School.
Street markets are also held by the Beachport District Development Association Easter and October.
Over the past 20 years Tantanoola couple Arvan and Bruce Carthew have held a general goods stall at the Beachport markets, only missing one due to a wedding.
“We found that beanies were our best seller at this year’s market along with teddy bears in the colours of AFL teams,” Mr Carthew said.
Millicent couple Dawn and Brian Atkinson are also long-time stallholders, with their home-baked goods in strong demand.
“We have just about sold-out,” Mr Atkinson said near closing time.
Former Millicent resident Natania Hollingsworth returned to her home district with a stall for her oil paintings.
Now a resident of the Victorian town of Gibson, Ms Hollingsworth works as an educator and dabbles in painting as a hobby.
Millicent retailer Donna Denton set up Denton’s Sportspower as a pop-up outlet, while Helen Joyce attended from Millicent with hundreds of vintage and collectable items on offer.
Her best sellers were glassware, Hawaiian shirts and vinyl records.
