BEECHWORTH buzzed on Saturday as visitors from around the region and from as far as Melbourne soaked up the sun while grabbing a bargain at the Quercus flea market and the farmers market.
Quercus Beechworth's community engagement officer Jess Oldmeadow said around 20 stallholders signed up for the flea market.
"It was a great day, really busy and it had such a lovely community atmosphere," she said.
"People sold items after big COVID clean outs, Indigo FM promoted their work, Beechworth Arts Council had their creative works to sell as well as a couple of young stallholders trying their hand at market selling."
Ms Oldmeadow said people shopped for Christmas gifts, looked for bargains, or were simply out enjoying the town with their families.
"I think everyone was just so excited to be out and a big part of Quercus is boosting community connection which was evident at the flea market," she said.
For Melburnian Edwidge Borg, heading to the North East was a great escape after months of lockdown.
"It's like having a leash removed from our necks, a godsend, good for well being and it's been a good and lovely sunny day," she said.
"We can move and travel around, and hopefully it will stay that way for coming months and years.
"I implore everyone to have their vaccines and the booster too."
Stallholder from Yackandandah Leigh Martindale said perfect weather brought people out.
"It's good to see so many people in town," she said.
On the other side of the road, the monthly farmers' market attracted a big crowd too after emerging from covid restrictions with cancelled events.
Beechworthian couple Jerun Terlaak and Nadine Spriggs Terlaak stocked up on plants for their garden and vege patch.
"It's enjoyable to be here and see the community out and about," Jerun said.
"I can park myself somewhere, have a coffee and food, while community after community members come past."
"It's great to catch up with people you haven't seen for a while, its social and we come here every month and buy plants and we make a morning of it."
While the markets attracted community members and visitors to town on Saturday, Beechworth Chamber of Commerce president Rod Devlin said since Melbourne reunited with regional Victoria on Friday, October 29, anecdotally levels of business activit...
