THOUSANDS of people braved the summer heat for the pre-Christmas shopping rush at the Swan Hill Christmas Twilight Market.
Market manager Grace Pryor said a few stallholders dropped out due to the heat, but the market ran with a total 91 stalls.
Ms Pryor said organisers estimated 2000-2500 people flooded through the gates on the evening of December 19.
“Apart from the weather it was very good, but there was some challenges, ” Ms Pryor said.
“Some of the performers weren’t able to make it because of the heat but we had Swan Hill and District Community Band who are really supportive of the market.”
A range of local performers entertained the crowds throughout the night.
The market was initially set to host 98 stallholders, with some withdrawing in the days leading up to the event.
“I had two stallholders register on the morning, so the popularity of the market has maintained its numbers since last year,” Ms Pryor said.
“We had about 48 per cent new stallholders that have never been to a market in Swan Hill.
“So, the word is definitely growing around the reputation and caliber of the market.”
Ms Pryor said on the Monday the organisers of the event hosted a community poll, with 65 per cent of respondents saying the market should go ahead despite the heat.
“Swan Hill Show Society were the gatekeepers and A Good Kitchen were traffic controllers for the stallholders,” she said.
“We also had Coles Supermarkets Swan Hill and Smart FM as our sponsors.”
A new event introduced to the market this year was the inaugural amateur fruit pie baking contest.
Ms Pryor came up with the idea to showcase and educate Swan Hill to visitors to the region.
“We’re in the middle of stone fruit season and there isn’t anything out there that I could see that was promoting it,” she said.
“We’re all used to it because we know that’s our lifestyle.”
The competition received seven entries with Jenny Jolley taking out the top prize with an apricot ricotta pie.
“I’d like to do something with the grape harvest season and also with citrus, we’ve already started with pumpkin (at the Scarecrow Fundraiser Festival in August),” Ms Pryor said.
The pie baking contest was judged by former High Thyme Cafe owner Brett Wright and the Tyntynder branch of CWA.
