Call goes out for Living Smart stallholders

Entries are now open for market stallholders from throughout the Hunter Region to sign up to one of Australia’s largest sustainability-themed events.

---

Lake Macquarie City Council Manager Arts, Culture and Tourism Jacqui Hemsley said one of the main attractions of the Living Smart Festival, held 17-19 September in Speers Point Park, was the diversity of stallholders on offer for visitors.

“Our stallholders add colour, excitement and interest to the festival, but they also provide opportunities for visitors to learn and buy from local producers and artisans,” Ms Hemsley said.

“We’ve received consistent feedback over past Living Smart Festivals that this is one of the most interesting and lucrative events on the calendar for our stallholders.”

Dudley soap-maker Sue Walter said her Soapalicious stall had proved hugely successful at past Living Smart Festival instalments.

“The Living Smart Festival is the best day on the Soapalicious calendar,” she said.

To gather with a collection of like-minded people, watching everyone enjoy all the stalls, as well as different activities and speakers, all focused on doing things to help give our planet a good future, makes me feel so happy.”

“From a business perspective, it is the best market of year in terms of sales and in terms of people visiting my stall who understand what I am selling and why I am selling it.”

Stallholders can sign up to the Saturday – the traditional focal point for Living Smart Festival, with Costa Georgiadis headlining a 9am-2pm program packed full of free activities, and/or Sunday’s Live at the Point, a ticketed day of music and entertainment.

“If you’re a designer, talented artist, community group, food truck vendor or commercial business that promotes sustainable living, we’d love to hear from you,” Ms Hemsley said.

Applications will be determined based on suitability and the stallholder’s alignment with the Living Smart Festival’s goals and themes.

Ms Hemsley said the event team was monitoring the COVID situation closely, and would have a comprehensive plan of management in place to ensure all health guidelines were followed.

“Under the current situation, we would still be able to have up to 10,000 people across the day at Speers Point Park, provided the correct measures are in place,” she said.

“We’re keeping our fingers crossed that things improve further by the event weekend.”

The Living Smart Festival is proudly sponsored by Hunter Water, Greater Bank, Allambi Care, University of Newcastle and Hunter Resource Recovery.

Stallholder applications close Friday 31 July. Go to lakemac.com.au for more information.