September 7, 2020
Goomeri’s first Twilight Markets following this year’s COVID-19 shutdowns has been hailed a great success.
The Saturday evening event, held in Market Square next to the old railway station building, operated under a COVID Safe plan and attracted a big crowd eager to enjoy some tasty food and browse for some bargains.
The Twilight Markets – organised by the Pumpkin Festival committee – are usually held quarterly as a fundraiser for the annual festival.
The festival was cancelled this year due to COVID-19, but the setback has only firmed the committee’s resolve to make the iconic event even bigger and better next year.
Festival co-ordinator Kim Boyter admitted the cancellation had been “a blow”.
“Goomeri is famous for our Pumpkin Festival, and normally the town gets a bit of a boost for six months after it runs,” she said.
“We’ve really been missing that boost this year.”
But Kim said she was very pleased with Saturday’s turn-out, which was run as a COVID Safe event – creating extra work for the organisers.
Each visitor had to sign in and hand sanitiser was widely available.
Kim said she had been unsure how many people would come along.
“There are a lot of people who are still reluctant to go out because they’re worried about COVID,” Kim said.
“But it’s nice to see so many people out for the evening, and it’s nice to be able to bring something like this that everyone enjoys.”
The Twilight Markets began in October 2018 with a two-fold aim: to allow guests to sample a wide range of food vans and market stalls in a town where dining and shopping choices are limited, and to help raise funds for the Pumpkin Festival.
On Saturday afternoon, these two goals were easily achieved.
Market Square was packed end-to-end with stalls along one side and food vans on the other, while music played over a PA system.
Visitors could sit down to enjoy seafood, burgers, Mexican cuisine, foot-long German sausages, fudges, loaded potatoes, ice-creams, pancakes and gourmet coffee for dinner at tables spaced around the grounds.
- Related article: Goomeri Bands Together At Markets
