It was going to take more than Saturday's cold and rainy weather to stop the community turning out for the newly-resumed Markets by the Lake.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The markets, held at Lake Albert, returned for the second time since the coronavirus pandemic forced its cancellation through winter.
Visitors are required to register on entry and there is hand sanitiser at each stall to comply with coronavirus restrictions.
Market regular Sharon Moylam from Brazzas Goodies said it had been "very, very disappointing" to see the markets cancelled early in the year, and now they were back she felt more motivated to create her products.
"It puts you in the mood to stock up," she said.
"You miss all the other stallholders as well."
She said the turnout on the weekend was surprisingly strong considering the windy, rainy weather.
"I think people just want to get out and about," she said.
"It's amazing, I'm surprised by how many are still coming out, which is good for us."
Another market regular happy to be back was the CanAssist barbecue, with members of the Wagga charity glad to have a place to fundraise amid the continued cancellation of its events.
"We still get donations but all our big things have been cancelled and are still cancelled," member Bill Lane said.
"(The market) is a big thing in our calendar, to have it every month."
READ MORE:
Among the stallholders were also newcomers, including mask maker Maureen O'Leary.
She said she had used her sewing skills to make colourful face masks for her family at the start of the pandemic and continued on when she realised how enjoyable it was.
Ms O'Leary said she had found the markets a great opportunity to meet new people and safely get out in the community.
"I love talking to the people going past," she said.
Amy Pellizzoni started her baking business recently while on maternity leave, and decided to start going to markets to get her name out in the community.
She said her business was "her little thing" which she hoped to keep up as a side project when she returned to work.
She said she had found it easy to adapt her stall to the coronavirus restrictions, and she had found it easy to get free, additional food safety training to be COVID safe.