Get ready for a day of festivities at St Andrews Road Spring Festival

Social enterprises supporting local missions and charities will also be a key part of the day.

It's fun for the whole family with a purpose, what’s not to love?

Thanks to a grant from the Greater Shepparton City Council and the generous support of the South Shepparton Community Church, the festival returns on the same weekend as last year, just ahead of the Melbourne Cup.

“We are hoping it will be as successful as it was last year,” organiser Bethany Hunter said.

“Although the event will take place at the South Shepparton Community Church building, it is not a church fair.

“It is rather an opportunity for different groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous Shepparton, Rumbalara, and the Caroline Chisholm Society - Goulburn Valley Pregnancy and Family Support (among others), who do such great work throughout the year with marginalised groups, to celebrate the amazing work they do.”

“We are very intentional about the event — it is not a market,” Ms Hunter said.

“Apart from the food trucks present on the day, everything goes back to the community; it is not-for-profit.

“The emphasis of the event is to celebrate the humble work that goes on in our community.”

Food lovers will be in for a treat, with a variety of meals from local food vans, including Mad About Shakes, Flor’s Lutong Bahay offering Filipino cuisine, and Oh My Ceylon serving Sri Lankan dishes.

There will also be an Aussie classic sausage sizzle to satisfy cravings.

Kids will have plenty of space to play, with hourly story time sessions featuring different characters throughout the day.

Live music will fill the air, creating a lively, welcoming atmosphere.

“We are deliberate about who and how we are running it,” Beth said.

“Every money goes to a cause or charity.”

Beth, along with her husband Tim and helper Jasmine Marshall, is passionate about giving back to the community.

“Everyone has something to offer—that’s the motivation,” Ms Hunter said.

Although Ms Hunter isn’t an event organiser by trade, she is driven by a desire to create a place where people feel they belong and can make a meaningful impact.

“When people can contribute, it’s the most important thing to us,” she explained.

Just like last year, there will be show bags and face painting, highlighting the festival’s spirit of community involvement.

“People who offered face painting last year didn’t raise thousands of dollars, but it showcased their strength,” Ms Hunter said.

“People felt like they had something to offer, and they mattered.”

The festival will also feature social associations like Esperansa, which offers authentic products from a women’s sewing group in East Timor, with all proceeds going back to the Timor community they originated from.

These products make ideal Christmas presents for loved ones.

Blooming Bucket Flowers will offer a range of floral arrangements, as well as flower-themed activities for those who want to join in.

Ms Hunter expressed her gratitude to the South Shepparton Community Church for their continued support.

Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to enjoy a day out while supporting your local community and save the date for the second edition of the St Andrews Road Spring Festival.