Planning is well under way for the annual Geltwood Craft Festival in Millicent with a number of popular events scheduled for October.

Bookings have already opened for some of the craft workshops.

COVID factors have meant the festival has not been able to be staged since 2019.

As part of the planning process, business owners are currently being surveyed about their intentions for the festival.

Millicent Business Community Association chairman Lee Morgan has informed its 100 members of the role the business group can play.

“I recently met with the Wattle Range Council to discuss celebrations for the Geltwood Craft Festival that will lead up to a market day,” Mr Morgan said.

“This includes a possible main street closure on Sunday October 16.

“The objective is to have a ‘tactile and textile’ theme.

“It would stretch from the Millicent National Trust Museum to a road closure of part of George Street (at least the western end) and extending activities into the rotunda area, model trains in the RSL War Memorial Hall and extending to the Millicent Gallery in the Millicent War Memorial Civic and Arts Centre. 

“Wattle Range Council is seeking interest from businesses to have stalls in the main street (along with other marketeers) and to have as many shops open on the Sunday. 

“We are collectively exploring a discount voucher system to be used with participating businesses.”

Mr Morgan has asked the 100 MBCA business owners to complete an online questionnaire with four questions relating to the proposed market day and street closure.

Meanwhile, Mr Morgan has announced some changes to the format of the annual MBCA Outstanding Business Awards function.

“We will be having a major event for the Business Awards on October 8 that will be of significant variance to previous years with less formalities,” he said.