Port Fairy enjoys huge Easter weekend

Port Fairy traders are recovering from a huge Easter weekend, with many reporting it was the busiest Easter break they have experienced.

Moyne Milk’s Joff Leddin said his deliveries this year were up at least 15 per cent on last year – “possibly even better”.

“It was a bumper year,” Mr Leddin said. “Certainly this Easter would have been as busy as Christmas, it was really good.”

“Port Fairy has had quite rapid and significant growth over the last two to three years.”

Brooks Home Timber & Hardware proprietor Ken Brooks, who has been operating a business in Port Fairy since 1976, said the weekend was huge for the town.

“It was exceptionally busy, certainly the busiest I’ve seen at Easter,” Mr Brooks said.

“It was like folk festival, you can equate it to that – it was as busy as you could imagine.

“It was all good, on the street, at the market and in the shops - everyone was just packed.”

Belfast Bakery’s Tammy Chapman said 2010 was the busiest Easter weekend they had seen in years.

“The town was just alive with visitors, it was lovely,” Mrs Chapman said.

“Ours was busier than Folkie.”

Cobb’s Bakery proprietor Trevor Bartlett said the weekend was like Christmas time, “just flat out”.

“Overall the shop and deliveries were up on last year,” Mr Bartlett said.

“There was good weather, which was a positive.”

Port Fairy and Region Visitor Information Centre Tourism Officer Andrea Lowenthal said Easter Bunny handed out free eggs down the street on Easter Saturday morning, which was very popular.