Coffin Bay plays host to Beach Arts Music Markets this long weekend

After a tricky year navigating Covid-19 and the rules and restrictions with it, a regional Eyre Peninsula town is set to host its favoured seaside food and craft markets.

Market meandering, a therapeutic past time enjoyed by many and now stalls up popping up for a day of free fun in the Eyre Peninsula’s oyster capital.

Covid-19 has rocked Australia for another year, forcing sudden lockdowns, border closures, restrictions and seeing most minor and major events cancelled.

Coffin Bay plays host to the BAMM Beach Art Music Markets multiple times, per year hosted by the Coffin Bay Progress Association

But in South Australia’s Coffin Bay its all systems go for a popular music and arts market festival that will safely bring locals, visitors, business owners and creatives together to kickstart the long weekend.

The BAMM Beach Arts Music Markets are gearing up for their final market of the year this Saturday, October 2.

Organisers, the Coffin Bay Progress Association, encourage guests to “come down to the Coffin Bay foreshore for the day and enjoy our beautiful bay, while finding some bargains and interesting things in the markets.”

The markets will have around 40 stall holders including coffee from Bayside Grind, Casey’s Bagels, sweet treats from Frosting and Sprinkles, bao buns and German hotdogs, juices and smoothies by Krafted Food Co and doughnuts thanks to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

The Coffin Bay Progress Association run multiple markets annually in what vice president Rachel Saxby says is a great fundraising opportunity for the local community.

“It‘s great for people to get out, especially in school holidays,” she said.

“It gives all the holiday makers something to do, it showcases some of our local products and its great for the stallholders to obviously sell some wares.”

Market-goers can expect live music from Whyalla’s Emily Rawlins and her youth group, June Sims and Streaky Bay’s Kaelin Haimes as well as jumping castles for the kids.

Two new jumping castles will have kids jumping for joy on the day. Picture: BAMM

Ms Saxby assured all necessary measures are in place to keep the markets in line with Covid-19 restrictions.

“The Covid management plan allows us to have 1000 people down there and we could probably have more because there‘s space in front of the club and inside the yacht club,” she said.

Last October proved to be their busiest market yet and Ms Saxby and the Coffin Bay Progress Association hope for another successful event despite predicted evening showers.

“I’m looking forward to a good day this year,” she said.

“We've only got a few people in progress and we’re always trying to get more volunteers but there’s only about four or five core members that do all this work and put this event on so it’s a lot of work but we really do enjoy the day.”

The market is open from 10am to 3pm Saturday 2 October, on the Coffin Bay foreshore.