Sunbury StreetLife festival breathes new life into shopping strip

A PLAN to bring together home-based business and local shop owners has been paying off in Melbourne’s northwest.

Stay at home business people have got plans for a full street festival in O'Shannassy street Sunbury promoting local business. L-R Hannah Liddle, Erin Wiley and Sharyn Snook.

TWO self-employed mums are continuing their ambitious plan to revive Sunbury’s main street by promoting it as the ideal place to shop.

Sharyn Snook and Hannah Liddle have again garnered the support of Hume Council and local businesses for the third annual Sunbury StreetLife Festival.

The pair have both operated home-based businesses and have set up HomeGrown Promotions to run the festival and equally popular Market on the Green.

This year’s event will see between 120 and 130 marquee stalls set up along sharyand part of Brook St, which will be closed to traffic from 10am to 3pm on November 22.

The stalls will showcase Sunbury shops, services and home-based businesses.

“We like to think of ourselves as a market and trade show with a really nice atmosphere,” Ms Snook said.

“Many people in Sunbury have young families, so there will be plenty of children’s activities and entertainment on the day, too,” she said.

The mother of four said it was exciting to see the whole community coming together to celebrate local traders.

“We are really thrilled to hear about business gaining more customers as a result of StreetLife,” she said.

“Last year, we had a full street of businesses involved and, thanks to the hard work of a lot of other volunteers, new committee members and generous sponsorship, we expect this year’s event to be even bigger.”

Businesses have generously donated items to a grand raffle which will be held on the day and all funds raised will be given to Sunbury Rotary Club’s Family Community Kitchen and Wesley Mission Victoria.

“Our Business Bags are also back and will be sold at the festival for $10,” Ms Snook said.

“We have 100 high-quality jute bags filled with samples, freebies and vouchers from local businesses worth about $120.”

Along with market day specials from traders and the raffle, there will be a stage show for children, Thomas the Tank Engine rides, roving buskers and a treasure hunt.

Schoolchildren have been busy creating pompoms to decorate street trees on the day.

“The festival is really about promoting shopping locally by getting businesses to open up and show what they’ve got and encouraging people to go down and have a look,” Ms Snook said.

“It shouldn’t be that hard for businesses to get that support, but a lot of residents work outside of Sunbury.

“We are really spoilt for choice in Sunbury. If everyone spent a little bit more in Sunbury, it would be a huge boost for businesses.

“We want everyone to support Sunbury businesses and build community assets.”