ARARAT'S annual Twilight Market is set to take place on Friday, and while residents may know it's a great place to snap up a bargain, they may not realise the vital fundraising the market does.
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Organiser Debbie Warrior said the market runs on the second Sunday of each month and all profits go towards a local charity.
"Each month it goes to a different charity," Mrs Warrior said. "All the stall holder fees, minus the hall rental, goes across to them."
The Twilight market is the only one that raises funds for the market itself, to ensure it can continue running.
"The Twilight one is for us as that's the only time we get money to replace buckled trestles and things like that," Mrs Warrior said.
Since the market's inception the market has raised about $75,000 for Ararat groups.
"We raise an average of about $2500 per market, easy," Mrs Warrior said. "It's quite a lot of money that goes into the community."
Mrs Warrior stressed that the Twilight market is not replacing the next market on November 10.
"Some people think it replaces that and that impacts the charities," she said.
A small team runs the market, made up of Mrs Warrior, her husband, Reg Eastick, and just a few others. "It takes weeks to organise," Mrs Warrior said. "There's a lot of work that goes into the markets. We just want to get out that it's a community event and we have a lot on for kids."
The Twilight Market will run from 4-8pm at the Alexandra Hall and neighbouring garden space.
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