Welcome to Bellingen Community Markets 45th birthday and Christmas celebration !
Ho ho ho, it’s Christmas time AND we celebrate 45 magnificent years. It’s all about YOU, your quality creations and products, your friendly respectful ways and dedication. Visitors have the best day at Bello Markets; buying, selling, networking, creating fond memories and good friends. As an inclusive event everyone is welcome to enjoy the fruits of our creatives, the useful/beneficial products of our producers and hands on with our healers. We certainly do have a diverse selection of stalls and people and we love bringing the community together to shop, socialise, exchange and engage.
To finish off this wonderful, wacky and wild year, we have a fantastic lineup of entertainment. Apocalypse Joe and the Coyote join us on stage from 10am, and the wonderful AkaBella Community Choir divinely sing around 12.30pm. Don’t miss Ella with her KindyPlans Child Play and our three Facepainters around the park. Try and catch site of the magical character dancing around spreading the LOVE at our special market.
It wouldn’t be a birthday party and Christmas without dressing up, right? So we encourage all stallholders, community groups and crew to make the effort and go all out on decoration; lots of colour with character. The best dressed stall/person receives a free stall next market and gets a write up in our next newsletter and on Facebook.
NBN Channel 9 is coming to film our market and interview people AND the creative Ljumaa is joining us to capture our true essence via film and photographs. ABC Radio is also tapping in LIVE from their studio to hear the action. It’s even more reason to go to the extra effort to dress up, smile for the camera and have a fantastic day!
We can’t help but be a lot excited about this Saturday. Celebrating 45 amazing years and X-Mas with fantastic entertainment, scrumptious food and drinks and good people will be the BEST and a great way to see the year out.
Have a most wonderful week and see you Saturday with bells on!
Kaz Selbie
Market Manager
Apocalypse Joe and the Coyote
A seasoned troubadour from the hills has a visceral reaction to inattention at his shows, crafts a sound borne of frustration: Cacophony. Light and shade, tension and release, driving rhythms and laidback grooves. Visions of dystopia tinged with hope.
Joe Newton had been plying his trade as a solo singer/songwriter on the Mid North Coast of NSW for more than a decade, when seemingly on a whim, he decided to start a rock project: Apocalypse Joe and the Coyote.
Gathering experienced players, the project is quickly gaining traction with their fuzz laden grooves and epic jams. Drawing inspiration from the forefathers of rock, blues and soul music, their shows have been leaving audiences spellbound and screaming for more. Their set at Rabbits Eat Lettuce Festival gained considerable exposure for a new band to the scene, resulting in numerous offers for gigs and events since.
https://linktr.ee/apocalypsejoe
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552180667685
See and hear them on the main stage from 10am – 2pm
AkaBella Community Choir
AkaBella Community Choir brings the joy of singing together to the heart of Bellingen. For over 30 years, the welcoming, non-auditioned choir has been creating beautiful acapella harmonies, embracing everything from soul-stirring gospel to toe-tapping jazz, contemporary pop favorites, and vibrant world music. Under the guidance of talented musical director Louise Gore, singers of all experience levels discover the magic of making music together – no audition or previous musical training required! Members range from Bellingen locals to singers who travel from Coffs Harbour, Valla Beach, and Dorrigo, meet weekly during school terms to share in the pure pleasure of vocal harmony.
Whether your’e a complete beginner or an experienced singer, you’ll find a supportive community where every voice matters. Bellingen AkaBella believe singing should be accessible to everyone, which is why they keep their fees affordable.
Everyone is welcome at AkaBella!
Email: akabellachoir@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/Akabella.Bellingen.Sings
See and hear this wonderful group in front of main stage around 12.30pm
Bellingen Youth Orchestra (BYO)
Founded by visionary educators Ann Phelan and Elizabeth Scott, the Bellingen Youth Orchestra (BYO) began in 2007 with just 16 students and a bold idea sparked by a visit from Richard Tognetti and the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Today, the BYO supports more than 100 young musicians across four ensembles, with over more and more young children in the region and beyond reaching out to learn an an orchestral instrument and join one of our ensembles.
The BYO offers regular concerts, workshops, camps, and collaborations with leading ensembles including the Australian Chamber Orchestra and Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Many students have gone on to join national programs, tour internationally, or pursue music studies — but fostering a lifelong love of music remains at the heart of the program.
The orchestra thrives on strong community support, dedicated teachers, and we are grateful for the support of our long-standing patron David Helfgott. Partnerships with local groups such as Camp Creative, alongside national organisations like the AYO and ACO, ensure access, opportunity, and inspiring pathways for all young players.
Since becoming an incorporated not-for-profit in 2016, the BYO has relied on its committed volunteers and community partnerships to deliver rich musical experiences to students and audiences alike.
The BYO appreciate your support at the Market. All money raised continues to put instruments into the hands of young people in our shire and beyond.
They will be on the gates welcoming all to our festive market so please support where possible.
Kindyplans child play
Kindyplans is a small, family-operated business offering sustainable play for young children. Hosted by Ella, who holds a Diploma in Early Childhood and a teaching degree, she has over 10 years of nurturing children through play-based learning. Ella has been making custom play kits for young children and hosting calm sensory play spaces for two years to share waste-free, open-ended play. Kindyplans activities are thoughtfully designed to be calming, creative and developmentally rich, using natural, recycled and repurposed materials wherever possible.
At this special 45th birthday Bellingen Market, Ella will host a small space on north/west of oval for children to explore water play, potion-making, nature-based oobleck, flower foot baths, floral ice bowls and much more.
STALLHOLDER PROCEDURES
Casual stallholders please click here to find out what to do on market day and ensure you read and agree to our TERMS & CONDITIONS . Following our T&Cs, communicating clearly/promptly and being friendly and respectful is appreciated and valued at our market. Your positive attitude has a flow on affect to those around you and makes for a great day, so thanks for bringing it with you. We want you to have a positive experience and if you don’t, we need to hear about it. Don’t be shy! All feedback is welcome and will be dealt with fairly and respectfully.
PERMANENTS ENTER 6.15AM
CASUALS ENTER 6.30AM
PLEASE BE ON TIME
When lining up in morning and afternoon at your designated gate/street, please ensure you are pulled right over to the left so you are off the road as much as possible while waiting. We CANNOT BLOCK TRAFFIC coming through. Also consider sleeping residents by remaining quite and turning off ignition if waiting more than 5mins. When the time is right, one of our crew will show you where to go. Please do not drive on football oval and when at your site, park close to your stall so other cars can pass. Unpack your gear promptly and take your car out. Come back to set up. Your cooperation will help your set up flow smoothly.
CASUALS BOOK EVERY MONTH
We ask casuals to fill out the booking form every month to apply for a stall. Doing so also allows you to get the newsletter with updates a week before our market. Please book after the market just gone and 2-3 weeks before the coming market. Best not to leave it in the last week as you may miss out.
Save the below link to book for future markets or simply go to the webpage.
The below map is of our market at Bellingen Park. It shows where everything is including our three evacuation points. The one at the back of the Memorial Hall cannot be accessed via F section as the bridge has gone. Access Memorial Hall from B section Creek Lane or Ford Street.
So much is happening in Bellingen and surrounds over the festive season and I thought you just may like to know.
- Read the latest Arts Guide with a wonderful story about Bellingen Markets turning 45!
https://mailchi.mp/mncartsguide/comingupinmarch-14768314?e=b0fa441923
2. Bellingen Council welcomes YOU as a stallholder/visitor to fill out a short survey about Bellingen Park. Please check it out and have your say.
Bellingen Park Plan of Management – Park User Survey of Bellingen Shire
3. The Bellingen Memorial Hall always has a wonderful line up of creatives performing and December showcases very cool talent..
https://mailchi.mp/45ae96971a80/whats-on-at-the-hall-9300152?e=8187de1dce
4. You got to love the Federal Hotel Bellingen. Always good for a feed and music.
5. Have you heard of “Housing Matters”. This valuable group is trying to make positive change. Please scan code to complete survey and have your say.
6. Camp Creative is on again 12-16 January 2026 and there are only a few spots available. At our January market we invite performing or creative talent from Camp Creative to join us and share their new skills. Send an email to show your interest. Click on below link to learn more about Camp Creative.
Well, that’s about it folks !
It’s been a heck of a year but looking at the big picture, we are 45 years in the making, forever embracing community and valuing the support received over the years by many, helping Bellingen Community Markets be STRONG and SUSTAINABLE. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to our buzzing and beautiful market. We are a collaboration of awesomeness!
Can’t wait to see you Saturday!
Keep smiling and shining.
OH AND….. Please remember we are a dog free market and that includes stallholders as well. We occasionally get visitors with their Assistant Dogs (many in training) so it’s important to respect their privacy and space.
BELLINGEN COMMUNITY MARKETS
not just a marketplace, but a great place to be
every third Saturday of the month
Feel free to contact us anytime:
Kaz Selbie – Manager
M: 0400 261693
