What a morning it was at the Do it in Deni Street Bazaar! The sun was shining, and Waring Gardens looked as picturesque as ever, setting the perfect scene for a bustling day in Deniliquin during the Victorian Long Weekend.

Deniliquin Business Chamber President Paula Rutter, alongside staff member Christine Caldow, manned the Lions Kiosk, expertly guiding visitors with Deni-centric info and addressing questions about “the race that stops Deni.” Their efforts in representing our town were invaluable.

A big shout-out goes to the community volunteer team, small but mighty, who made sure the event ran smoothly. Special thanks to Helen Flisher, whose dedication and hard work helped make this day a success.

Over at the Rotary BBQ, Rotary President and Chamber Committee member Iain Goodway and his team were kept busy grilling up sausages and chatting with guests, who were intrigued by Rotary’s time capsule project. The interest in the capsule envelopes was a highlight for Iain and his team.

The U3A and Sing Australia info stands were popular, and Stephen and Christine Beckwith’s vintage caravan and cars were a nostalgic treat that visitors couldn’t resist.

Families flocked to the Chill Out Centre, where children enjoyed fun activities including corn hole, giant connect, arts and crafts, bubble machine and other toys and games on the shady lawn near the Sunday School Hall. Chamber treasurer Jennifer Edwards was thrilled with its popularity and is already planning new ideas for next year’s event.

Foodies were delighted by the aroma of Nourish’s gyros souvlakis cooking out front of the store and the delicious baklava from Handmade by Elif, along with other goodies from Megsie Ellerman. The artisan stalls showed off the best of Deni’s creativity, with beautiful handmade crafts, from paintings to candles, on display.

Throughout Napier and Cressy streets, the atmosphere was lively and welcoming, with retailers offering outdoor bargain tables that drew plenty of shoppers. The Edward Kolety Fishing Challenge and Deni North School raffle stalls saw fantastic sales, thanks in part to the display of their major prizes.

A huge congratulations to our Dachshund Dash champion, Digby, and his proud owner, Annabelle Campbell! Digby dashed his way to victory once again, making this his second win in a row!

He took home the coveted trophy and a fantastic prize pack, thanks to the generous support of Deniliquin Veterinary Clinic. A big thank you as well to Hope and Chloe from Deniliquin Vet for joining us on the day and supporting our speedy sausage stars!

Congratulations to our Fashions on the Field winners, the fabulous Mr Schnitzel and his owner, Vicki Erickson! Mr Schnitzel wowed the crowd with his dazzling superhero cape of bright yellow, complete with a matching eyemask and a touch of rainbow glitter that shimmered beautifully in the sunlight.

While Mr Schnitzel may not have run the race—he preferred a casual stroll along the racetrack—he looked incredibly stylish doing it! A true superhero in style, he captured the crowd’s hearts (and the judges’ votes!) with his unique look.

While the Dachshund Dash saw slightly fewer entries due to the change in date, it was still the morning’s showstopper! Big thanks to Chloe Johnson, Vet Clinic Nurse, who helped set up the dash first thing Saturday morning, making the event a success.

Although some music acts had to cancel last-minute, Angela Parker, Chamber Vice President, and the 1521 2QN/102.5FM EDGEFM radio team kept the energy high with their outdoor broadcast. South West Music’s Christian Ruiz also captivated the crowd in Napier Street with his guitar performance and a guitarist entertained in the outdoor eating area of Coffee Oasis.

The Street Bazaar is a testament to Deni’s vibrant community spirit. Recent events—the Spirit of the Muster Ute Display, the Muster, the truck show, the races, markets, Wamba Wamba Perrepa Perrepa Celebration Week, and more—have shown what a rich community Deni has.

We’re grateful for all the positive feedback, and for the delicious coffee that kept everyone going! The Chamber extends a heartfelt thank-you to everyone involved, including the Edward River Council, NSW Police, emergency services, stallholders, volunteers, and visitors. Your support makes events like the Do it in Deni Street Bazaar possible.

Chamber’s social media guru, Beck Flisher, captured it all. Check out some of the highlights in the gallery on our socials.

We’d love to hear your thoughts as we plan for next year, so keep an eye out for a survey in the coming weeks!