After two years of cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Riverland Field Days has welcomed visitors back to the two day festival.
Held in Barmera each year, the event allows local and interstate businesses to showcase their services, while also bringing together the community with food and live music.
But COVID-19 brought a two-year halt to the festivities with 2020 cancelled due to restrictions on large gatherings.
A year later, organisers made the call to cancel after failing to find enough volunteers to cover the various COVID Safe duties to allow the event to run.
Organiser Tim Grieger said locals had been enthusiastically anticipating the event.
"I think the community realises the value of what this event is for the region, having not had it for two years," he said.
Economic boost in the millions
Around 10,000 people are expected to visit the Field Days site on Friday and Saturday.
Mr Grieger said with transport, accommodation and catering costs, the festival injects millions of dollars into the Riverland economy.
"We've got just over 300 exhibitors, nearly 30 caterers," he said.
"It's a little bit up on what we've seen in recent years which shows the interest.
"There's so much diversity, I think it doesn't matter what your interest is there will be something here for that."
Confidence leads to sales
This year's Field Days is taking place as primary producers in the region experience differing fortunes.
While Riverland's grape growers are staring down tough decisions amid a decline in prices for Australia's red wine industry, grain growers in the Mallee are celebrating good rains which are pointing to a positive harvest.
Riverland Field Days Chairperson Anthony Fulwood said greater confidence in farmers could translate into more sales for exhibitors.
"The machines are bigger, more expensive, there's a lot of value here on site," he said.
"But with the rain it might boost some people's confidence and they might spend a bit of money."
Celebrating the region
While the event initially specialised in showcasing agriculture and horticulture exhibitions, Mr Fulwood said it's since grown to include a diverse range of businesses and attract visitors from across the region.
"Machinery for growers, new equipment, that was its genesis," he said.
"But nowadays it's there for everybody to come and have a day out."
Mr Fulwood said in its 63rd year, the festival has become an "institution" of the Riverland and Mallee.
"It's an opportunity for the community to celebrate this great region," he said.
