Markets by the Lake
A monthly Saturday market on the shores of Lake Albert, run by the Lakeside Art Group, with a winter break and a moving date.
About this market
Lake Albert is where Wagga goes to look at water, and once a month Apex Park on its shore turns into a market. Five hours, a lawn, and a lake you can see from every stall. The Lakeside Art Group run it, which shows in the balance: this is arts and crafts first, with produce and the usual market fare alongside rather than the other way around.
A lake, a barbecue and no fixed date
Stalls cover arts, crafts and local produce, and there are children's activities and entertainment through the day. The food is unpretentious and good at what it does: bacon and egg rolls, sausage sandwiches, steak and onion sandwiches, cold drinks. Nine to two is long enough that you can arrive late morning and still have the run of it, which is not true of most monthly markets in the Riverina.
Market at a glance
Being run by an art group rather than a promoter changes the feel. Stallholders are largely local, the pace is slow, and the market has the air of something the neighbourhood puts on for itself and is happy for you to join.
This is the one thing worth getting right. Markets by the Lake is monthly and always a Saturday, but it does not sit on a fixed week: the council describes it as running on various Saturdays through the year, and published dates have landed on different weeks in different months. It also pauses over the coldest part of winter. Check the organisers' Facebook page for the next date rather than assuming a pattern.
Good to know before you go
Bring cash, a hat and something to sit on if you want to make a morning of it by the water. Apex Park is about ten minutes south of the centre of Wagga and parking is easy. The lake foreshore has a walking path and a playground, so this works better than most markets as a family outing rather than a shopping trip. Extra markets are sometimes added around Easter and Christmas, which are worth watching for if you are in town at either end of the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is Markets by the Lake on?
- Monthly on a Saturday, 9am to 2pm. The date moves rather than sitting on a fixed week of the month, so check the organisers' Facebook page before you drive out.
- Where is it held?
- Apex Park, 43 Eastlake Drive, on the shores of Lake Albert, about ten minutes south of the centre of Wagga Wagga.
- Does it run all year?
- No. It takes a break over the coldest part of winter and picks up again in spring. Extra markets are sometimes added around Easter and Christmas.