The event was designed to promote healthy living for a healthy future, and featured more than 50 stalls and a variety of food and entertainment.

Mums and bubs sat on haystacks watching children boot scootin’ on the main stage, families explored the urban veggie garden and crafts people showed off their wares.

Bendigo Access Employment chief executive officer Michael Langdon said this year’s event had exceeded expectations.

“This is the sixth year in a row and the community have really got behind it,” he said.

“We’ve had thousands of people through the gate, which is just fantastic.”

Bendigo Access Employment owns and runs PepperGreen Farm.

“A number of people in the community aren’t aware of that connection I don’t think,” Dr Langdon said.

“So the event was essentially about showcasing Bendigo Access Employment and PepperGreen Farm and showing how we are really wanting to be and are linked to the community.

“At Bendigo Access Employment our mission is to allow employment opportunities, provide employment and support people in employment for people with disabilities.

“In Australia there’s around four million people with disabilities, which is a broad range when you try and classify disability.

“In Bendigo we support at any one time around 600 people with disabilities – either trying to find them a job or helping them gain employability skills or supporting them to maintain that employment.

“So we run probably around eight social enterprises and PepperGreen Farm is one of those. It’s a business so we try and make sure it covers its cost but it’s also about social outcomes – providing people with jobs.”

Jean Walker from Bendigo gave the festival a big thumbs up.

“It was very interesting, I’m glad I came,” she said.

“We looked at the gardening things and vegetable garden.

“It’s been a very entertaining day.

‘‘It’s great to have things like this in Bendigo.”