Local businesses are preparing for a busy White Night and hoping sales will be boosted if rain stays away.
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There are 19 restaurants and cafes in the central business district planning to stay open late, according to White Night’s website, with nine food vans also listed.
Rain for the latter part of the week is predicted to dissolve into possible showers by Saturday, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Indulge Fine Belgian Chocolates’ owner Hayley Tibbett said if rain came it could impact sales.
“But I know a lot of motels and other accommodation are booked out. If you’ve come to Bendigo a bit of rain is not going to put you off,” she said.
Businesses planning to open late have been preparing for several months but not all are entirely sure what to expect for the city’s first White Night.
Bendigo Ice Creamery owner Amanda Divola is mindful that a Ballarat ice cream store ran out of stock during that city’s first White Night.
She has been in contact with that business and others in Ballarat and Geelong to help get ready.
Ms Divola was preparing for the kind of trade her store would do over an Easter weekend, but condensed into one or two nights.
Unlike the Ballarat store, Bendigo Ice Creamery did not make its product, which should make managing goods easier, she said.
Much of Indulge’s products are made on site and that business has a plan to make sure they have enough ready.
“We are doing some different products because we are not going to have everything that we normally do,” Mrs Tibbett said.
They will also stock special White Night themed donuts supplied by the Bridgewater Bakery.
“We don’t want to keep people waiting so we are only going to be doing takeaway hot chocolates on the night. Nothing will be sit-down,” Mrs Tibbett said.
Other restaurants and cafes White Night organisers say will be open for the event include:
- Hotel Shamrock
- Cold Rock Ice Creamery
- Wine Bank on View
- Schnitz
- GPO Bendigo
- Cantina Bendigo
- Grill’d Bendigo
- Stella Bendigo
- Borchelli Ristorante
- Sim’R
- Hoo-gah
- Clogs
- Sangria Spanish Tapas Bar
- El Gordo Bendigo
- Get Naked Espresso Bar
- Everbean Cafe
- Oishii on Wheels
Food Trucks include:
- Chata Polska
- T-Rex Bar-B-Que
- Spud Bros Spiral Spuds
- Get Pressed Event Catering
- El Chivi
- Curry Up Now
- Coon Toastie Truck
- Salt and Pepa Food Truck
- City to Surf Mobile Cafe
White Night Bendigo 2018 takes place on Saturday from 7pm to 2am.
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