Jocelyn Davis of Richmond sold her "Little Rascals" at The Great Christmas Market in Founders Park on Sunday.

For the fourth year running, Nelson's Great Christmas Market has exceeded its organiser's expectations by getting the event's largest ever turnout.

High winds and a newly-implemented $2 entry fee didn't seem to deter the crowds at Founders Heritage Park on Sunday, organiser Paula Layton said.

The 2015 market also featured more more stalls than ever before, with about 100 stallholders offering locally-made crafts and foodstuffs.

Layton fielded more stallholder applications this year than any other. She said this year's Great Christmas Market may have hit maximum capacity.

"Every year we are learning. I don't think [the market] will go any bigger.

"I think it is important to have quality over quantity. If you have too many stands it starts to dilute sales."

Layton said space considerations forced her to reject some applicants this year, but that more food vendors were "a necessity", taking the sales pressure off Founders Cafe.

Many food stalls were sold out before lunch time, she said.

Founders Cafe operator John Duncan said there was a "good balance" of food stalls and coffee sellers on the day.

"Other years it has been a mad rush for a while but this year people were making a day of it.

"We had great feedback from the customers and everyone seemed to be in a happy mood," he said.

Layton said having buskers on site added to the atmosphere.

"People seemed to hang out longer and enjoy the music."

The market was a boon for The Midnight Elves, a fundraising craft group run by parents at Motueka's Rudolf Steiner School.

Stallholder Sarah Keogh said the group's angel ornaments, made from salvaged and donated materials, were especially popular.

"We have tried markets in Motueka before, but I think Nelson people buy handmade stuff a bit more.

"This was the first [Great Christmas] market we have done, and it was fantastic for us. We were amazed how many people there were and I think it was worthwhile."

Door sales from the day are still being calculated and the profits will be donated to children's cancer charity KidsCan.