Shop fronts had signs reminding customers about store capacity and sanitising hands but at times there were crowded footpaths and people congregating outside some food outlets.

Stilt performers Professor Plum and Dr Placebo ("He's effective if you believe he is") brandished their tape measure regularly as they walked the streets to remind pedestrians of COVID-19 precautions.

"As people are coming into the outside world, helping with that," Dr Placebo explained.

"A strong message of look after each other, safe distance apart."

Rod Millichamp, who accompanied the white-coated pair and is known as "the visitor centre guy", said visitors from Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney had taken advantage of the eased coronavirus restrictions on regional travel.

"Beechworth is a really convenient go-between for those three cities, particularly," he said.

"Accommodation's booked up all over town, food operators have been taking bookings all week, so a terrific response from the public."

Mr Millichamp said business owners were well aware of present limits and had taken steps to ensure these would be followed.

"I think the town has carried it off magnificently leading up to today," he said.

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Beechworth resident Andrea Mackinlay, behind the counter of Beechworth Books, admitted she was ambivalent about the influx.

"I know we can't stay locked down forever but this second wave business, that's what worries me," she said.

"People just coming here from wherever, where they've had (COVID-19).

"It's that old story, the dollar versus human life, you know, but we've all got to eat, what do you do?"

Beechworth Books owner Diane Ingwersen wished to thank the community who supported her business throughout the restrictions.

"We've been lucky, being in isolation people are reading a lot more than they normally do," Ms Mackinlay said.

"They might buy four a year - they've bought four at a time."

As she set up tables at The Ox and Hound Bistro, Lauren Heidke expected a busy weekend.

"We were booked out pretty much as soon as those restrictions were lifted," she said.

"We've never had such high demand, but obviously that brings with it its own challenges of replying to all of those emails, all of those phone calls."

Ms Heidke hoped any visitors unaware of the strict measures cafes and restaurants needed to put in place would accept the required changes over the long weekend.

"It's really exciting, but it would be great if people could space out their visits perhaps, because I know it will be quiet in July and August," she said.

The historic Beechworth courthouse and walking tours reopened on Friday but the Burke Museum is not expected to resume until July 1.

Burke Museum and cultural heritage manager Cameron Auty said this staggered opening of buildings formed part of the COVID safe plan, along with measures like signage, floor stickers and signing-in guidelines.

"It will be a long process of how we make it work and make sure everybody's safe," he said.

"It's been a pretty big effort to get it all up and running, but very exciting to be opening."