Camel handler Peter Hodge has travelled from Shepparton, Victoria, with five of his 31 camels to operate the spectacle in the 12-day lead-up to Christmas.

Since setting up in City Walk on Friday afternoon he said more than 500 people had saddled up on the humps.

"It's been busy," he said. "But that doesn't worry the camels. You see them chewing their cud and that shows us they're relaxed."

The five stars of the show born in outback Queensland and the Northern Territory have got used to the city life and travel widely from as far south as Port Fairy in Victoria and as north as Wagga Wagga.

"We have Roman, Sarah, Tommy, Pretty Boy and Cappuccino here with us this time," he said.

"I started with camels 22 years ago. I have 31 camels; seven workers, a few for racing and the others are cows."

He said with the growing interest in camel milk he expected he would soon invest in a few more.

Mr Hodge's daughter Amanda said most were eager to get up close to the 2.5-metre tall animals, but she had spent time appeasing people's concerns as they lined up.

"They're not an animal many people have got up close to or touched before," she said.

"People always think they are going to get spit on or bitten or something but that's not the case. They have such a lovely nature. They're inquisitive and like to figure you out, sometimes sniff you but really they pretty chilled out."

People could be spotted in the sunny Saturday weather waiting to have a word over breakfast and brunch with Santa, enjoying the animals at the Cancer Support Group Petting Farm or taking a selfie at the Gingerbread House.

The Taste Canberra Markets provided plenty of opportunity to get some early snacking on during the countdown to Christmas.

Berlin Bangers' Tom Snaith said with such a strong interest in the SIDS for Kids Christmas Lights many had swung by the stall for a snag.

"The first night on Friday we had 198 customers," he said. "There is a good variety and such a lovely atmosphere."