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ORGANISERS have hailed this year's Bendigo Easter Festival as the "biggest and best yet", with thousands of people flocking to the city for the annual tradition.
The Bendigo Easter Gala Parade and the Bendigo and District RSL Easter Torchlight Procession remained highlights at the shortened three-day festival.
Chinese heritage was blazing, with 100-metre Sun Loong attracting the loudest cheer at the parade.
We have built up a great Bendigo tradition.
- Charles Lougoon
Bendigo Chinese Association president Charles Lougoon said while the group "had been short a few legs this year", the parade was as successful as ever.
He said the new route - which caused earlier concern - posed no issues for participants.
"We have built up a great Bendigo tradition," he said.
"The association first started raising funds for the Bendigo Hospital in the 1860s and it has been passed down from generation to generation."
Mr Lougoon said crowd numbers had remained steady this year, with 6000 people attending the dragon awakening.
Easter co-ordinator Jill Poole backed Mr Lougoon's comments, saying all festival reports had been positive.
"There were so many people here throughout the weekend. It was just incredible to see."