Catch up on all the 2019 Bendigo Easter Festival fun here.
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Excitement is building for the 2019 Bendigo Advertiser Gala Parade, with hundreds of people lining the parade route hours in advance.
Those in prime position have had their spots since the early hours of the morning - some even having come down last night.
Among the early birds is Max Warren, who doesn't think he has missed a parade in some 75 years.
He put his chair down on Pall Mall at 5.15am, but himself returned after 9am.
The dragons, of course, are a major drawcard, but that is not the only thing he is looking forward to.
"I enjoy it all - the bands, seeing all the kids participate, it's good," Max said.
Visitors to the city are also excited for the parade.
Perth's James and Judy Campbell are in Bendigo for the second time, but this marks their first parade.
Walking around yesterday, James said he was impressed with how everyone supported the festival so well.
Jenny and Lionel Wood are also visiting Bendigo, but they attended the Easter Festival last year, too.
They told the Bendigo Advertiser they were interested in the new dragon, Dai Gum Loong.
"I think Bendigo's amazing," Jenny said.
For Tasmanian Kerrie Bond, being in Bendigo to watch the parade is a return to the past.
She moved to Bendigo as a four-year-old, but had not seen a parade since the late 1980s, having since lived around Australia.
But Kerrie "wasn't missing this one", she said.
For her former neighbour Annette Beckwith, however, the parade is a yearly tradition.
Karen Falconer is a regular viewer of the parade.
She has been sitting on Pall Mall since about 5.15am to ensure a good spot to see all the action.
Some arrived even earlier.
Michelle Lucas is among a group who put down blankets and chairs last night.
She said they came back at 4.30am to be told by another early bird that someone had tried to steal their blankets.
Luckily, the man chased down the culprit and while they did lose a couple of chairs, they did not lose their prime viewing position near the fountain.
Chris Boulton came down shortly after 5am to secure a spot at View Point, with this parade one of dozens he estimated he had attended.
The Bendigo Advertiser Gala Parade begins at 1pm.
If you can't be there to watch it in person, you can join in on the fun with us on Facebook, where we will live stream the event.
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