BENDIGO audiences will enjoy the beauty of new dragon Dai Gum Loong at this year's Easter parades.
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Former imperial dragon Sun Loong will also join in the festivities for a first-ever Easter Saturday appearance, in honour of the Fair's 150 year celebrations.
But historic Loong will not make an appearance, being too delicate to display without special permission from Heritage Victoria.
Bendigo Easter Fair Society president Simon Mulqueen said Sun Loong's Saturday appearance was a tribute to the 150 year connection between the Bendigo's Chinese Association, Easter Fair Society and hospital foundation.
About 100,000 people are expected to visit the 150th Easter Fair.
Easter Festival Reference Committee chair Councillor Rod Fyffe said about 80,000 people came to Bendigo's 2019 fair at which new imperial dragon Dai Gum Loong appeared for the first time.
Cr Fyffe said with a few dragons and 150 years to celebrate, the committee hoped to attract even more people.
He said numbers were promising for the two Easter parades, but called for more schools to participate.
Cr Fyffe said 150 years made Bendigo's event the longest continuously running Easter festival in Australia.
"To have it going whether it was war, whether it was pestilence ... fire, or drought, or flood, is a testament to the organisers' skill, the community's commitment. Certainly we want to make sure that that is celebrated," he said.
"You just see everyone having such a happy time. Families out, gathering's out, people who are new to Bendigo. They're just gobsmacked at what's going on.
"It's just a fantastic community event, put on by so many volunteers."
Read more: The history of Bendigo's Chinese dragons
Mr Mulqueen said the festival was a celebration of Bendigo.
"It's a great event for the city in terms of bringing visitors here, but also encouraging visitors to come back at other times of the year," he said.
"In terms of the community, it's just a great celebration of Bendigo."
You just see everyone having such a happy time. Families out, gathering's out, people who are new to Bendigo. They're just gobsmacked at what's going on.
- Rod Fyffe
To mark 150 years, the Easter Fair Society has sponsored extra events, including a pop-up ice skating rink.
Mr Mulqueen said Teddy Bear's Picnic was back, as well as the Way of the Cross and a Cavalcade of Transport.
Bendigo Easter Fair, April 10-13, bendigoeasterfestival.org.au/.
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