Support for events in the city's revised Easter program has been strong, with bookings nearing or at capacity from Thursday to Sunday. Further events are planned for Monday.

Bendigo attractions have been busy, eateries have been bustling, and accommodation has been in demand.

Related: Your guide to Easter in Bendigo

Almost 80 per cent of bookings for Eggs-plore Bendigo at Easter events have so far been made by people from Melbourne postcodes, City of Greater Bendigo tourism and major events manager Terry Karamaloudis said.

Mr Karamaloudis said the Bendigo Visitor Information Centre had been exceptionally busy.

"Even with the amended format, people have made the decision to come to Bendigo," he said.

COVID-19 restrictions prevented the city's traditional Easter festivities from going ahead.

The program was revised to allow it to safely proceed, with a focus on smaller, ticketed events and timed entries.

"Many of the activities were sold out prior to the weekend starting," Mr Karamaloudis said.

Wait lists meant organisers had been able to fill unused allocations, where possible.

Mr Karamaloudis said a virtual reality Easter egg hunt had been well taken up.

"It's really been a dream run," he said. He hoped it would continue for the rest of the weekend.

It had been a record Easter for the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, chair Ian Green said.

Visitation was up at least 20 per cent on any Easter before, with at least 1000 people believed to have visited the attraction on Good Friday.

Mr Green said the Easter weekend had been expected to go well, but had exceeded expectations.

"It's been a fantastic result so far," he said.

Related: Easter eggs-citement takes hold | Photos

Bendigo Pottery had been constantly busy, owner Sally Thomson said.

She said Bendigo Tourism had encouraged all of the city's attractions to develop new, bookable experiences for the revised Easter program.

Ms Thomson said Bendigo Pottery's event, the Easter Puzzle Trail, was engaging visitors in a different way - especially children.

Bendigo Heritage Attractions chief executive James Reade said Easter had so far been "sensational".

The Central Deborah Gold Mine had been booked out every day and the Vintage Talking Trams were running at full capacity, Mr Reade said.

The Central Deborah Artisans Experience - an Easter event featuring Farmer Daryl's animal farm - had also been popular.

"It's great to see people out and about and enjoying it," Mr Reade said.

Finn Vedelsby said trade at his business, The Dispensary, had been like it was before the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It was probably that way for many other businesses," Mr Vedelsby, also the chair of the Bendigo Tourism board, said.

"Bendigo has turned on the beautiful weather and people are out and about. The city and tourism operators have put on a great show."

The Bendigo Motel Association's members were all fully booked on Saturday night, with the last room filled at 9pm.

There were still vacancies on Friday night, but motel association president Kristyn Slattery was hopeful rooms would fill on Sunday night.

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A third of the association's members were fully booked on Sunday morning, with the rest down to a handful of vacancies.

"We're feeling pretty positive," Ms Slattery said.

She said guests had appreciated the cooperation between the city's accommodation providers and hospitality venues, with had resulted in a list of the venues open at the long weekend.

It had been a different Easter for the Bendigo Chinese Association, president Doug Lougoon said.

COVID-19 restrictions meant the association was limited to entertaining hundreds of people at a time in ticketed, seated performances in the Ulumbarra Theatre.

In a typical year, people come to the Bendigo CBD by the thousands to see the Bendigo Chinese Association parade and perform in streets and open spaces.

"It's all been very well received," Mr Lougoon said of the revised format.

But he said the association was hopeful 2022 would mark a return to the traditional Easter format, celebrating the city's 150^th Easter Fair - a hope Mr Karamaloudis shared.

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