Events galore: Here's your guide to celebrating an egg-cellent Easter 2023 in central Victoria

PARADES AND PROCESSIONS

• What: This unique procession will light up Bendigo's historic streets with illuminated entries from local community groups. To conclude, there will be a fireworks display over Rosalind Park. Further information here.
  
• Where: Procession route - View Street, McCrae Street, Bridge Street.
  
• When: Easter Saturday, 7pm to 8.30pm.

• What: The Bendigo Advertiser Gala Parade is a festival tradition filled with colour and excitement. There will be dragons, dance troupes, bands, cultural groups and more performing their way along the parade route. More information here.
  
• Where: Parade route - View Street, McCrae Street, Bridge Street
  
• When: Easter Sunday, 12.30pm to 3pm.

FAIRS

• What: Bendigo Foodshare is proud to be presenting the Easter Book Fair which was formerly run by the Y Service Club of Bendigo. There will be thousands of pre-loved books, DVDs, CDs, magazines and puzzles, all at bargain prices. More information here.
  
• Where: Tom Tweed YMCA Stadium, Mundy Street, Bendigo
  
• When: Good Friday to Easter Sunday, 9am to 5pm; Easter Monday, 9am to 1pm.

• What: Enjoy a day of entertainment and family fun with performances, a kids zone, rides, plus more. There will be market stalls and food trucks. More information here.
  
• Where: Lake Weeroona, corner of Nolan and Napier Streets, Bendigo.
  
• When: Monday, 10am to 3pm.

• What: The 146th Maldon Easter Fair is set to be a big one with the Easter Parade on Easter Monday. Complete with a collection of fire trucks, Garden Club, penny farthing bicycles, and much more. There will be an egg tossing competition, the Maldon Golf Club Hole in One competition on Easter Saturday and the Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum's annual Easter Machinery Rally across the weekend. There will be a torchlight procession and plenty more. Futher information here.
  
• Where: Main and High Streets, Maldon.
  
• When: Thursday, April 6 to Easter Monday, various times.

• What: The 150th Rheola Charity Carnival will feature sheep dog trials, "Miss Rheola" Carnival Girl, Wimmera Axeman's Association wood chopping, small stationary engines display, foot running events, horse training, with more on the agenda. Full catering on grounds. Cash only, no Eftpos facilities. Cost for adults is $10, children under 15, free. For more information, click here.
  
• Where: Rheola Public Hall and Recreation Reserve, Inglewood - Rheola Road, Rheola.
• When: Easter Monday, 9am to 5.30pm.

• What: The Rushworth Easter Heritage Festival is a town celebration with a market and the annual street parade of vintage and historic vehicles. Lots of market stalls, children's entertainment, live music and vintage steam engines. It's a guaranteed great way to celebrate Easter, and free of charge. Contact Peter Reade at 0491719461 or rushworthmarket@gmail.com or click here.
• Where: High Street, Rushworth, High Street, Rushworth, 3612
  
• When: Easter Saturday, 9am to 2pm.

• What: This family-festival event celebrates contemporary Chinese dancing and culture. The Bendigo Chinese Association Plum Blossom dance team will perform.
  
• Where: Dai Gum San, Chinese Precinct, Bridge Street, Bendigo.
  
• When: Easter Saturday, 11am to 12.30pm.

• What: A traditional celebration of lion and dragon dance, presented by the Bendigo Chinese Association and visiting lion and dragon teams. It will conclude with the lighting of a spectacular string of 100,000 firecrackers used to wake Dai Gum Loong from his year-long slumber.
  
• Where: Dai Gum San, Chinese Precinct, Bridge Street, Bendigo.
  
• When: Easter Saturday, 2pm to 4pm.

• What: The Bendigo Chinese Association Lion Team, along with other dragon teams, will welcome Dai Gum Loong back to his return to the Golden Dragon Museum.
  
• Where: Dai Gum San, Chinese Precinct, Bendigo.
  
• When: Easter Sunday, about 2.30pm (after the conclusion of the Bendigo Advertiser Gala Parade).

MARKETS

• What: Take a stroll through a market with about 200 stalls. There will be a variety of items including art, craft, handmade goods, collectables, produce and more. Further information here.
  
• Where: Pall Mall and Easter Fair Way.
  
• When: Good Friday and Easter Sunday, 9am to 4pm.

• What: Featuring Australian Pottery, Australian Art and other Australian themed collectables. Gold coin donation entry. For more information, contact Brian at 0437 947 252 or Ed at 0418 349 760.
  
• Where: Campbell's Creek Community Hall.
  
• When: Easter Saturday, 10am to 3pm.

• What: Sale of secondhand model train rolling stock items. HO scale models of Australian, American and British outline. Sets of Loco - cars/wagons in boxes. Some items are in as new condition, or have a small marking. Cash / eftpos sales. Entry gold coin donation. Click here for further information.
  
• Where: Kangaroo Flat Library, Lockwood Road, Kangaroo Flat.
  
• When: Easter Saturday, 9.30am to 4pm.

• What: Join in for an egg-stravagant search for about 85,000 Easter eggs. Hunts will be organised into separate age groups at various time slots throughout the day. $13 each. Further information here.
  
• Where: Rosalind Park.
  
• When: Good Friday, 9.30am to 5pm.

• What: Learn about the history and heritage of Bendigo Chinese. Bookings required, phone 5441 5044. Gold coin donation.
  
• Where: Dai Gum San, Chinese Precinct, Bendigo.
  
• When: Good Friday, 10.30am to 11.30am and 2pm to 3pm.

• What: Visit the Yi Yuan Gardens and let your child show their creativity skills in a lantern making workshop. Materials supplied.
  
• Where: Yi Yuan Gardens, Dai Gum San, Chinese Precinct, Bendigo.
  
• When: Good Friday, 10am to 3pm.

• What: Enjoy a carnival with rides and sideshows, there's something for everyone.
  
• Where: Mundy Street.
  
• When: Good Friday and Easter Saturday, 10am to 11pm and Easter Sunday, 10am to 6pm.

• What: Rosalind Park will feature many family friendly events, activities and entertainment throughout the day. See program here.
  
• Where: Throughout Rosalind Park.
  
• When: Each Day 10am to 5pm.

• What: Join Ryder, Chase and Marshall as they answer Mayor Goodway's call for help. See more information here.
  
• Where: Main stage, Rosalind Park.
  
• When: Easter Saturday, 11.15am to 2.15pm.

• What: The Bendigo On Road Radio Control Car Club will host an Easter race day. This event will be a public demonstration with Kyosho Junior, Tamiya Truck, TCR-FWD and 21.5 Touring Class running. Free event, class numbers are restricted to 10. Click here for more details.
  
• Where: Easter Fair Way, Park Road, Bendigo.
  
• When: Easter Saturday, 9am (registration) to 5pm.

• What: Enjoy music by local, talented artists in the mall.
  
• Where: Hargreaves Mall, Bendigo.
  
• When: Easter Saturday, 11am to 3pm.

• What: Enjoy festival fun and music in Bull Street.
  
• Where: Bull Street, Bendigo.
  
• When: Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday, 4pm to 11pm.

• What: The Bendigo Bank Dragon Mile plays a significant part in athletics history in Bendigo. Click here for further information.
  
• Where: Race starts and finishes corner of Pall Mall and Mundy Street.
  
• When: Easter Sunday, 10.30am to 12.30pm.

• What: Take your child to Maryborough for some Easter fun on the golf course. There will be a morning tea of hot cross bun and an Easter egg hunt on the cards. Click here for further information.
  
• Where: Maryborough Golf Club, 125 Park Road, Maryborough.
  
• When: Easter Monday, 10.30am to noon.

EXHIBITIONS AND PERFORMANCES

• What: Held at the iconic Bendigo Town Hall, the Easter Art Exhibition and Sales is the biggest regional art show in Victoria with more than 900 paintings on display and for sale. Cost to attend sessions is $10 per adult, children 15 and under free. Click here for further information.
  
• Where: Bendigo Town Hall, Hargreaves Street, Bendigo.
  
• When: Good Friday to Easter Sunday 9am to 5.30, Easter Monday 9am to 2.30pm.

• What: "The Way of the Cross" Bendigo's Passion Play will be held on Good Friday. There is expected to be 2000+ people for this production. The story told will be historically accurate and relationships potrayed will articulate the depths of love given to humankind. Come and be a part of the story of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Sponsored by Bendigo Easter Fair society, City of Greater Bendigo and Bendigo combined churches. Please bring a chair.
  
• Where: Rosalind Park, Bendigo.
  
• When: Good Friday, 7.30pm.

• Where: Visit an exhibition full of Bonsai Trees, trading tables and more. Entry $3, under 16 free. Click here for more information.
  
• Where: Uniting Church Hall, Forest Street, Bendigo
  
• When: Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday 10am to 5pm, Easter Monday, 10am to 3pm.

• What: Celebrate the Bendigo Woodturners Group and see an amazing display of finely crafted woodwork and associated items. Some items are for sale at reasonable prices. For further information click here. $5 entry.
  
• Where: Bendigo Trades Hall, 40 View Street, Bendigo.
  
• When: Good Friday to Easter Sunday, 9am to 5pm.

• What: The Bendigo Camera Club are hosting their print and projected image exhibition. There will be about 120 prints on display. $5 entry.
  
• Where: Dudley House, 60 VIew Street, Bendigo.
  
• When: Good Friday and Easter Saturday, 9.30am to 5pm, and Easter Sunday, 9.30am to 4.15pm.

• What: MacKenzie Hall will be transformed into a gallery exhibition, stay cosy with the addition of wine and cheese platters. Click here for more information.
  
• Where: Mackenzie Quarters, Mackenzie Street, Bendigo.
  
• When: Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday, 11am to 5pm, Easter Monday, 11am to 6pm.

• Email: addynews@austcommunitymedia.com.au
• Phone 5434 4470

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