Bunnies, dragons, and bull: your guide to Bendigo Easter Festival

Witness the world's longest imperial dragon Dai Gum Loong awake from his slumber and weave through the township!

Since 1871, the Bendigo Easter Festival has been a cornerstone of community spirit, blending history, culture, and family fun into one unforgettable long weekend. This Easter, from 3–6 April, Rosalind Park and the surrounding streets will once again bloom with colour, laughter, and the irresistible scent of chocolate as Bendigo comes alive in celebration.

Bendigo Easter Festival

When: 3 – 6 April 2026

Where: Across Bendigo city centre

Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.

 

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Families can dive into the joy of Carnival Central, explore treasures at the expansive Rotary Market, and be mesmerised by extraordinary roving performers as they meander through the picturesque parklands. The festival also honours Bendigo’s rich Chinese heritage. At the Dai Gum San Precinct, the Chinese Spring Festival and the Awakening of the Dragon feature Lion teams, rhythmic drumming, and the thunderous crackle of 100,000 crackers, culminating in an awe-inspiring spectacle of culture and colour.

Music lovers will find themselves immersed in the Bull Street Music Festival, which brings three days of live entertainment showcasing the very best of local and regional talent. Good Friday kicks off with performances by Sean K Acoustic & DJ, Mia Mazzarella, Paul & Bec, Sherri Parry, Iffy Pop, Loud Times, Czech Mates, RedJar, Boots N All and finishes with Loudify. On Easter Saturday, audiences can enjoy Tara Muscatello, Crimson Reverie, Steve & Ryan McPartlane & Friends, Olly & Gordo, Sattva Arising, Josh DeAraugo & Jordan Allen, Funkle, Harlem, Helium, and the SOS ABBA Tribute Show, while Easter Sunday features Tarah Frawley, Peter Sajko, Dre & Harv, Alli & Andrew, and Min & the Colin Band. The festival’s music program promises a mix of acoustic soul, pop, funk, tribute shows, and family-friendly performances, creating an electrifying soundtrack to the weekend’s celebrations.

Good Friday also features the Easter Egg Hunt, where more than 4,500 children will search for 100,000 chocolate eggs hidden among the straw of Rosalind Park. Visitors can meet Vision Australia’s Seeing Eye Dogs, enjoy hands-on workshops, dance performances, and science shows on the Fosterville Gold Mine Main Stage. Saturday night comes alive with the La Trobe Torchlight Procession, a parade of illuminated floats winding through the city before a spectacular fireworks finale. Easter Sunday brings the Sherridon Homes Gala Parade, with Bendigo’s newest pride—the Dragon Dai Gum Loong, the world’s longest Imperial Dragon—making its debut solo performance.

A special treat this year is the return of Violet, the six-metre-tall Kewpie doll from the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Closing Ceremony. Restored and displayed beside the Alexander Fountain at Bendigo Piazza, Violet pays tribute to the extraordinary volunteers who have sustained the Easter Fair for over a century. Festival-goers can also experience her digitally in the Living Art Space exhibition, marking the 100th anniversary of the Bendigo Easter Fair Society.

From parades and live music to markets, stage shows, and cultural celebrations, the Bendigo Easter Festival offers a vibrant and immersive weekend for the whole family—one destined to become a cherished Easter tradition.

To explore the full Bendigo Easter Festival program and plan your three days, head here.