Frequently Asked Questions
About the Bendigo Easter Festival
Over the Easter long weekend, Bendigo’s beautiful Rosalind Park and surrounding streets will be transformed into a vibrant precinct bursting with family-friendly entertainment.
An extensive program of activities and attractions offers something for all ages. Be in the hunt for 80,000 Easter Eggs on Good Friday, experience the thrills of Carnival Central, find a treasure at the Rotary Market, rock along to live music or keep the kids busy in a park filled with hands-on activities and performances.
Dance, drums, Lion teams and 100,000 crackers are all part of Awakening of the Dragon, as Bendigo celebrates its Chinese heritage in the Dai Gum San Precinct.
As the sun sets on Easter Saturday, cheer on the convoy of illuminated floats in the La Trobe University Torchlight Procession, commemorating the service of Rod Fyffe OAM. The evening will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display over the city.
Don’t miss the iconic Sherridon Homes Gala Parade on Easter Sunday where you’ll experience the excitement of Dai Gum Loong, the world’s longest Imperial Dragon, weaving his way through the historic streetscapes of Bendigo.
The Bendigo Easter Festival is filled with fun and excitement the whole family will enjoy, and after visiting this annual event it is sure to become your family’s Easter tradition!
The Bendigo Easter Festival is held annually over the Easter Long Weekend.
In 2025 the Bendigo Easter Festival will be held Good Friday April 18 – Easter Monday April 21.
The official program of events will take place from Good Friday to Easter Sunday in the main festival precinct surrounding Rosalind Park.
Some smaller events run by local community groups (held in various locations) will continue into Easter Monday.
The Bendigo Easter Festival is held throughout the Bendigo CBD. Key locations are Rosalind Park, Easter Fair Way (Bridge Street) and Park Road, Dai Gum San, Bull Street, Sidney Myer Place, William Vahland Place, and Mundy Street.
View the festival map
The majority of activities held during the Bendigo Easter Festival are free to visitors, however there are some activities that have a cost associated such as the amusement rides in Carnival Central, CFA Kids Amusement Rides, Farmer Darryl, CFA fire truck rides, Vision Australia Easter Egg Hunt.
During the festival there are a number of ways to find information:
- Event information will be available from the information tent, located in the centre of Rosalind Park.
- Our friendly staff at the Bendigo Visitor Centre in Pall Mall can help you with event information, as well as general information on visiting the Bendigo region.
- Program information and updates are available on our website and the Bendigo Easter Festival Facebook page
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About the program
Yes! The full program is available to view, download or print here.
La Trobe University Torchlight Procession - Commemorating the service of Rod Fyffe OAM
When: Easter Saturday April 19, 2025 at 7pm
Where: The parade route follows View St, Pall Mall, McCrae St, and Bridge St.
Sherridon Homes Gala Parade
When: Easter Sunday April 20, 2025 at 12.30pm
Where: The parade route follows View St, Pall Mall, McCrae St, and Bridge St
View the parade route on our festival map
For safety, all spectators must stay behind the blue line and/or fencing along the parade route during the parades.
If necessary, please use clearly signed pedestrian crossing locations to safely cross the road. Parade route must be clear before crossing.
Accessible viewing areas will be designated for both parades - see accessibility page more information.
A fireworks display will follow the conclusion of the La Trobe University Torchlight Procession on Saturday April 19. This display will take place at approximately 8.30pm, however this is subject to the procession finish time.
The display will be set off from the ground next to the Poppet Head in Rosalind Park.
The best viewing locations are Rosalind Park (near the Rotunda), Dai Gum San precinct, the Alexander Fountain, View Street, Queen Elizabeth Oval, and Barnard Street. View these locations on our festival map.
All livestock and pet owners are recommended to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety and comfort of their animals during this time.
No he does not.
The Awakening of the Dragon is held on Saturday April 19 at 11am. It is a traditional Chinese ceremony used to wake Dai Gum Loong from his year long slumber in preparation for his performance in the Sherridon Homes Gala Parade on Easter Sunday. He doesn’t come out of the museum for this performance. The event features a celebration filled with traditional lion and dragon dance and concludes with 100,000 firecrackers used to wake Dai Gum Loong.
Accessibility
More information on accessible amenities, parking and parade viewing is available on the accessibility page.
Access to amenities
Public toilets are located throughout the CBD and festival precinct.
Locations are:
• Rosalind Park
• Mews Laneway (behind the Bendigo Visitor Centre)
• McCrae Street Car Park
• Queen Elizabeth Oval
• Tom Flood Sports Centre
• Hargreaves Street
View locations on our festival map
Find information about accessible amenities on our accessibility page.
First Aid will be on site during the festival and will be in the centre of Rosalind Park (near the Rotunda). First Aiders will also be actively out and about on foot or bike so give them a wave if you require assistance.
Three Coliban Water Hydration Stations will be in available in the festival precinct:
- At the View Street entrance to Rosalind Park
- In Rosalind Park, near the Sidney Myer Place Bridge
- Dai Gum San precinct
Don't forget to bring your drink bottle!
A parenting room will be available in Rosalind Park.
Getting to the festival
Several road closures and detours will be in place in the Bendigo CBD in the week leading up to and during the Easter weekend. These closures/detours will be in effect from Wednesday April 16 to Monday 21 April 2025.
For full details, visit the Road Closure page
Public transport – disruption to bus services
Public Transport will operate over the Easter weekend. Some services may be impacted by road closures during the event. Visit the PTV website for details.
Temporary Tow Away Zone
To facilitate a safe public event, no unauthorised vehicles will be permitted within the Bendigo Easter Festival precinct/road closure areas during event times.
These areas have been declared a temporary tow away zone. Please do not park or leave your car overnight in the tow away zone. Any unauthorised vehicle left in the road closure area will be towed to a location outside of the closure area.
- If your vehicle is parked is in the tow away area, it will be reported to Victoria Police. Victoria Police will attempt to contact you.
- If you are uncontactable, then your vehicle will be towed to a location in the city centre (outside the closure)
- Please ring the Bendigo Easter Festival Event Operations Centre on 5434 6112 for information on how to collect your vehicle.
To facilitate a safe public event, no unauthorised vehicles will be permitted within the Bendigo Easter Festival precinct/road closure areas during event times.
These areas have been declared a temporary tow away zone. Please do not park or leave your car overnight in the tow away zone. Any unauthorised vehicle left in the road closure area will be towed to a location outside of the closure area.
Please refer to the road closure map to see affected areas.
road closure map
- If your vehicle is parked is in the tow away area, it will be reported to Victoria Police. Victoria Police will attempt to contact you.
- If you are uncontactable, then your vehicle will be towed to a location in the city centre (outside the closure)
- Please ring the Bendigo Easter Festival Event Operations Centre on 5434 6112 for information on how to collect your vehicle.
Public Transport will operate over the Easter weekend. Some services may be impacted by road closures during the event. Visit the PTV website for details.
Avoid traffic and parking woes, arrive at the Bendigo Easter Festival on board one of Bendigo’s iconic trams! Park at Central Deborah Gold Mine, Lake Weeroona or the Bendigo Joss House Temple and catch a tram to and from the CBD. Tickets are valid all day, allowing you to come and go from the festival as often as you like. $5 per person. Children aged 15 years and under are free.
Dates: Good Friday to Easter Sunday, 18-20 April 2025
Times: Shuttle Trams will depart approximately every 20 minutes from 9:30am - 5:00pm
Stops: (below stops travel to and from the CBD)
- Central Deborah Gold Mine
- Charing Cross
- Tramways Depot and Cafe
- Lake Weeroona
- The Joss House Temple
Tickets: Tickets are valid for the full day of purchase, allowing you to come and go from the festival as often as you like.
Cost: Shuttle Trams cost $5 per person, and children (15 and under) are FREE of charge. BOOK ONLINE HERE.
Tickets can also be purchased from the Tram Conductor on board.
Please note: There will not be any commentary playing on board the Shuttle Trams.
Park n Ride Map
Timetables and tickets available online at www.bendigotramways.com
During the festival, two multi-story car parks will be open free of charge:
Hargreaves Street (opposite Bendigo Library)
Good Friday: 7am – 8pm
Saturday: 7am – 11pm
Easter Sunday: 7am – 8pmEdward Street
Good Friday: 7am – 8pm
Saturday: 7am – 11pm
Easter Sunday: 7am –8pm
Please note the following car parks will be closed at times during the festival:
- The McCrae Street car park will be closed and declared a temporary tow away zone from 6pm Thursday April 17 until 6am Tuesday April 22, 2025
- The Queen Elizabeth Oval car park will be closed and declared a temporary tow away zone from 6am Saturday April 19 until 6pm Sunday April 20, 2025
- The Tom Flood Sports Centre carpark will be closed and declared a temporary tow away zone from 6am Saturday April 19 until 6pm Sunday April 20, 2025
Long vehicle parking will be available at:
- Bath Lane
- Hopetoun Street
- Hargreaves Street
Please refer to the City of Greater Bendigo Car Parking Map for specific locations
*Please note the Sidney Myer Place and Bridge Street/Park Road long vehicle parking will not be available during the festival.
Coach parking will be available at Tom Flood Sports Centre on Friday only.
Coach parking at Tom Flood Sports Centre will not be permitted from 6am Saturday April 19 to 6pm Sunday April 20, 2025.
There is no coach parking available close to the festival precinct on Saturday and Sunday. It is recommended coaches drop off patrons and seek parking outside of the CBD. Please email the festival directly if you need further assistance.
Jump on your bike and avoid the hassle of parking a car. Bike parking is available in Rosalind Park (View Street end) from 10am - 5pm Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. This area is unsupervised so remember to bring your bike locks and don't forget your helmet.
Designated accessible parking close to the festival precinct will be available Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Williamson Street between Hargreaves Street and Pall Mall.
The following accessible parking will be available for parade times only:
• McCrae Street (near Chapel/Bridge Street intersection)
• Mitchell Street (Pall Mall end)
• Mackenzie Street (View Street end)
• Bath Lane (access via Mitchell Street)
Please display accessible parking permit at all times and present to traffic controller to access the areas available for parade times only.
These locations have been detailed in the accessibility map.
More information on accessibility at the festival can found on our accessibility page.
Other FAQ
The friendly staff at the Bendigo Visitor Centre can help you with all your accommodation booking needs. Or you can book your accommodation online here.
Bendigo Visitor Centre
51-67 Pall Mall Bendigo
P: 03 5434 6060
Freecall: 1800 813 153
E: [email protected]
If you are still on the festival site, visit the information / lost person tent located in the centre of Rosalind Park (near the Rotunda) to see if the item has been handed in.
If you’ve already left the festival, shoot an email to [email protected] and let us know the details. We’ll be in touch if the item is handed in.
No, however there is one located on Pall Mall opposite the food court.
If you become separated from someone, please go directly to the information / lost person tent located in the middle of Rosalind Park (near the Rotunda), and request assistance. You can also ask event staff or security staff for assistance – look for the hi-vis vests!
Wrist bands will be available at the Bendigo Visitor Centre and the information / lost person tent. These can be used to ensure your person always has the name and mobile number of their parent/guardian with them. This is very helpful for young children who are not able to verbalise these details, and makes for a quicker reunion.
Before you come to the festival, we encourage you to make a plan with your person/s on what to do should you become separated during the event.
Please be respectful of others and move outside the event precinct and away from crowded areas to smoke and/or vape. This includes the parade route.
Pets are not permitted within the festival precinct. However, assistance animals are very welcome.
The main food court will located in Sidney Myer Place. It will be open from 10am - 5pm on Friday and Sunday, and 10am - 10.30pm on Saturday.
There will also be food vendors located in Rosalind Park from 10am - 5pm, Friday - Sunday.
See locations on event map
In the event of severe weather conditions please refer to the Easter Festival Facebook page for the latest information.
