2025 Torchlight Procession and Gala Parade EOI Application Form

Expressions of Interest close Friday November 22, 2024

Welcome to the 2025 Easter Parades expression of interest form.

This is the first part of a two-step process.

We will notify you prior to Christmas, the success of your entry.

You will then be contacted in February to complete the 2nd and final part of your Parade application, where we will ask you to supply more detail information.

Information message

Please familiarise yourself with the key dates for the 2025 Easter Festival

Key Dates to Consider

Entry into the Torchlight Procession and/or Gala Parade is not automatic or guaranteed. The Bendigo Easter Festival reserves the right to select the parade entries according to the cultural and artistic values of your parade proposal.

To be eligible to apply, you must be an incorporated group, a school or community group, or a not-for-profit organization (with own public liability insurance to the value of five million dollars or more, and a current full comprehensive car insurance for the vehicle you will be using).

You must read, understand & agree with the Terms & Conditions of Parade Entry

If you are a business/commercial group, you will be required to work with a community group or partner to be eligible to enter.

Evidence of your partnership will be required in the form of a documented letter of support from the community group supporting your parade entry application.

Successful applicants must attend a parade briefing closer to the festival (either in person or online) and you will be allocated an assembly number and location prior to the parade.

PARADE SELECTION

Torchlight Procession - Saturday April 19, 2025
Procession begins at 7:00pm 
Procession assembly from 5:00pm - 6:30pm 
(NB. Entrants who arrive after 6:30pm will not be permitted entry to the procession)

Gala Parade - Sunday April 20, 2025 
Parade begins at 12:30pm 
Parade assembly from 10:00am - 12:00pm 
(NB. Entrants who arrive after 12:00pm will not be permitted entry to the parade)

We would like to enter the:

ABOUT YOUR GROUP AND ENTRY

Organisation type

Parade Entry Proposal

One file only.
100 MB limit.
Allowed types: pdf, doc, docx.
Will you have vehicles in your entry?
Do you have people in your entry?
Do you have children in your entry?
Do you have dogs in your entry?
Do you have music in your entry?
Do you intend to carry signs or banners in your entry

VEHICLES

  • We encourage all vehicles to be decorated as a celebration of your entry.
  • Each vehicle must designate a primary and secondary driver. Both drivers must travel in the same vehicle at all times, during the parade (driver details will be required closer to the date).
  • Each vehicle must be within the maximum dimensions – Length (12.50m)  Width (2.5m)  and Height (4.3m) – (NO semi-trailers) Under no circumstances should any trucks be towing a trailer. 
  • Victoria Police may conduct an on the spot security check of all drivers and their respondents prior to the parade. All drivers are to have ZERO alcohol and drug reading, and obey all traffic rules while on the parade route.
    (No consumption of alcohol at least 12 hours prior)
Type of vehicles, please select all
All vehicles must have a primary and secondary driver (motor bikes and bicycles which are exempt from 2 driver rule)
Are any of the vehicles considered private vehicles?

Warning message

Any private vehicles will be required to have a vehicle safety check by our nominated supplier.
Any Emergency service vehicles (including Fire brigade trucks) participating in the Easter parades must not be assigned operational response vehicle, this including parade assembly & dispersal

MARCHERS / WALKERS

Each entry can have a maximum number of 30 people
The length of the parade route is approximately 1.5km - Due to the distance of the parade route, children under 12 years old and the elderly are advised against walking the parade route, please transport them in a vehicle instead.

What are the people doing?

ANIMALS

For safety reason - No horses & livestock are permitted in the parades.

Only registered dogs are permitted in the parades. However, all dogs must be on a leash at all times. The owner of the dog must be responsible for picking up after their own dog’s waste & muzzling their dog if they normally wear one. 

One dog per person at all times. 
 

MUSIC

We encourage all non-instrumental entries to provide their own portable music which creates atmosphere along the parade route.

Is your music taped or live?
Are you a Pipe band or a Brass band?

SIGNAGE / PROPS

Signage/Props

Signage is a crucial component of your entry to help identify your group on the parade route.

You will be responsible for providing your own signage.

  • It must be at least 60cm x 60cm or longer.
  • It can be hand painted, stenciled or professionally painted
  • It can be carried by parade participants or attached to your vehicle.