The torchlight procession brought with it the pinnacle of the celebrations on Easter Sunday, March 27th. Thousands of revellers lined up View Street and down McCrae street for the annual appreciation of Bendigo’s culture.
Dragon teams, dancing lions, Chinese cultural clothing, beating drums and many firecrackers. Many a child and adult find them to be the most amazing and entertaining element of the procession, never failing to create awe for the deep Chinese heritage for local and tourist alike.
Firetrucks both old and new were decked out in lights, representing our brave emergency servicemen and all our gratitude.
More eccentric floats and banners dedicated to all of the numerous community groups in Bendigo. From the scout troupes behind their banner or the motorcycle club with bikes covered in bright lights, the night ending with the dazzling fireworks show.
The longest continuously running festival in Australia has grown immensely from its meagre beginnings as a fund raiser for local health services organised by the Chinese community in the 1870’s gold rush.
The Bendigo Festival Advisory Board Chairman and Mayor of Greater Bendigo Rod Fyffe said about 50 floats took part in this year’s procession saying “What we are finding is there are more and more community groups entering and wanting to be part of not only the main gala parade on Sunday, but also the Torchlight Procession.”
“We do these events well and I am very grateful to everyone who makes a contribution and the people at the parade really appreciate what’s go into those floats.”
The crowd witnessing the festivities was definitely swelled more than a little by the tourists flowing into Bendigo. The weekend of music in Rosalind, rides in Tom flood’s sport arena, many activities such as the bull riding, laser tag and safe archery in the fun zone on McCrae street and the Marilyn Monroe exhibition in the gallery gave any tourist or local a busy weekend off.