This weekend Bendigo hosts the annual Bendigo Easter Festival with events starting Good Friday.
There will be multiple events staged in the city centre during the three day festival including bands, art and woodturning exhibitions, markets, performances in the parks, a torchlight procession and fireworks on Saturday and culminating on Sunday with the 145th Bendigo Gala Parade, which makes it the longest running festival in Australia.
The Bendigo Gala Parade will begin at the Queen Elizabeth Oval part of View Street, cascading down Pall Mall, venturing down McCrae Street before turning back to the Chinese Museum, home of the Parade’s centrepiece, Sun Loong the Imperial Dragon.
Sun Loong, a 100 metre long dragon acquired by the Chinese Association of Bendigo in 1969 had taken over from its predecessor ‘Loong’ that was brought to region in the 1800s. Just as the dragons and Chinese Association have a firm and beloved place in Bendigo’s traditions, the parade has sentimental traditions in the people that attend.
Local Suzie McLachlan and her children are fifth generation Bendigonians and had never missed a parade.
“Growing up it was tradition that every year we attend the Easter parade. If we went camping over the Easter break my parents ensured we were back in time to watch the day Parade. This is something that I have kept going with my children.”
Melbourne resident, Sharron O’Keefe will be travelling up to this year’s parade with her four year old daughter, Hope.
“Mum and Dad took me and my sister to the parade when I was Hope’s age. I like for Hope to experience things which I experienced as a child, hopefully she will grow up with memories and traditions which she will carry on with her children.”
The Bendigo Easter Fair runs from Friday 25th March to Sunday 27th March. For more information on events and locations visit www.bendigoeasterfair.com.au