Easter Festival to remember Cr Fyffe

THE program for the 2025 Bendigo Easter Festival, one of the longest running community events in Australia, has been released with parades, cultural experiences, family-friendly entertainment and community events among the many highlights.

This year the late former mayor Cr Rod Fyffe will be honoured with a special name for the Easter Saturday night torchlight parade, the La Trobe University Torchlight Procession – Commemorating the service of Rod Fyffe OAM.

Other highlights include the Way of the Cross theatrical performance on Good Friday, re-telling the story of the trial, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, plus the Bendigo Foodshare Easter Bookfair across all four days, which in 2025 has found a home at MacGillivray Hall in McCrae Street.

The weekend reaches a crescendo on Easter Sunday with the Gala Parade, featuring bands, cultural groups, dance troupes, sporting clubs, school groups and the world’s longest Imperial Dragon, Dai Gum Loong.

Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said she was immensely proud of Bendigo’s homegrown festival.

“The Bendigo Easter Festival delivers an outstanding program where visitors and residents can experience living history and wonderful cultural performances showcasing Bendigo’s Chinese heritage, complemented with fun attractions and activities to suit people of all ages,” Cr Metcalf said.

“It takes a community to build a successful festival like ours and I would like to take this opportunity to thank (our) premium sponsor Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine, the Bendigo Easter Fair Society, (and) a dedicated team of City of Greater Bendigo staff, volunteers, and community groups.”

The 2025 Bendigo Easter Festival takes place from Good Friday, 18 April, to Easter Monday, 21 April.

Access the program on the Festival website.