Easter Fair and everything else that’s on this weekend

THE Bendigo Easter Fair returns this long weekend, bringing with it road closures, changes to public transport and COVID-19 protocols.

With a main focus on Rosalind Park and nearby streets, the four day event from Good Friday to Easter Monday has fun for the whole family, so here’s the nuts and bolts of what you need to know about getting there and around.

Street and laneways shutdowns are centred on the CBD, with Sidney Myer Place the first to shut as of yesterday morning.

Other closures include parts of View, Williamson, Bull, Mundy and Bridge Streets, as well as Pall Mall and Park Road.

North bound traffic detours are marked on High, Forest, Rowan, View and Barnard Streets or Chapel, Hargreaves, Baxter and Napier Streets.

South bound drivers can re-route via Barnard and Don Streets, while those coming from Napier Street or McIvor Highway can take Myers and Wills Streets to bypass the fair.

Roads will reopen at different times throughout the long weekend, the last of which by early Tuesday morning.

Bus diversions will affect 5, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 60, 61, 64 and 70 routes, with some stops to close from Friday to Monday.

Pet owners should be advised fireworks and firecrackers are scheduled on Saturday and Sunday.

While attendees don’t need to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination to get into the event precinct, specific activities may require it.

For more information, including frequently asked questions, visit the Bendigo Easter Fair website.

 

The long weekend is looking sweet!

 

COMBINED BENDIGO FIRE BRIGADES KIDS’ RIDES. 10am to 5pm, Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Monday, 10am to 8.30pm on Easter Sunday. Amusement rides for small members of the family. William Vahland Place, Bull Street. $4 per person.

 

BENDIGO TAFE CARNIVAL CENTRE. 10am to 11pm, Good Friday to Easter Sunday; 10am to 6pm, Easter Monday. Thrilling rides and sideshows. Mundy Street.

 

VISION AUSTRALIA EASTER EGG HUNT. 10am to 5pm, Good Friday. Rosalind Park. 85,000 Easter eggs to find over various timeslots for different age groups, with visits from Vision Australia’s Seeing Eye Dogs. $11 per person, bookings via bit.ly/3LLzkyf.

 

ROTARY MARKET. 9am to 4pm, Good Friday and Easter Monday. Bridge Street and Park Road. Expansive market with over 200 stalls with a range of arts and craft, collectables and produce.

 

BENDIGO’S PASSION PLAY: WAY OF THE CROSS. 8pm to 9pm, Good Friday. Steps of The Capital Theatre. An outdoor theatrical presentation of the story of Jesus Christ. Last performed 22 years ago. BYO chair.

 

BULL STREET MUSIC FESTIVAL. 2pm to 11pm, Good Friday to Easter Sunday. Bull Street. Over 25 acts in a street music festival. Tickets $20 and available at bhgrp.com.au/BullStreetEaster22.

 

BENDIGO WOODTURNERS EXHIBITION. 10am to 5pm, Good Friday – Easter Saturday; 10am to 4pm, Easter Sunday. Bendigo Trades Hall, 36-40 View Street. An exhibition of finely crafted woodwork and associated crafts. $5 per person, kids free. Tickets available at the door.

 

ROTARY EASTER ART SHOW. 9am to 5.30pm, Good Friday to Easter Sunday; 9am to 1.30pm, Easter Monday. Bendigo Town Hall, 189 – 193 Hargreaves Street. Exhibition of purchasable works from a range of amateur and professional artists. $10 per person, kids under 15 free.

 

EASTER BOOK FAIR. 9am to 5pm Good Friday to Easter Sunday; 9am to 1pm, Easter Monday. Tom Tweed YMCA Stadium, 47 Mundy Street. Y Service Club of Bendigo’s annual fundraiser of good quality second-hand books. Free entry.

 

BENDIGO STEAM WEEKEND. Various times from Good Friday to Easter Monday. Bendigo Railway Station. Ride historical steam shuttles at Bendigo and Echuca. Ticket prices range from $40 to $290. For full timetable and bookings visit steamrail.com.au/tours.

 

A PARADE OF QUILTS. 11am to 4pm, Good Friday; 10am to 4pm Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday; 10am to 3pm, Easter Monday. St. Andrews Hall, Myers Street, Bendigo. Large and small handmade quilts from the Bendigo and District Quilters. $5 per person, kids free. Tickets available at the door.

 

WADAIKO RINDO JAPANESE DRUMMERS. Various times on Good Friday. Poppet Head, Rosalind Park. Energetic, and dynamic drumming performance. Free.

 

THE BELLS PERFORMANCE. 4pm, Good Friday; 4pm and 7pm Easter Saturday; 6pm, Easter Sunday; and 4pm, Easter Monday. Queen Victoria Gardens, Pall Mall. Aerial performance by physical theatre company 5 Angry Men. Free.

 

MODEL RAILWAY EXHIBITION. 10am to 5pm, Easter Saturday; 10am to 3pm Easter Sunday. Baptist Church Function Centre, 757 McIvor Hwy, Junortoun. 12 displays and a U Drive working model for children. Children $4, Adults $12, Family $25. Tickets available at the door.

 

BENDIGO ANTIQUE FAIR. 10am to 5pm, Easter Saturday; 10am to 4pm, Easter Sunday; 10am to 3pm, Easter Monday. Truscott Reserve, Murdock Street, California Gully. Exhibition of collectable antiques, all available for purchase. Entry $10 per person.

 

BONSAI EXHIBITION. 10am to 5pm, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday; 10am to 3pm, Easter Monday. Uniting Church Hall, 25 Forest Street, Bendigo. Display of the bonsai trees created by our local club artists. $3 per person.

 

TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION. 7pm to 8.30pm, Easter Sunday. View Street, McCrae Street and Bridge Street. Streetscape illuminated by entries from local emergency services, community groups and the Bendigo Chinese Association, concluding with a firework display over Rosalind Park.

 

GALA PARADE. 12.30pm to 3pm, Easter Monday. View Street, McCrae Street and Bridge Street. Traditional parade featuring bands, cultural groups, dance troupes, sporting clubs and school groups, as well as the return of dragon Dai Gum Loong.