Festival celebrates all things Maiden Gully

ALL things Maiden Gully will be celebrated when the Maiden Gully Progress Association holds its annual Autumn Festival on Sunday, May 5.The hit festival, now in its third instalment, will run from 10am to 3pm on the grounds of Balgownie Estate – Bendigo’s oldest commercial vineyard – at 46 Hermitage Road.

Entry will be by gold coin donation.

Progress association president James Proctor said the festival

was designed to showcase Maiden Gully and was primarily aimed at families.

“There’s an emphasis on local things and it’s been really, really successful,” Mr Proctor said.

Mr Proctor said the festival was originally planned to be held for the first time in 2020, but like most other activities was stopped by the Covid pandemic. The inaugural festival took place in 2022, with attendance and enthusiasm surprising its organisers.

“We were a tad overwhelmed by the success of the first year; we didn’t realise it was going to be quite as big,” Mr Proctor said.

He said both the first and second festivals attracted attendances of more than 1000 people.

“And Maiden Gully’s population is about 5000, so that’s not a bad effort,” he said.

The locally-themed roster of events, attractions and activities this year will include market stalls, live music, food and drink, a progress association raffle, face painting by Star Sparkles Face Painting and an appearance by The Amazing Mister Mike magician.

Star Sparkles Face Painting and The Amazing Mister Mike are both from Bendigo.

Another feature attraction will be Hannah’s Homestead Mobile

Farm of Rochester, a travelling petting zoo which will bring farm animals such as lambs and sheep, goats, chickens, ducks, rabbits, guinea pigs and even a turtle for the delight of children.