Organisers pleased with Fair’s success

ONE-hundred and fifty years of citywide Easter celebrations culminated in a weather-affected three-day fair which organisers said was still a massive success.

While Monday’s major events and gala parade were rained out, visitors to the Bendigo Easter Fair were treated to egg hunts, markets, carnival rides over the weekend, and the popular torchlight procession on Sunday night.

“The three days we had were good,” president of the Bendigo Easter Fair Society, Simon Mulqueen said.

“The weather was fantastic, the crowds were enormous, and it was a fantastic 150th.”

Rosalind Park played home to the main stage, with Farmer Daryl’s mobile animal farm allowing for kids and families to make some furry friends.

Mundy Street came to life with the Bendigo TAFE Carnival Centre, Bull Street welcomed music lovers to its three-day festival, and there were plenty of exhibitions and performances all over town.

“We’re really grateful for all the people who get involved, the volunteers and supporters that help us put on a wonderful event,” Mr Mulqueen said.

“It brings a lot of people to Bendigo at Easter time, but also people that come and enjoy Bendigo at Easter time often come back during the year at other weekends. It’s got a knock-on effect in terms of bringing people to the city.”

Mr Mulqueen said it was great to see “bumper turnouts” at community group events such as the Woodturners Exhibition, the Y Club Book Fair and the Rotary Art Show.

“These things have been postponed for the past two years, I think there was a real need for people to get out and enjoy life,” he said.

Whether next year’s event will be four days again will be a decision for the City of Greater Bendigo, Mr Mulqueen said, but the four days is now the preferred format for the Easter Fair.