Egg-cellent Easter festival in Bacchus Marsh

CHOCOLATE eggs will be hidden to be found and rides, activities and entertainment will be there to be enjoyed at a festival in Bacchus Marsh today, Good Friday 3 April.

The Bacchus Marsh Easterfest is being held at Maddingley Park from 9.30am to 4pm.

There will be egg hunts, a bonnet parade, rides, an animal farm, a market, food and stage performances.

Organiser Dotty Hazell said that the festival’s committee and volunteers enjoyed hosting a family-fun festival in town.

“We have noticed over the years by way of postcode collection with ticket sales and feedback that a lot of families and friends come to the festival from up to an hour or more drive away as it’s the middle point for them to meet up,” she said.

“So it’s become a bit of a tourist attraction for Moorabool Shire as well.”

Mrs Hazell said money from the festival was raised for Bacchus Marsh Hospital’s urgent care department.

Since 2015, the festival has donated about $65,507.

“Initially it was to do something fun on Good Friday,” she said. “We were three mums who had all had our kids and/or husbands in at emergency at Bacchus Marsh and saw the need to help.”

Mrs Hazell said she had a feeling of achievement that the festival team could contribute such an event to the town.

“I see smiles on everyone’s faces, laughter, people relaxing by the food court listening to whomever is performing on stage,” she said.

“People shopping at the stalls, kids and adults waiting in line for the rides or the hunts and I take it all in and say, this is why I do it.”

Entry is free. There will be 11 hunts for mixed-aged groups from 10am to 2pm. On departure, buckets not full will be topped up at the exit area.

Remaining tickets will be available for purchase from the information tent. Dogs on short leads are welcome. More information at bacchusmarsheasterfest.org.