Hop Into The Bendigo Region This Easter

Bendigo Easter Festival

3 – 6 April
Get ready for one of Bendigo’s most cherished traditions, Bendigo Easter Festival is back! Bring the whole family along for an unforgettable Easter long weekend as Rosalind Park and the surrounding streets come alive with colour, fun and entertainment for all ages. Enjoy…
•    Vision Australia Easter Egg Hunt, with over 100,000 eggs waiting to be found on Good Friday.
•    Carnival Central filled with rides, the Rotary Market, live music and creative hands-on fun.
•    The Awakening of the Dragon, the La Trobe University Torchlight Procession & spectacular fireworks display on Saturday.
•    The show stopping Sherridon Homes Gala Parade on Easter Sunday, featuring Dai Gum Loong, the world’s longest Imperial Dragon, weaving through our beautiful historic streets.

Curiosity: Building Breakthroughs in Lego® Bricks

Until 29 November
Get ready to spark your curiosity and imagination at CURIOSITY: Building Breakthroughs in LEGO® Bricks, now on at the Discovery Science & Technology Centre. Created by Ryan “Brickman” McNaught and his talented team, this hands-on adventure brings science, technology, engineering and maths to life using everyone’s favourite building blocks! What’s waiting inside?
•    A towering 7.5 metre NASA Space Launch System rocket.
•    Lifesize LEGO® builds of the Mars Rover Perseverance and Ingenuity helicopter.
•    Interactive zones where kids (and grown-ups!) can play, build and invent their own LEGO® masterpieces.

Giant Outdoor Play

Forget snakes & ladders, come on down to the Bendigo Sign and join our Chinese dragons for a giant game of Dragons & Ladders. This colourful, supersized version of the classic game is laid out across the Piazza in the heart of Bendigo and promises loads of fun for the whole family.
And the fun doesn’t stop there. Keep the kids moving with our Hop, Scotch, Jump! footpath decals, waiting for you in…
•    View Street, Bendigo (near Peachy)
•    Brooke Street, Inglewood
•    High Street, Heathcote (just up from the playground)

Discovery Science & Technology Centre

And the fun doesn’t stop with CURIOSITY. The Discovery Centre is packed with hands-on adventures you won’t find anywhere else. Kids and grown-ups can… 
•    Take the plunge down the 7.2 metre vertical slide, zooming at speeds of 30–40km/h!
•    Meet and feed the lovable Central Bearded Dragons, Pogo and Priscilla.
•    Get up close to fascinating creatures like spiny leaf and crown stick insects.
It’s the perfect spot for curious minds, brave adventurers, and families ready for a day full of fun and discovery.

Become a Miner for a Day

Get ready to travel back in time on a vintage tram ride through Bendigo’s beautiful historic streets. Hop off at Central Deborah Gold Mine and let the whole family step into the extraordinary world of gold mining.
Start above ground where you can pan for real gold, see the engine room, explore authentic mining buildings from the blacksmith’s shop to the carbide lamp room, and stand beneath the towering poppet head.
Then the real adventure begins. Pop on your hard hat and head 61 metres underground to discover what life was really like for the miners of Bendigo. Wander through tunnels, see mining drills in action, and even spot real gold glittering in the quartz walls.

Catch a Movie

24 March – 14 July  
Enjoy a cosy family night out as Star Cinema brings nostalgic favourites back to the big screen every Tuesday. 
Set inside the historic Eaglehawk Town Hall, this boutique cinema is loved for its comfy couches and relaxed, homey vibe, perfect for a memorable mid-week outing.

Grab a Play Passport

There’s no better way to explore the region and have fun at the same time. Grab a Play Passport from any participating businesses or Visitor Centres and start exploring. Simply visit a ‘Play’ venue and stamp your Passport. Fill your passport with stamps to go in the draw to win the legendary Golden Ticket – a Bendigo Tram Driver for a Day experience valued at $1,950. Let’s play!

Duck & Seek

24 March – 19 July
12 cheeky ducks are hiding all over the Bendigo Region waiting for you to find them.
Seek each duck, jot down their secret numbers, add them all together, and pop your answer in the draw for a chance to win a prize.

Bendigo Art Galley Holiday Program

7 – 10 April 
Bendigo Art Gallery’s Learn Team are transforming Dudley House Gallery into a fun, hands on creative space for families. Kids can build, experiment and let their imaginations run wild, whether they’re making bold wearable pieces from LEGO® Bricks or discovering the magic of cyanotype blueprints.
LEGO® Bricks Crafted Couture: 7 – 8 April
The Art of Light: Cyantype Creations: 9 – 10 April 

Fun at Hargreaves Mall

Hargreaves Mall is filled with all kinds of fun and playful activities throughout the school holidays. 
Imaginary Jungle: 3 – 19 April
Hargreaves Mall will become a canvas for imagining a jungle-like atmosphere via a soundscape, animated video, augmented reality, live projected digital puppet show and music performance to spark your imagination. 
Giant Chess Set & School Holiday Craft: 7 – 18 April (excluding Sundays)
Take on the challenge of a giant chess set or make your own icy pole stick puzzle to take home amongst other crafty activities.
Bit Sketchi Bendigo: 10 April 
Let your creativity flow, draw and paint quick, quirky and colourful sketches of local Bendigo buildings and iconic landmarks.

Bendigo Pottery Workshops

8 – 17 April 
Looking for a creative family activity? Bendigo Pottery has you covered. Their hands on workshops invite kids and adults to dive into the world of clay through wheel throwing and decorating classes. It’s perfect for all ages and skill levels.

Nature-Based Fun at Peppergreen Farm

7 - 18 April
Head to Peppergreen Farm for nature‑inspired activities the whole family will love. Kids can enjoy outdoor games, self‑guided craft packs, garden exploring and a special kids’ menu at the café. There’s even a new dog‑friendly eating area, so furry friends are welcome too.
Activities are free, self-guided, and perfect for ages 3–12, while parents can sit back with a coffee as the kids play and get creative.

Open weekdays 9am–3pm and Saturdays 9am–2pm.

Nature is Calling

Greater Bendigo’s backyard is bursting with opportunities to explore, discover, and connect with the great outdoors. Learn about native plants, animals and birds, and how we look after our climate and environment. Perfect for curious kids and nature-loving families, check out these hands-on events and dive into the wonders of the natural world:
🦜 Kennington Reservoir Bird & Nature Walk: 8th April
🦇 Evening Bat Fly-Out #1: 8th April
🦉 Crusoe Reservoir Bird & Nature Walk: 9th April
🦜 Lake Tom Thumb Nature Walk: 13th April  
🦉 Nature by Night - O'Keefe: 13th April
🌺 Nell Gwynne Reserve Nature Walk: 14th April 
🦇 Evening Bat Fly-Out #2: 14th April
🦜 Goldleaf Wetland Bird & Nature Walk: 16th April
🦇 Bats of Bendigo: 18th April

Whether you’re a little explorer or just love being outside, Bendigo’s natural wonders are ready to be discovered.

Rheola Charity Carnival

The Rheola Charity Carnival has been delivering authentic country entertainment since 1871.
Held every Easter Monday, the event raises funds for the Inglewood and Dunolly Hospitals, as well as the Rheola Public Hall and Pioneers Park. With a wide range of activities and displays, it offers a fun-filled day for the whole family, featuring sheepdog trials, woodchopping, foot races, and much more.