posted on 27 Feb 24 | by Explore Bendigo

Must Visit Autumn Events in Bendigo 

Autumn is one of Bendigo's most popular times of the year to visit. The region has an impressive line up of events and festivals to attend for everyone. Choose from arts and culture, food and wine, sporting and family-friendly events. Check out our must visit events below...

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Lost Trades Fair

9 – 10 March 
Lost Trades Fair is back March long weekend. If you appreciate fine craftsmanship and seeing artisans at work, be sure to mark your calendar. 
Check out more than 150 makers, artisans, tradespeople and crafts men and women; masters of their trade practising their craft for more than 60 years – enjoy live demonstrations, get up close, ask questions and take home something beautiful for yourself. 
The Lost Trades Fair is unique, captivating and possibly one of the most inspiring and authentic shows on earth. 

For more and tickets, click here.
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Heathcote Harvest Festival

10 March 
Celebrate the beginning of autumn and harvest in the Heathcote region with Heathcote Harvest Festival, at Barrack Reserve Heathcote. 
Enjoy an evening of twilight markets, wine, craft beer and spirts, food trucks, kid’s entertainment, and live music.  This is a FREE family-friendly event. So, grab your family and friends, your picnic blankets and chairs, and enjoy a great night out.

Click here for more info.
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Bendigo PRIDE Festival

13 - 24 March 
Join in the colourful fun that is Bendigo PRIDE Festival! Enjoy two weeks of arts, culture, events, ideas ad parties.
Highlights include a celebration of 50 years of The Rocky Horror Show with Nell Campbell, the Australian premiere of Musik by Joanthan Harvey and Pet Shop Boys, the Bendigo Queer Film Festival, Pride in the Park, and much more. 

For more info, click here.
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Paris: Impressions of Life 1880 – 1925

16 March – 14 July 
Bendigo Art Gallery is hosting yet another incredible exclusive exhibition, Paris: Impressions of Life 1880 – 1925. The exhibition will take visitors on a journey through the lively and picturesque streets of historic Paris. You can expect to see more than 170 works of art and artisans’ objects from the renowned collection of the Musée Carnavalet, an iconic museum of the history of Paris. Think artisan street signs, historic couture, decorative arts and everyday ephemera alongside paintings and graphic prints.

For more info and tickets, click here.
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Meatstock

16 – 18 March 
Warning, this event is a carnivore’s paradise of BBQ, music and madness! Meatstock is coming to Bendigo Showgrounds with the biggest line up of BBQ experts, an epic line up of live music, entertainment and competitions. Be sure to ring your appetite and be ready for an action-packed weekend. Plus, there’s onsite camping and shuttle buses running between the venue and Bendigo Railway Station. 

For more info, click here.
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Bendigo Easter Festival

29 March - 1 April
Bendigo Easter Festival is an annual tradition for locals and visitors alike. Held over the Easter long weekend, Bendigo’s beautiful Rosalind Park and surrounding streets will be transformed into a vibrant precinct bursting with family-friendly entertainment. 
The extensive program includes a hunt for 85,000 Easter Eggs on Good Friday, Carnival Central, the Rotary Market, live music, hands-on activities and performances. Enjoy the Awakening of the Dragon, the O'Brien Electrical & AC Torchlight Procession, concluding with a spectacular firework display over the city, plus the iconic Sherridon Homes Gala Parade on Easter Sunday featuring Dai Gum Loong, the world’s longest Imperial Dragon, weaving his way through the historic streetscapes of Bendigo.  

Check out the Easter Festival Program here.
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The O’Keefe Challenge

19 – 21 April
Are you the active type? Love running or bike riding? Follow the spectacular O'Keefe Rail Trail spanning from Heathcote to Bendigo, weaving its way through bushland, open fields, farms, and past Lake Eppalock with The O'Keefe Challenge. 
Choose your challenge from the Light the Trail Night Ride to a Marathon (42.2km), Half Marathon (21.1km), Ekiden Relay, 10km Fun Run, 5km Run / Walk Against Dementia, Kids Dash and a 500m events.

For more info, click here.
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Strategem Bendigo Winemakers Festival

13 April
Calling all wine lovers. Strategem Bendigo Winemakers Festival is back in the heart of Bendigo. Celebrate the region’s exceptional wines, the people who make them and another successful vintage. There’ll be a 100+ wines available for tasting, delicious food, fun entertainment, competitions and live music throughout the day. Join the grape stomp challenge or relax under the shady elms with your favourite wines.

Click here for more info and tickets.
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Illumin8: Festival of Light and Peace

13 May 
Be quick, this event is a sell out every year. Make your way to The Great Stupa for Illumin8, a celebration of peace and harmony inspired by Buddha’s life. It’s a family friendly event with beautiful light installations, cultural performances, food stalls and family entertainment.
Wander through the Peace Park and interact with different light sculptures, be amazed by the performers, take a selfie with the Stupa, enjoy delicious vegetarian and vegan food, join in on Buddhist ceremonies and purge your negative emotions in Burning the Bad.

Click here for more info.
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Heathcote on Show

8 – 10 June
Explore the best of the Heathcote region with Heathcote on Show. This is a great opportunity to explore the Heathcote region with more than 20 wineries, breweries and distilleries offering exclusive tastings, new releases, live music and gourmet food over the King’s Birthday long weekend. Grab a bus pass and visit cosy boutique cellar doors, relax in front of an open fire, meet the winemakers and enjoy a great weekend out.  

Click here for more info.