The New Bendigonian Gig Guide – Vol.1 No.1 April 2026
What’s The Buzz? Tell Me What’s Happening around Bendigo. The first edition of our Bendigo Gig Guide … this is the collector’s edition! Bookmark if you want, we update our Local’s Guide to Bendigo Events regularly. Please scroll down to contact us if you have an event to include.
The 2026 Bendigo Easter Festival blends tradition, spectacle, and community celebration across the long weekend, anchored by centenary events marking 100 years of the Bendigo Easter Fair Society. Highlights include a multimedia exhibition at the Visitor Centre on Pall Mall, and the return of “Violet,” the giant Kewpie doll, installed in Rosalind Park.
Good Friday features the massive Vision Australia Easter Egg Hunt from 9 am in Rosalind Park, the Rotary Market, and an evening Way of the Cross. Across the weekend, Rosalind Park becomes the main hub with live music, family entertainment, food stalls, and activities like gold panning.
Easter Saturday brings the Awakening of the Dragon, live performances in Rosalind Park including Freddie tribute Queen Rhapsody, markets, and the Torchlight Procession ending in fireworks.
The festival’s centrepiece, the Gala Parade on Easter Sunday, showcases cultural groups and the famous Imperial dragon Dai Gum Loong. Read about the surprisingly Australian history of Chinese dragon parades. The Golden Dragon Museum has extended opening to show off some incredibly rare and beautiful artefacts. A local’s tip … enjoy an authentic succulent Chinese meal at the Emperor’s Dragon Restaurant, part of the Dragon Museum at 11 Bridge St, Bendigo. Try the Peking Duck and tell them that Iris sent you 😉
Additional attractions include augmented reality experiences in Hargreaves Mall, and Carnival Central rides as Mundy Street is turned into sideshow alley. We had a look at them setting up today and, like everything else about this festival, it is huge! Dodgem cars, ghost train, an alien spaceship, laughing clowns and much more!
The free Bull Street Music Festival has three days of peace and music that has its own full page of events featuring the very best of our local and regional talent.
Friday includes: Iffy Pop, Lost in the Past, Boots N All, Loudify.
Saturday evening includes Funkle, Harlem, Helium, and the SOS ABBA Tribute Show.
Sunday has Soul Contact, Alli & Andrew and Min & the Colin Band closes the festival.
Did we mention that all of that is free?!
Scroll down for film, theatre & live performances and road closures during the Easter Festival. And while you’re down there, leave a comment if you have other suggestions for our gig guide, or if you went to one of these events … we’d love to hear from you.
We’ve written a history of Kewpie Dolls & Kewpie Cartoons.
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Live Music in Bendigo
The April gig guide for Bendigo’s premier live music venue Golden Vine Hotel includes Thursday night’s Open Mic Night (the local talent is very very good), Guns and Roses Tribute on Staurday 18th; and Starman’s Bowie Tribute Show on Saturday 25th April. The pub has great counter lunches and Monday is $24 Steak Night.
Tribute lovers are well catered for, with Santana and The Doobie Brothers reimagined at The Capital, and ABBA returning in full singalong glory in early May. For something more personal, Aled Jones delivers stories and songs in a reflective evening, while Southern Sons bring their classic hits back to the stage on 25 April.
The local music industry has banded together to put together their gig guide which is the best listing of who is playing where … support Live Music Bendigo.
If you prefer a club environment, All Seasons Resort Hotel on McIvor Rd is showing Sons of Aussie Rock at 8:30pm, Friday 24th April. All Seasons is a favourite lunch spot for local Bendigonians – they do very good meals at reasonable prices.
While we’re talking live music, check out Harley Parker‘s photo exhibition at Shedshaker Brewing Company in Castlemaine of live music from the 1970s supporting his new book ‘Just One In The Crowd’ … Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, and a swag of Aussie bands including Bon Scott pre-AC/DC.
Seriously – check out Harley Parker’s photos … they bring back a ton of memories, just like good photos should!
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Bendigo’s Theatre & Live Performance — April Highlights
April leans heavily into music, movement, and a touch of nostalgia across Bendigo’s stages. The month opens with the Jane Barnes Band bringing an intimate, family-centred performance to Ulumbarra, followed quickly by the high-energy spectacle of K-Pop Icons Live. Local talent shines in the Bendigo Youth Music Autumn Camp Gala, while Oshun at The Engine Room offers something more elemental—dance, drumming, and myth woven into a solo performance.
Family-friendly theatre has a strong presence, from the playful chaos of Emma Memma to the whimsical search in Where is the Green Sheep? Meanwhile, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow rolls into town on 30 April with a mixed bag of sharp, touring stand-up.
Running alongside the headline acts are ongoing programmes like View Street Amplified, Live on View, and Cushion Concerts, keeping live music and performance ticking steadily through the city. At Dudley House, Running on Empty – The Power of Play adds an immersive, thought-provoking exhibition to the mix.
In short: whether you’re chasing a big night out, a quiet cultural fix, or something to keep the kids entertained, Bendigo’s stages are doing their best to make sure you don’t stay home.
Art House Cinema … Star Cinema, Eaglehawk Town Hall
Set inside the stately Eaglehawk Town Hall, Star Cinema is Bendigo’s unapologetic art house cinema—programmed for cinephiles who like to read a good movie and storylines that don’t come with a marketing tie-in. The couches are plush, the lighting forgiving, and the bar stocked with local wines that make you feel vaguely European even before the opening credits roll.
And speaking of Europe, the current programme leans gloriously French, with the Alliance Française French Film Festival taking over the screen. Expect wit, romance, existential dread, and at least one scene involving cigarettes and a long, meaningful silence. In other words—cinema. Here are the current screenings at Star Cinema, Eaglehawk.
Alliance Française French Film Festival is showing at Star Cinema, Eaglehawk Town Hall, Peg Leg Rd, on the 17th to 19th & 24th to 26th April 2026 – Adult: $24 – Star Cinema Members: $17 – All Concession: $19
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Bendigo Cinemas
Over at Bendigo Cinemas: Ryan Gosling in the sci-fi Hail Mary will be good on the big screen, and for the kids: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Disney Pixar’s Hopper are amongst the fare showing in the recently refurbished six cinemas. Bendigo Cinemas is situated just a short walk from the CBD at 107 Queen Street, Bendigo.
The Australian documentary Dance for Your Life (2026) – Ten rising Australian dancers from Brent Street Performing Arts School set their sights on the global stage, travelling to London to audition for Shapehaus Dance Theatre under the watchful eye of choreographer Dean Lee—each vying for a coveted place in the company.
Talking Pictures session led by a Bendigo Art Gallery Guide
If you like your art with a side of conversation—and preferably without someone whispering “I don’t get it” at full volume—this one’s for you.
On the fourth Friday of each month, a Bendigo Art Gallery guide leads a Talking Pictures session: a relaxed, half-hour gathering built around a single artwork. It’s less lecture, more lively exchange—an opportunity to look a little closer, think a little deeper, and hear how others see the same piece entirely differently.
Held at Galkangu’s Yapenya Meeting Room, the sessions draw a mix of curious locals, seasoned gallery-goers, and those who simply enjoy a good chat that doesn’t involve the weather. There’s no cost, no bookings, and no pressure to say anything profound—though someone inevitably will.
When: Every fourth Friday, 10:30am–11:00am Upcoming dates: 24th April, 29th May, 26th June 2026
Where: Galkangu Bendigo GovHub, Yapenya Meeting Room 6 (Ground Floor)
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Bendigo Easter Festival 2026 — Road Closures – What You Need to Know
Bendigo’s Easter Festival is back—and so are the traffic headaches that come with hosting the region’s biggest crowd-puller.
From April 1 to April 6, major road closures and detours will be in place across the city centre, with the festival precinct declared a strict tow-away zone during event times. Translation: park where you shouldn’t, and your car will go on its own little holiday—without you.
For the first time, parts of Arnold Street will be restricted to local and emergency access only over the Easter weekend, meaning visitors should plan alternative routes and expect delays.
Adding to the reshuffle, the Bendigo Art Gallery redevelopment has closed off sections of View Street, removing a popular parade viewing spot and altering pedestrian access near Rosalind Park. Other nearby footpaths remain open, but it’s worth checking the official festival maps before heading in.
The message from the City is simple: plan ahead, follow the signage, and don’t assume your car will still be where you left it.
Shamrock Hotel Paranormal Tours
If Bendigo’s gold rush built the city, the Shamrock kept its secrets. These after-dark tours take you through one of Bendigo’s oldest and grandest hotels, where tales of past guests, unexplained happenings, and the occasional lingering presence add a chill to the polished corridors. It’s history with a heartbeat—or perhaps something else entirely.
Address: 7–9 Pall Mall, Bendigo VIC
Hours: Selected evenings (bookings required)
Great Stupa of Universal Compassion
Enlighten Easter transforms the Great Stupa’s Peace Park into a glowing night-time lightscape, with illuminated gardens and projections across the stupa itself. The event combines roaming performers, live music, food, and family activities, offering a rare chance to experience the site after dark, with the temple also open to visitors.
A slice of the Himalayas in regional Victoria, the Great Stupa is one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the Western world—equal parts spiritual sanctuary and architectural curiosity. Visitors can wander the grounds, explore the Jade Buddha exhibition, or time their visit with the Great Stupa’s festivals and teachings.
Address: 25 Sandhurst Town Rd, Myers Flat VIC
Hours: Wed–Sun 10am–5pm (daily during school holidays)
Peppergreen Farm
Part nursery, part social enterprise, part very good excuse for a coffee—Peppergreen Farm blends gardens, history, and community into a relaxed riverside stop. Expect plants for sale, local produce, and a low-key café vibe. Locals in the know support Peppergreen Farm, and visitors are most welcome.
Address: 40–44 Thunder Street, Bendigo VIC
Hours: Daily 9am–4pm
Central Deborah Gold Mine
Bendigo’s gold rush story goes underground—literally. Don a helmet, descend into the mine, and follow guides into the claustrophobic world that made the city rich. Surface exhibits round out the experience for those who prefer to stay above ground.
Address: 76 Violet St, Bendigo VIC
Hours: Daily 9am–5pm (tours run throughout the day)
Bendigo Tramways
Climb aboard a beautifully restored vintage tram and let Bendigo roll past at a gentler pace. The “Talking Tram” tour loops through key sights with commentary that mixes history, trivia, and local colour. Coffee at The Tram Café while visiting Bendigo Tramways Depot and Workshop.
Package Deal: Vintage Talking Tram Tour and Bendigo Military Museum Entry. Adult $29.50 – Concession $24.50 – Child $20 – Family $80
Address: 1 Tramways Ave, Bendigo VIC
Hours: Daily approx. 9:30am–5pm (regular departures)
Golden Dragon Museum & Chinese Precinct (with adjacent dining)
The Golden Dragon Museum presents Daily Traditions: Chinese Ceramics in 19th and 20th Century Victoria, showcasing a rich collection of late Qing dynasty ceramics, until September. On loan from a private collection, the exhibition offers a glimpse into everyday life and cultural traditions carried to Victoria during the gold rush era.
Home to Bendigo’s rich Chinese heritage, the Golden Dragon Museum houses the famed imperial dragons and anchors a precinct that tells the story of the goldfields’ multicultural roots. Next door, the much-loved world-class Chinese restaurant keeps the tradition alive—best enjoyed after a wander through the exhibits.
Address: 1–11 Bridge St, Bendigo VIC
Hours: Daily 9:30am–5pm
Old Sandhurst Gaol tour
The Ulumbarra Theatre tour is an easy yes at $10—a fascinating walk through Bendigo’s past and present in one hit. Set inside the old Sandhurst Gaol, the tour reveals how a 1860s prison has been cleverly transformed into a modern performance space.
Guides bring the place to life with stories of former inmates while showing how the original architecture now blends seamlessly with the theatre’s contemporary design. The tours are conducted on Tuesdays at 2pm (bookings required), and it’s one of those experiences that quietly overdelivers.
Related stories
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Harley Parker’s 1970s Live Music Photography Exhibition, Castlemaine
Bendigo Blast Off: LEGO® Rockets, Mars Rovers and Big Ideas
Bendigo Blues & Roots Music Festival
Iconic Guitars Stolen from Music Legend Joe Camilleri’s Home
The surprisingly Australian history of Chinese dragon parades
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