Events – Goldfields

The Goldfields boasts a rich calendar of festivals and events. Begin the New Year with the sounds from the Organs of the Ballarat Goldfields festival, a program of glorious music played in historic churches, or kick up your heels at the Maryborough Highland Gathering, a New Year's Day fixture for the past 140 years.

At Easter see Sun Loong the Chinese dragon parade through the streets of Bendigo for the annual six-day festival. Or join the Stawell Easter Gift Festival and the excitement of the 12-second Stawell Gift foot race. From August to September, the Royal South Street Eisteddford showcases up-and-coming performing artists.

In October tour Bendigo's heritage buildings and taste entrees from local restaurants accompanied by the best of the region's wines, at Bendigo Heritage Uncorked. Step into spring at the Maldon Folk Festival, a four-day musical extravaganza held over the Melbourne Cup weekend in November, featuring some of the country/s finest folk artists.

January

• Australian Open Men's and Women's Road Cycling Championships
• Maryborough Highland Gathering – Maryborough
• Organs of the Ballarat Goldfields – Ballarat

February

• Super Southern Swap Meet – Ballarat

March

• Blue Pyrenees Pink Lamb and Purple Shiraz Race Meeting – Labour Day weekend
• Ballarat Begonia Festival – Ballarat
• Bendigo International Madison – Bendigo
• Harcourt Applefest – Harcourt
• Talbot Yabbie Festival – Maryborough
• Gear Grinders Motorfest – Maldon

April

• Bendigo Easter Festival – Bendigo
• Castlemaine State Festival – Castlemaine
• Mount Avoca ANZAC Day races – Anzac Day
• Maldon Easter Fair – Maldon
• Stawell Easter Gift – Stawell
• Anderson’s Mill Food and Wine – Hepburn

June

• Kyneton Olive Oil Open Weekend

July

• Redwood Classic – Maryborough

August

• Royal South Street Competitions August-November – Ballarat
• Emeu Inn Deep Winter Wine Dinner – Heathcote

October

• Heathcote Food and Wine Festival – Heathcote
• Taltami Avoca Cup Race Meeting – Caulfield Cup Day
• Bendigo Heritage Uncorked – Bendigo
• Mt Tarrengower Hill Climb – Maldon

November

• Pyrenees Petanque Tournament – Avoca
• Ballarat Cup Carnival – Ballarat
• Ballarat Garden Fiesta – Ballarat
• Springfest – Ballarat
• Castlemaine and District Festival of Gardens – Castlemaine
• Maldon Folk Festival – Maldon
• Dunolly Gold Rush Festival – Dunolly
• Festival of St Arnaud – St Arnaud

December

• Eureka Week – Ballarat