Bendigo Easter Festival

It was to be made up of 18 executive members — 3 representatives of the city of Bendigo, including the mayor, 2 from the borough of Eaglehawk, 2 from the benevolent asylum, 2 from the hospital and 9 from the community elected at the annual general meeting.

The society had ultimate control of the fair's operations until 2003 when insurance costs made it financially nonviable to continue.

[3] The executive of the society still sits on the community consultative committee/reference group, an advisory body to council in the running of the fair.

The procession features upwards of 100 floats entered by local community groups, schools, emergency services and businesses.

The procession traditionally ends with the large Chinese section, which has grown to showcase over one thousand elements and participants.

[6] Chinese cultural groups from Bendigo and Melbourne participate in the parade, demonstrating lion and dragon dances.

A team of radio-equipped marshals was established in 1978 for the purpose of improving entry movements and reducing parade gaps.

By the early 1990s, it had evolved into a separate, incorporated entity known as the Dragon City Marshals Inc. (DCMs), with a much wider geographical sphere of activity.

A fundraising event called the Popular Girl was held from 1930 to 1996 in which well-known local young ladies raised money for charity.

In this ceremony unique to Bendigo, the Southern Lions perform, accompanied by cymbals and drums, in order to awaken the dragon who will then walk in the Gala Parade which culminates in the explosion of tens of thousands of firecrackers.

In 2020 the name was to return to Bendigo Easter Fair as a tribute to its 150th year; however, the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.