Spring brings Bendigo to life with its famous tulip displays. From mid-September to early October, thousands of colourful tulips brighten Pall Mall and Conservatory Garden, creating one of the region’s most-loved seasonal displays.
Spring is also the perfect time to experience BLOOM, a celebration of flowers, art, food, music and family fun across the Bendigo Region. Enjoy Bloom After Dark, discover The Village of Gnomes, browse the Bloomin’ Good Market, celebrate the Harvest Moon Festival and more.
There’s plenty happening throughout spring, so make a weekend of it and explore everything Bendigo has to offer.
Did you know? Bendigo’s first agricultural show competition was a ploughing match held at Lockwood way back in 1859! Farmers competed to see who could plough the straightest, neatest and most even furrows – a serious test of skill in those days. Things have changed just a little since then...
The Bendigo Agricultural Show is back, Fri 23rd & Sat 24th October 2026, with all the things that make the Show such a fun couple of days – animals, rides, show food, competitions and plenty happening around the grounds.
And some of the events are definitely worth stopping for. There’s woodchopping, dog high jumping, horse events, cattle, sheep and goat judging, the Ute Competition and precision driving.
Then there’s the Young Farmers Challenge, which is a little more entertaining than the name might suggest. Teams race against the clock completing practical farming challenges.
Away from the arena, have a wander through the pavilions and you'll find everything from baking and flowers to photography, art and homecraft, alongside the livestock and agricultural displays.
If you're bringing the family, here's a handy one – children 12 and under get free entry. Gates are open from 9am until 9pm, with fireworks finishing off the evening.
It’s a funny mix when you think about it – you can watch a dog high jump, inspect a prize-winning cake, wander past a few goats and then head off for a ride. That's the Bendigo Show.
Have a look through the full program and see what's happening across the two days.
Image credit: bendigoshow.com.au
Fun fact: Bendigo isn’t just gold country – it’s Shiraz country too. Our warm, dry climate is particularly well suited to big red wines, and Bendigo Wine Week is a great time to try them.
Running from 9–18 October 2026, it’s actually a little more than a week, with events popping up across Bendigo and the surrounding wine region.
And there’s quite a mix this year...
Head out to a winery for a barrel tasting, settle in for a long Italian lunch, try a wine and movie night at the historic Star Cinema, or taste your way through 12 local reds and cast a vote for Bendigo’s Best Red.
There’s also a four-course Bendigo Shiraz dinner, premium wine tastings and even a Wine vs Beer lunch, where guests get to decide which drink matches each course best.
The popular Heritage & Hidden Spaces Wine Walk is also part of Wine Week on Saturday 17 October. This one has already sold out for 2026, but it gives you a pretty good idea of how popular Bendigo’s wine events have become.
Whether you know your wines or simply enjoy trying something local, there’s plenty happening across the ten days.
Staying with us during Wine Week? Have a look through the full program and see what takes your fancy.
Get ready to laugh at the Bendigo Comedy Festival, running from 7–17 October 2026 across venues throughout Bendigo. The program features stand-up, improv, circus, ventriloquism, musical comedy, family shows and variety nights, with plenty of laughs for all ages.
The festival kicks off with the Opening Gala on Wednesday 7 October at the Engine Room Theatre, with comedians including Dave O’Neil, Ray O’Leary, Danielle Walker, Anisa Nandaula and Simon Taylor among the featured performers.
Bendigo National Swap Meet – Australia’s biggest and the world’s 4th largest!
The largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere attracting over 30,000 motoring enthusiasts. Featuring motorcycles and steam & oil engine displays.
Dates: : November 14-15th 2026
Gates open: 6 am Saturday and 7 am Sunday
Admission: Saturday
$15, Sunday $5
Children under 16 free
Contact: 0434 730 822
Email: info@bendigoswap.com.au
Location: Bendigo Showgrounds, Holmes Road, BendigoThe annual Swap Meet has been held in Bendigo since 1975.
Bendigo has excellent club rooms and mechanical facilities enabling it to play host to many other car club rallies.
The Federation now supports 96 clubs with trophy donations and grants for equipment, 3 picnic displays, and quarterly meetings all of which are fully funded from the Swap Income.
The Swap now has over 1,700 sites and attracts in excess of 20,000 people over the weekend and it is known worldwide in the Historic Vehicle movement. Car restoration parts and cars from the 1900s to current models are available for sale over the three days.
Held annually at The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, this free, fun family event is all about celebrating vegetarian cuisine from around the world. Enjoy vegetarian food from many different cultures, including; Mexican, Greek, Vietnamese, Ethiopian, Italian, Indian, French, Tibetan, and more.
A coming together of friends, family, and cultures, learn how vegetarianism has developed in other communities, watch cooking demonstrations, and sample vegetarian dishes from all over the globe. Learn the benefits of a vegetarian diet for your health and other sentient beings. Get your animal blessed by a monk inside The Great Stupa. There are heaps of activities for the kids too.
The best part is, that all pets are welcome!
When: October, 3rd 2026
Time: 10 am-3 pm
Where: 25 Sandhurst Town Road, Myers Flat
Cost: Free (Donations Welcome)
Bendigo on the Hop, Bendigo Beer's annual event is on again!
WHEN: Usually in August- 2027 TBC
Visit: bendigobeer.com/both-2026
Craft beer is about local ingredients, flavour, and aroma. It's about enjoying a quality product with friends and living life with a little flair. In the last 3 years, the number of craft beer venues in central Victoria has grown from a handful to over 50, in part due to the hard work and dedication from the team at Bendigo Beer.
We invite you to the sustainable garden party!
DATE: Usually in March- 2027 TBC
TIME: 10:00 am - 4.00 pm
WHERE: Garden for the Future, White Hills.
Attendees will have the chance to purchase, learn, and explore many new and creative ways to live. You can then implement them into your everyday life at home and at work.
Entry is by gold coin donation.
The tradition of wine grape growing in the Bendigo region is nearly as old as Bendigo itself. Bendigo’s winemakers are winning attention with their elegant reds and stylish whites. The majority of the local Bendigo wineries are small to medium-sized and are still run by the families who founded them.
For more info go to: bendigowine.org.au/wineries
If you've never been to one of our great wine events before, you are missing out. Plan your next Bendigo stay around one of these amazing wine experiences.
Meet the winemakers of the region, sample the best Bendigo wines, and enjoy live music in a tranquil garden setting.
When: Usually in May- 2027 TBC
Where: Rosalind Park, Bendigo
Experience the Heathcote Region at Heathcote On Show where artisan winemakers, chefs, brewers, and musicians welcome you to Heathcote.
When: Usually in June- 2027 TBC
Where: Heathcote (Various locations)
WEBSITE: https://heathcoteonshow.com
TEMPORARILY BEING HELD IN TOOWOOMBA DUE TO BENDIGO SHOWGROUND WORKS.
Meatstock Bendigo - The Music, Barbecue And Camping Festival
Meatstock is back for more BBQ, Bands, and Bedlam!
Meatstock 2026 is bigger and better than ever, returning with a fun-filled sensory explosion. Set across two huge days, each event celebrates the best of barbecue culture, live music, and unforgettable good times.
“Meatstock is a weekend of like-minded music and barbecue-crazed people, with lots of families hanging out, camping together, and enjoying amazing, authentic barbecue, great music, and really fun entertainment. The energy is amazing!” enthused Jay Beaumont, Director of Meatstock.
You can also follow Meatstock on Instagram and Facebook.
All ticket pricing and event information are available at the Meatstock website.
The Bendigo Writers Festival is an inspiring end-of-winter celebration held in Central Victoria’s Bendigo, on Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung Country. Established in 2012, it brings together writers, readers, and creative minds, fostering a warm and welcoming atmosphere where stories and ideas are shared.
Each year, the festival presents a vibrant program of panel discussions, keynote talks, workshops, book launches, and performances. It provides a platform for both emerging and established writers to showcase their work, engage with audiences, and promote literacy and lifelong learning. The event attracts respected authors and thinkers from across Australia and beyond.
Since Bendigo’s designation as Australia’s first UNESCO Creative City and Region of Gastronomy in 2019, food culture has also become a key feature of the festival, celebrated through special gastronomic events. Hosted in iconic venues such as The Capital, Bendigo Art Gallery, Dudley House, and The Engine Room, the festival brings the View Street precinct to life.
Date & Time
Council has provided support to prepare for the return of Bendigo Writers Festival in 2027.
Location
The Capital, Bendigo, 50A View St, Bendigo