The 146th Maldon Easter Fair, Australia’s oldest continuous running fair, will be launching tonight with the annual lighting of the Tower Lights atop Mt Tarrangower followed by The Great Aussie Scone Bake Competition at 7pm in the Maldon Hotel Garden.
Peter Thompson from the Maldon Easter Fair Committee told the Mail that the lighting of the tower initially began to serve as a beacon to light the way home for the holiday.
“The fair began in 1878 as a charity event to raise funds for the Maldon Hospital and included an auction with calves, pigs, sheep, and all sorts of things,” Peter said.
“The minutes from the first meeting said ‘it proved to be a great and gratifying event’.”
On Friday there will be a combined church service at 10.30am at the Beehive Chimney and a family fun day at Bill Woodfull Reserve as Maldon FNC take on Dunolly FNC, with an Easter Egg hunt, face painting, and a jumping castle.
Saturday the Maldon Golf Club will host their annual Hole-in-One Competition (continuing Sunday) with $2000 in prize money available followed by Nearest the Esky later in the evening.
Visit the Maldon Quilt Show at the Community Centre (continuing Sunday and Monday) and head to Vincent Road at 1pm to view the all-important Billycart Race.
The much-loved Torchlight Parade and Dancing in the Street are back on Main Street starting at 7pm- so make sure to put your dancing shoes on!
“We managed to keep the event running even during lockdowns by having an online parade, but it’s great to have the format back to pre-COVID days, with dancing back on Main Street and the addition of a movie night,” Peter said.
If you’re feeling like a quieter day on Sunday, make your way down to the Easter Market at the Maldon Neighbourhood Centre from 9am until 2pm and have wander or make your way to the Vintage Engine Rally at the Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum (open all weekend).
Sit back and relax on Sunday night and watch some good old-fashioned rock ‘n’ roll dancing on Main Street at 6pm followed by a screening of ‘Grease’.
Finish the weekend off with the fabulous Easter Fair Grand Procession on Monday, April 10 from 10.30 am. There will be floats of all shapes plus performances by the Bendigo Lion Dancers, and belly dancers – an event not to be missed!
