In case you missed it, this weekend is a long weekend thanks to Easter.
The Easter long weekend is fast approaching, and although staying home living off chocolate for four days may sound appealing, we have some events that will make you ditch the crème egg coma.
We’ve picked a handful of events happening around town to suit those of all ages.
2022 Bells Beach Ripcurl Pro
The longest-running event in competitive surfing, The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach is an iconic stop on The World Surf League Championship Tour. As the legend goes, “You’ve got to win it to ring it!” And in 2022, the best surfers in the world will once again have their chance to ring their way into history.
Running from April 10 right through to April 20, Torquay will be home to the world’s best male and female surfers for the entire Easter holiday.
For more information visit the website.
Drag & DJ Egg-Stravaganza at 26
To celebrate the Easter long weekend, 26 (the old Piano Bar but epic new bar with two floors of nightlife paradise just aching to be explored by you and your pals) is kicking things off with a drag eggstravaganza! Join Max the Drag Queen, Amanduh and DJ Anita Decks for a massive night of performances and party tunes from 6pm all the way through until midnight.
Tickets are $10pp and include a free bottled beer, basic spirit or glass of house wine on arrival. From there it’s $7 Basics from 6pm – 8pm at the bar!
Drinks are available at bar prices. No reserved seating so be sure to arrive early. Find out more here.
Coastal Jam
What better way to start the Easter long weekend than with a Coastal Jam event on the Coast?
Hosted by UNO Presents and Coastal Jam, the open-air day and night party in Torquay (Good Friday) and Warrnambool (Easter Sunday) will be headlined by UK favourite RITON.
Alongside RITON, Torquay’s edition on Good Friday, April 15 will also feature the likes of Lazywax, Meetwally, Dean Turnley, Elliot Creed and Coastal Jam regular Coco Du Ma, as well as Ben Reyment, Cooper James, Dansen, DJ Neptune, Ethan Moloney, Evamordi and Spin City Disco.
After making a splash in 2019 for their sold out debut, Coastal Jam couldn’t resist coming back for another epic day in Warrnambool at the Cally Hotel Carpark on Easter Sunday, April 17. Alongside the massive headliner, this edition will feature Lazywax, Meetwally, Adam Bennett, Code.O and more, bringing the beats to the loved beachside town, making sure punters are partying well into the night.
There are limited tickets remaining so make sure you get in quick here.
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Easter in the Canteen
Since the Little Creatures team decided to open a second brewery in Geelong to keep the beer coming to the east coast (a decision which we are very thankful for), Little Creatures has become an iconic destination and watering hole for the Geelong community over the last few years. And what better time to experience the best than the long weekend?
Open all weekend long, LC will have a DJ on Good Friday from 5pm-9pm, live music on Easter Saturday from 2pm to 5pm, and a DJ from 12pm to 3pm on Easter Sunday. If you’re heading out with the kiddies, the Easter Bunny will be making an appearance on Easter Sunday from 1-3pm alongside kids entertainers.
If you need a little more convincing, LC will also be running a special Easter menu, with Seafood Pizza (Prawns, mussels, salmon, chili, olives, salsa verde, garlic, fior de latte), Fish Tacos and a Chocolate Calzone made with Nutella, strawberry, double cream.
Find out more here.
Block Party at The Inn
It’s BLOCK PARTY season and The Inn’s famous car park event just got bigger, with the one and only Late Nite Tuff Guy. Late Nite Tuff Guy has forged a position as one of the most in-demand and best-loved DJ/producers on the planet, playing everywhere from the Berghain to Meredith.
Going down on Easter Sunday, April 17, the event will also feature a slew of local legends including Barbie Gault, Brad Mayes, Coco Du Ma, Eddie Example, Isaac Ayes, Merl and Vanilla Neptune.
Party on at the offical kick-on’s at Geelong Hotel, over two levels and three rooms of music!
Find out more here.
Easter Hunt at Lonsdale Links
Put your egg hunting skills to the test on Easter Sunday by making a trip to Point Lonsdale for the inaugural Lonsdale Links Easter Egg Hunt!
Running from 10:30am in age groups, kids will get the chance to search for as many (plastic) eggs as they can, hidden by the mischievous Easter Bunny. Once they have found as many as they can, they will bring their finds to the Easter Bunny who in return will gift a small pack of real chocolate Easter eggs for all their efforts.
Each entry goes into the draw to win our major prize! Register here.
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Adults-Only Easter Wine Hunt
Austin’s Wines are ramping up the Easter fun this long weekend with its inaugural adults-only wine hunt. Yes, a wine hunt. Anyone who has a cellar door booking on Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday at the Moorabool-based winery will get to partake in a traditional Easter egg hunt, for the little ones, or a trailblazing wine hunt for the adults. Will you find a bottle of prosecco behind the shed or a crisp rosé in the bushes? Anything’s possible.
Of course, festivities will be complemented by wine tastings and decadent cheese platters at the cellar door plus slow-cooked barbecue, courtesy of Workers Barbecue, on both Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday from 11am to 5pm.
It all goes down at Austin’s Wines, 870 Steiglitz Road, Sutherlands Creek Easter Saturday, April 16 & Easter Sunday April 17 at 11:30am and 3:30pm. Simply book your table at Austin’s Wines on Easter Saturday or Easter Sunday for the opportunity to partake in a wine hunt for free.
Dr Colossus Album Launch
If you’ve missed getting messy in a mosh at the BC, this is an event for you. Simpsons themed metal titans Dr Colossus return to Planet Earth in the wake of their new record: I’m A Stupid Moron With an Ugly Face and a Big Butt and My Butt Smells and I Like to Kiss My Own Butt. Yes, really.
Taking to the Barwon Club Hotel on Thursday, April 14, this doom metal act will deliver a lavish live show, with nods to a Stonecutters gathering soundtracked by Dr Colossus’ signature doom-rock sound and Springfield-centric lyrical content. Known across the country and feared throughout the universe, Dr Colossus’ new material maximises their heaviness, catchiness and frivolity with a giant yellow four-fingered punch to the face!
Geelong Cats VS Hawthorn on Easter Monday
The traditional Easter Monday blockbuster never disappoints, with a heated rivalry between the Cats and the Hawks since 2008. The traditional slot was first played in 2010, 18 months after the Hawks upset the dominant Cats in the 2008 grand final, early battles had the spectre of the “Kennett Curse” hanging over them, in which the men in the Hoops won 11 consecutive matches over their brown and gold rivals.
Last year saw Geelong hold off a Hawthorn comeback to a record a five-point victory in front of more than 50,000 fans at the MCG, what will this year bring? The beloved tradition goes down on Monday at 3:20pm at the MCG.
Find out more info here.
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Piano Bar’s Good Friday Appeal fundraiser
With our region’s famed Piano Bar bringing their pop-up back to the idyllic Wyndham Cultural Centre in Werribee, following its successful two-week run last year, the beloved annual event will deliver a supersized day of entertainment with the fabulous Piano Bar performers coming together for a very special cause – raising funds for the Good Friday Appeal.
The team have put together their biggest lineup ever in order to raise these much-needed funds for the appeal. Take a breath, this is big… On keys, you’ll find the inspired talents of Andy Pobjoy, Joss Russell, David Van Elst, Mark Nunis, Rohan Windle and Oscar Edwards, while vocal performances will come from the likes of Rachel Findlay, Kara Ciezki, Emily Jane McCracken, Emily Therese, Bec O’Sullivan, Dani Fry, Natalie Atkinson and Shandelle Cooke.
Rounding out this monumental lineup is guest drag performer Sasha Starr, topping off an event that you simply can’t miss.
Doors open at 2pm, with entertainment from 2:30pm and the venue closing at 10pm. Tickets are only $10 and a direct donation to the Good Friday Appeal. Book here.
Ngubitj, Samgooan, Water – Songs, Stories & Connection Projections on Geelong City Hall
Running from Friday, April 8 until Sunday, April 17, Ngubitj, Samgooan, Water – Songs, Stories and Connection is a multidisciplinary celebration of what connects us: water, song, and language worth having a look at with the family.
Weaving together languages from three continents; Wadawurrung, Mi’gmag and English,’Ngubitj, Samgooan, Water – Songs, Stories and Connection’ will take the form of a visual projection and soundscape which will activate the centre of Djilang (Geelong).
Projected on the Geelong City Hall, this project will facilitate a space where the public can learn from the Traditional Owners of the region; the Wadawurrung people, travel across oceans to engage with the Elsipogtog, Mi’gmag community (Canadian Indigenous Community) and engage with questions of our collective pasts and futures.
Whether you’ve just had dinner in the CBD or you’re passing through, these projections will be an outstanding display.
WAAX at the Geelong Hotel
If you’re keen to see some live music this long weekend, get down to the Geelong Hotel on Easter Saturday.
Hitting the road for the first time in two years, WAAX are playing 11 dates across the country, including a stop in little old Geelong. Earlier this year WAAX confirmed that they had finished recording their next album and had received masters. When it arrives, it’ll follow up the band’s debut LP ‘Big Grief’, which arrived back in 2019. They shared a string of covers in 2020, kicking off with a rendition of Julia Jacklin‘s ‘Pool Party’ in April, and performing Basement Jaxx‘s ‘Good Luck’ on triple j’s Like A Version segment in October. Last year, the band released their first new original music since ‘Big Grief’ arrived, sharing the single ‘Most Hated Girl’.
WAAX will be supported by Bakers Eddy and Suzi, with the bandroom doors opening from 9pm.
Tickets here.
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Music in Exile
On Friday, April 15, the newly-restored Palais will come alive with a night of music that celebrates the true face of what it looks like to be ‘Australian’.
Not-for-profit record label and artist services organisation Music in Exile is hosting a live event featuring legendary performers including Gordon Koang, Ajak Kwai, Ausecuma Beats and Chikchika who will raise the roof with their electric live performances for one night only.
With an aim of increasing access to resources and building professional networks for artists from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds working in the music industry, Music in Exile operates on an ‘artist first’ principle, ensuring that individual artists have ownership over the tools and resources necessary to build viable careers for themselves in the industry, thereby contributing to ongoing change and building an arts sector that truly reflects the many experiences to be found in Australian society.
For just $30 a pop, unwind and enjoy a beautiful evening at the newly-restored Palais Theatre as these electric artists take to the stage.
You can purchase tickets here.
Hit up a Market
Always a favourite, the South Geelong Farmers Market is one this weekend. Get your fresh fruit & vegetables, free-range eggs, pasta, baked goods, gourmet sausages, local wines and great coffee. A total food sensation! Sunday 17 April.
Other markets on this weekend include the Point Lonsdale Market on Easter Saturday from 9am – 2pm and the Ocean Grove Market on Easter Monday from 9am to 1pm.
Easter Egg Hunt at Old Geelong Gaol
Oohhh we love an Easter Egg hunt and this one is sure to impress.
If you’re looking for an Easter egg hunt with a difference and scare your kids at the same time? Well, this is the event for your family! Sunday 17 April, find out more here.
Thankfully though it’s not just the kids who get to have all the fun. Now is your chance and what better place to hunt for eggs than the Old Geelong goal. With three levels of egg gathering fun, you won’t know where the Easter Bunny has been. Hop to it!
Lambys Easter Marathon
This weekend’s forecast: 100% chance of Mario Karts.
Worthy of ditching the family get-togethers and the crème egg coma, the Lamb fam are making up for all the lost nights with the most anticipated event of the year. It’s the sesh of all seshs, where you follow in Jesus’ footsteps and disappear for a few nights before returning home on Monday, albeit a little more hungover than he. We’re sure the Lambys veterans around town can attest to that.
Across four nights – yes all four – the iconic underground bar will be filled out with live tunes, good vibes and a tonne of drink specials. Thursday night will see Timomatic, Boden Mugridge, Hunter Bourke and Steve Toppa on the decks, while Friday will see Harry J, Radiostar and Shorty J, among others. Easter Saturday will have Nath Jennings alongside a live performance from Bedrock, while Easter Sunday will see TVB, Tryst, Fiez, AGILE and others.
Doors open at 8pm. Find out more here.
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Colour Me a Wallflower
This one is for the kiddies!
Join Manda Lane for a freecolouring in activity, celebrating native florals of the Greater Geelong region. Lend your colouring skills to decorate a series of paper florals that will be collected and turned into a mural on Little Malop Street. All skill levels and ages are welcome.
11:00am to 2:00pm Saturday 16 April at the Love Central Geelong Hub 111 – 113 Little Malop Street.
Good Friday Appeal Trips on The Bellarine Railway
Take a scenic trip along Swan Bay for a fun way to donate to The Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal. The Bellarine Railway will donate the proceeds collected on the day to the Good Friday Appeal. Friday, 15 April.
Or, Hop on board for The Easter Bunny Special. A scenic 45-minute return train ride with ‘Bunny Spotto’ activity, an Easter bonnet competition judged by the Easter Bunny, an Easter egg hunt for children and photos with the Easter Bunny. Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 April.
Happy Easter everyone, may your weekends be chocolate filled!