The 10 best festivals, street fairs, and annual events in Greater Bendigo

Tuesday lunch for a donation. Community coming together to give people a meal donated by locals. Very friendly and welcoming.

I attend this church from the Gold Coast for the The Bendigo Bike Film Festival and this was my first time to this church the people were very accomodating and the meal that was provided was beautiful. Thanks to the people of Bendigo your church is just beautiful and I love the comfy big lounge chairs that line the church instead of the normal timer chairs that always line church's.

Such a wonderful place, great community feel.

An excellent venue for all sorts of community activities! So much goes on at this venue! I like seeing different artists and concerts whilst sitting on the crochet-bombed sofas and what not! I love rehearsing with the Bendigo Ukulele group at this venue. And it is an absolute must to go to the fair each year! It's such a blessing to mix with new and old Christian friends and other quality folks at the events held at The Old Church On The Hill!

Top spot for intimate gigs & philosophical meetings. Wide array of seating possibilities. (Although care should be taken when selecting suitable seats as some are far softer than they may appear). Easy parking.

I was fortunate to be able to hire the hall twice a week for three months for rehearsals of a local production. The hall had everything I needed (plenty of space, access to toilets, small kitchenette, etc.) all for a very reasonable price. I'd definitely recommend this hall as a rehearsal venue.

Great place for music, meeting people, eating, getting ethical products, youth groups, kids clubs and other community involved events. I wish everyone could do life in a community first way like this hub. Just check out when events are on and get around it!

It was fine, nothing exceptional. The special (osso bucco - pictured) was great. The parma, not so much. The chips were undercooked and the cheese hadn't browned. The beer taps weren't amazing either. Mostly big name breweries parading as microbreweries over local, smaller providers. I wouldn't return personally.

A super chilled vibe with a friendly community feel. We visited Castlemaine and went to the Bridge for dinner! Yummy food, awesome outdoor areas and I imagine when the band is playing it’s an awesome atmosphere. Highly recommend to anyone passing through.

Tess’s service was absolutely above and beyond! She was incredibly welcoming, attentive and made the whole experience feel special. The Bridge is a lovely place, and her kindness and professionalism made it even better. Highly recommend!

Great pub with a really nice vibe. Super friendly staff. The beer garden areas are nice on a sunny day. The food was ok but not great. It looked good but just found it a bit bland.

Loved our Sunday session at the Bridge Hotel in Castlemaine. We arrived just before opening at 1pm and took a seat out the front under the vines to wait to be ushered in to our booked table in the beer garden. We ordered the food and drink from the bar and had food brought to our table. The vibe was lovely and relaxed. I had a gorgeous local Amaro spritz to start and ate a delicious scallop starter special, croquettes and pop corn cauliflower. Mains were well cooked and served in good time. We had lamb which was moist and tender. A great community is apparent and the bathrooms and halls are filled with exciting band posters making me want to visit more often! Would definitely recommend for a great afternoon or evening meal or just a drink or three.

We had an impromptu dinner there tonight, no booking and walked in about 5.20pm. We managed to get a table for 4 immediately. The food was really good. The Wagyu beef porterhouse special was the best dish of the night and only $26. The calamari with Korean salad dressing (entree) was nice too. All kids meals were $9, nuggets and chips came with salad too. Prices are reasonable for pub food. Friendly staff who served us.

A beautiful hidden gem, food atmosphere and hospitality that is warm and welcoming. Took 3 kids to dinner on a sat night. Keep up the great work, thanks for making the trip from Melbourne very special.

Wow! I’ve been here for multiple nights out and seen some great performances. So far everything has been great! I do wish they served hot food a little later, and it would be great if they had a little more accessibility for people in wheelchairs. I will keep coming back again and again!

So blessed to have a local venue which can accommodate quality artists in an unpretentious laid back way. Long may it remain.

Great laid back vibe with a problem when it comes to sound of live music. The problem is the sound in the venue is consistently mixed poorly IMO. The sound system is good, this seems to be a mixing issue. I have noticed time and time again there is almost no usual guitar in the mix. The volume is consistently way too low, confined to one side of the stage with the opposite side getting absolutely no guitar from the speakers at all. There should be some guitar on both sides of the stage with the balance going to the guitarist. During a solo, the guitar is way too quiet. During one performance for example, a signature lick was inaudible and all of a sudden the mixing desk realized and turned it up. Unfortunately it was the last song of the encore. The drum mix is excessively bass heavy drowning out vocals. The volume is good, loud and fairly tight - that part of it is fine, but the bass depth overwhelms during performance. The depth would be tolerable if all the other instruments and vocals were raised in comparison and some guitar on the opposite side of the stage, though really some less bass might help brighten the soundstage. I like punchy bass, but gratuitous bass too the detriment of musical detail is what I'm talking about here. If you're on the opposite side of the venue to the guitarist then there's no guitar for you. It is impossible to hear drum skins being hit by drum sticks, rhythm guitar detail, keyboards and vocals in a balanced way. This is not a peculiarity of the venue. I do not believe it is a sound system issue either. The performers would never know this because they're listening to themselves via the fold back. A lot of the musical detail is consistently lost in this venue and much of what the audience hears is actually off the foldback even though to us it is facing backwards. To be sure I am not a sound recording engineer, but I certainly know the sound here is not that great from an audience POV. I've seen a lot of live music and this venue could be easily better. My hearing is tested annually for my line of work so I'm not going deaf.

Magnificent sour dough pizzas, quality drinks and fabulous music Bad Habits and Nikki Lane.

Been meaning to chill out here for years and now finally doing so with a delicious red wine before heading off to Mt Franklin to set up camp . I’m doing my Daylesford Station Market stall tomorrow selling my Cejuvenate Orange Peel Powder (an anti-inflammatory) Love the décor & atmosphere! Staff are really friendly & smiles abound, it’s so important in Hospitality! Will be back for pizza as they look good (next table is enjoying one).

Went there on a Tuesday with my partner, had a couple of pizzas, couple of wines and stayed for the 7:30 movie session. A lovely evening, the couches in the cinema are very comfy and that fact you can take your dinner into the cinema is great!

I was promised that the Theatre Royal could do pizzas gluten free as I am a coeliac but after eating I realised my meal wasn’t GF :( it made me super sick and very conscious of eating here again. Wouldn’t recommend dining here if you are coeliac

We recently had the pleasure of visiting Nimba rooftop bar in Bendigo, and it was a delightful experience. The food was incredibly tasty, plated beautifully and with rich flavors. But the cocktails? Wow. Crafted by a true artist, they were superbly made, balancing creativity and flavor perfectly. The highlight for me was the charcuterie board —jampacked with an array of delicious, high-quality ingredients that made every bite memorable. The atmosphere was equally wonderful, vibrant yet relaxing, with stunning views overlooking the beautiful landscapes of Bendigo. A must-visit for anyone seeking great food, drinks, and ambiance!

The cocktails were incredible! The service was amazing & the vibe was just perfect!! We will be back again! Perfect for our Christmas party!

Lovely spot for a drink in the sunshine. Staff were friendly, drinks came out and a decent pace and the cocktails were yum. Others have commented on cost, maybe compared to other local places but we found them about average or slightly less than usual.

Food and cocktails were delicious! Our meals were delivered quicky and with a smile!! One of the best Gluten free pizzas I've had!! (Big call but I'm making it) The staff did an incredible job, friendly, thoughtful and super skilled! And although they were short staffed they still took the time to point out some of Bendigo's most beautiful buildings! Can't beat the views, even in winter! We highly recommend Nimbus!!

What a wasted walk from GPO. Had a nice meal and then went to nimbus for cocktails and desserts as per a booking. Told kitchen is shut as soon as we walked in, and then one cocktail in they say they're closing. Honestly pathetic. Umm booking was made by phone for 9pm! And also the woman on the phone said yes desserts are available. so whoever replied is lying. And online says closing time is 11pm. We arrived at 9.03 pm. Because i have a snapchat to prove this. Also how do you know what booking I made? I didn't give you my details, it was under a friend's name. Maybe check before replying such lies.

Honestly…. Not very happy at all. We came here for a good night out and heard good things through word and mouth, but left extremely disappointed. Staff were friendly. Drinks were good but over priced. I don’t even know where to start with the food. It was horrendous. I wish we got the charcuterie boards! We ordered a few serves of chips and four pizzas. As you can see in the picture the chips were soggy and sad. If you can’t use the correct potato’s to make good hand cut chips you are better just buying them in… we sent one bowl back as they were still raw and floppy. They sent them back cooked more but still not crispy in the slightest. The pizzas on the other hand were dry and stingy. Flavours were nice but for $20 a pizza you would expect more. Extremely blond crust. All in all the food has absolutely no thought behind it nor any love. Come here for drinks before dinner. Don’t recommend eating here.

Yes you do pay extra for food/drinks due to the location but holey moley, it's worth it!! The wedding here had an awesome sunset for the ceremony & canapes.

We were recommended The Shiraz Republic. Advertised open hours was 10am. Nobody around and cellar door still closed at 10.20am on 25th May. Surrounding looked pretty rustic and setting looked like re-purposed junk yard.

Not a bad venue in the middle of a vineyard. Didn't get to experience the brewery/cellar door as it closed at 5pm. No meals available at dinner therefore need to travel to close by pubs or cook in cabin. Only downside was a soiled toilet on arrival 😏

There is wine and beer tasting. I would say that the quality is pretty good, you can also order pizzas. On Saturday there is live music. The only the only downside is a horde of flies, fly repellant is available though.

So good. Old school, country charm. Fantastic wine, brilliant staff, amazing beer garden. Really friendly and charming place to stay.

We are doing the wine making and we have been twice. They are such nice staff and so far it's been so much fun... highly recommended. The food is Pizza and plenty of drinks to make your day. Hope to stay a night in the near future.

Awesome outback/rural venue Amazing range of beer and wine. Great pizzas. Well worth trip out!

This place is very well maintained. I went there during the canola bloom season (Sept) and it was surreal. The field was 360degree yellow and there are some places that were beautifully arranged to look it more instagrammable. The service was amazing! Toilets ✅ (very clean) Food ✅ (with live music) Parking ✅ Accommodation ✅ Tickets for the canola walk are $10 adult and $5 children or $30 family. Under 5yo are free. Note : Boots are recommended. Walking to the field area is around 5-10min. Pram accessible (grovel road sometimes but manageable).

Went to see Chocolate Starfish - Bat out of Hell Tour. Absolutely fantastic, absolute legend of a performer. The Theatre itself is also a must see. Staff are all very helpful, very knowledgeable and extremely pleasant. Seating is great and no seat is too far away.

Beautiful old building. Was able gaol (jail) many years ago and you can Still walk into some of the cells. I went to a show here and the venue was warm, wherever you sit you have a great view of the stage. Loved it !!

Lovely theatre. Great place due a concert or soaking engagement.

Went to a seated gig there. People would stand up in their seats, stand down the walk ways completely obstructing the view for everyone sitting down. When I had a chat to management they said they were “keeping an eye on it”. People continued to stand in front of everyone and obstruct the walk ways to get out of the theatre seating. Very frustrating. Couldn’t enjoy my show due to people consistently obstructing the view.

I went to the John Butler concert last night at ulumbarra theatre with a good friend and it was also my 2 daughters first concert. Of which they were extremely excited about. It was going well, as expected with an incredibly talented man like John Butler on stage but alas it abruptly went south when a bunch of disrespectful, selfish and rude individuals decided it was an ok thing to do by standing up infront of the stage and down the aisles dancing blocking multiple well paying patrons views. I understand your excitement and joy the music brings but contain yourself to your seat. Staff were asked to do their job and request they sit down in their allocated seats as it also poses an OHS risk blocking walkways. To which appalingly nothing was done. There are low balcony's to either side of the seating away from concert goers views that could've been utilised instead. When we personally asked the dancers politely to please be respectful and sit down they began to get annoyed and when ignored we asked again to which a particular male answered back angrily and even got verbally aggressive towards my daughter.  If I was you id take a good hard look at myself yelling at a minor of whom amongst others in the crowd put you in your place. You're immature, emotionally unstable and need to realise you're not the only person. To say im disappointed is beyond an understatement. To the disrespectful individuals quite happily ruining the experience for others without any remorse i honestly hope you grow up and learn some respect and cease being so selfish, rude and inconconsiderate of others. As for the staff at ulumbarra maybe rethink your protocols of managing crowds at seated events as it wasn't only me that was frustrated at the situation and the fact that it was not only poorly diffused by staff but instead completely ignored quiet frankly isn't up to standard at all.

Ulumbura theatre is an old jail of Bendigo and is a part of the proud culture. A wonderful performing arts theatre with beautiful interiors and state of the art acoustics. Attended my daughters end of year school celebration there years ago and this time attended my kids citizenship ceremony there. A wonderful experience and the way they maintain and manage it, commendable. Got a nice cafe and has plenty of parking around.

Wow. Excellent experience inside the old jail. Great location, easy to find, reasonable drink prices. Will be back there in a few weeks. Can't wait

Great little speak-easy bar. Rad live music, awesome atmosphere and banger craft beers on taps. Big fan.

Best bar in Bendigo, here’s why: 1. Order any takeaway or just BYO food 2. Live music (solo artists, bands, and DJs) 3. Beers (heaps to choose from) 4. Beer garden vibes (everyone loves the beer garden) 5. Local owners/managers (owned by a group of locals and managed by a legend who loves beers and music) 6. You might even see Deus Sax perform ;)

First trip to Bendigo for the festival and as we wandered around we came across this spot. Absolutely brilliant and had more than just Carton draft beer unlike all the other pubs in Bendigo. My only serious concern was the Aussies attempting to take Dog as their own - very concerning trying to appropriate footrot flats dog - he's a kiwi mutt!!

Always a great night out! Live music & a great variety of beer on tap, which changes regularly so there's always something new to try 😋🍻. Plenty of space to catch up with friends whether you're having a chilled afternoon sesh or a night on the town.

This is an absolutely fantastic venue. All local beverages and more. Sometimes their is legendary musics. Apology last time I was here I had to much fun 😣

What an awesome spot. Chilled, great drinks (pear cider and cocktails are real good), plenty of space and funky blue band.

Great craft beer in a wicked beer garden setting. Awesome music to pair with it on a Saturday night! A must visit for any visit to Bendigo

Beautifully resoted historic building great for small, intimate events. The seating is basic and there's no bar BUT you can certainly get up close to the action, whatever it might be. And of.course the staff of the Capitol Theatre are as always, friendly and efficient.

Brilliant little venue. Jordy never fails. Never ever never ever.lol

Great venue for plays, intimate and accessible. Friendly staff, parking, cafes and bars all across the road... good star from me⭐

Lovely warm and intimate theatre space. Would give the last star for a hot drink on a chilly night.

A very good venue for small theatre, performances and practices

Lovely small theatre where you feel involved in the show. Lovely atmosphere

Very expensive, good music but only on for small amount of time, friendly staff. I would have liked to dance for longer

The evening was fantastic and the drinks were delicious. My issue is that the bar didn't properly plan for their event and ran out of people's first choice of drinks early (before 10pm) and progressively ran out of the others over the course of the night, with the music finishing before advertised (3am). Not to mention that the bar was understaffed, and so, always full so you were often waiting upwards of 10 minutes to be served. When charging $25 at the door, you expect and deserve a better experience than this.

If Ethan is a security guard please don’t go in you will be kicked out for dancing in a incorrect manner. After being asked to drink quicker I asked if it was with an rsa standard to tell people to drink where he forced me out of the bar and was extremely rude

I had 1 drink and went up to get a second and the security guard behind the bar has me follow him and walks me out.

The best Bendigo has to offer as an alternative to universal.

Very upmarket, a great venue for Bendigo.

Amazing, I have seen meany school productions, dance concerts and book talks there and it’s a great little theatre! Great view from wherever you are sitting and really good sound and lighting

Great show good location nice Panto

Travelled from Melbourne to see Brian Heydon work but unfortunately not open. Yet website and google indicate it is!! Very annoying. Please update accordingly.