Could Bendigo Be This Winter’s Hottest (and Coolest) Road Trip Destination?

Bendigo is known for many things, from gold-rush-era history and architecture to great food, art and music – which have earned it a Unesco Creative City and Region of Gastronomy designation.

Winter brings something even more special to town: a diverse mix of festivals and other events, some running for a month, others for just a single day. It’s the perfect excuse to escape the city for a weekend and embrace the crisp winter air and wide-open spaces of regional Victoria.

Here are six highlights of Bendigo’s winter calendar, from events for book and art lovers to activities for free-spirited children and festivals for music aficionados.

Frida Kahlo: In Her Own Image at Bendigo Art Gallery

In a major score for Australia, Bendigo Art Gallery has secured the loan of an array of Frida Kahlo’s clothes, makeup and other personal belongings from the late artist’s namesake museum in Mexico. The collection has sat, sealed up for half a century, in Kahlo’s family home, providing an invaluable time capsule showing how she presented herself to the world with intentionality and her distinctive personal flair. Of course, that was also a core theme of her paintings, drawings and photography, which makes In Her Own Image even more resonant for Kahlo fans. Expect to delve deep into the cultivated image-making of one of the world’s most recognisable artists, with personal documents and photos supplementing her cosmetics and fashion regimen. Now open until July 13.

Electric Wonderland at Rosalind Park

Light and sound collide in this seasonal outdoor favourite. Running for just two weeks during the winter school holidays, Electric Wonderland is an interactive experience using lasers, projections, fairy lights and sound installations, all of which blend in with the star-studded night sky. It takes about an hour to go through, and this year sees several new additions, from flowers made of light to a fun dance section. Look out for returning features like musical stepping stones and illuminated sculptures. Just make sure to rug up for a chilly evening and book your preferred session in advance. From July 4–20.

Keys of Gold

Classical music fans will want to get around Keys of Gold, a month-long festival presented by Bendigo Fine Music. The idea is to showcase keyboard instruments in historical buildings steeped in the legacy of the gold rush. It’s not limited to Bendigo either, with curated concerts in nearby Castlemaine, Inglewood and Maldon, too. More than 40 performers will join in 16 concerts featuring 27 instruments across 11 venues, which this year will be mostly storied churches and cathedrals, which house grand pianos, pipe organs and more. It’s a novel presentation of chamber music that incorporates the history, architecture and culture of the Victorian goldfields. Tickets are available for each individual event, so you can choose the setting and concert you want. July 4–6, 11–13, 18–20 and 25–27.

Sheep and Wool Show at Bendigo Showgrounds

Every aspect of the sheep and wool industry will be on proud display across a single weekend at the Bendigo Showgrounds. The extent of it might surprise you, with a wool-centred fashion show happening right alongside lamb cooking classes, yard dog championships and a colourful fibre market. This event has been running since 1877, and now attracts around 5000 farmers and more than a dozen breeds of woolly creatures. Keeping up a classic tradition, there are also competitions to determine the best breeders, shearers and wool handlers alike. Visitors will gain insight into each meticulous process, from breeding these animals to ensuring that their wool is well handled and woven before reaching its final destination. July 18–20.

Bendigo Writers Festival

One of the country’s most distinguished literary events has been running annually in Bendigo since 2012. This year, there’s a focus on gastronomy, with the festival bringing chefs and writers together in a city already renowned for its culinary depth. Chin Chin’s exec chef Benjamin Cooper will not only participate in a Q&A around the restaurant’s new cookbook, but also take over local restaurant Ms Batterhams, offering a special menu. Also look out for events based around the six-season Indigenous calendar in Australia, regional Chinese restaurants and Indian fine dining. Beyond the food, expect panels, talks and workshops featuring some of the most prominent writers from across Australia and around the world. There will even be some top illustrators, cartoonists and graphic novelists, too. Aug 15-17.

Bendigo on the Hop

Even devoted craft beer enthusiasts might not realise how many breweries – and how much hearty beer culture – Bendigo has on offer these days. In addition to relative newcomer Bendigo Brewing, spots in nearby Cornella, Castlemaine and Woodend are doing great things for the local scene. (And that’s not even listing the many bottle shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants getting in on the action.) Dive into all the hoppy goodness at this one-day-only annual event, running from 11am to 6pm on the last day of winter. It’s a multi-venue celebration across the Bendigo CBD, complete with live music, one-off brews and quality conversation. Aug 30.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with the City of Greater Bendigo.