Launch of Greater Bendigo's Cultural Diversity Celebrations
Free public event
Date: Thursday March 6
Time: 11am - 1pm
Venue: Hargreaves Mall
Join us at the opening ceremony of Greater Bendigo’s month-long Cultural Diversity Celebrations with multicultural food, dance and music. A panel discussion on ‘Multicultural Women in Business’ will also be presented in acknowledgment of International Women’s Day.
Presented by the City of Greater Bendigo.
Faith Exhibition: Unity in Diversity
Free public event
Date: March 1 to 27
Time: 9am - 5pm (Monday to Friday), 10.30am - 5pm (Saturday to Sunday)
Venue: Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, 25 Sandhurst Town Road, Myers Flat
An exhibition on religious diversity, featuring the profiles of the religions and faith groups represented in Greater Bendigo, and the role of the Bendigo Interfaith Councill. Books from the Great Stupa Library’s Interfaith and World Religions Sections will also be on display.
Presented by Great Stupa Library and Bendigo Interfaith Council.
Empower Your Voice: Women’s Stories of Strength and Resilience
Free public event
Date: Tuesday March 11
Time: 10.30am - 11.30am
Venue: Salvation Army, 65-71 Mundy Street, Bendigo
Join us to celebrate International Women’s Day and engage in conversations to empower women from multicultural backgrounds with English as a second language to share their stories with confidence, while showcasing LCMS’s commitment to inclusivity, equality, and respect.
Presented by Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services (LCMS).
Interfaith Forum: What my faith means to me
Free public event
Date: Thursday March 13
Time: 5.30pm - 7pm
Venue: Bendigo Library, 259 Hargreaves Street, Bendigo
Speakers from different faith traditions will share what their faith means to them. There will be time for questions. This is open to anyone interested in learning more about Greater Bendigo’s religious diversity.
Presented by Bendigo Interfaith Council and Goldfields Libraries.
2025 Holi - Festival of Colours
Free public event - Bookings required
Date: Saturday March 15
Time: 11.30am - 4pm
Venue: Golden Square Pool, 14 Maple Street, Golden Square
To book: Indian Association of Bendigo: Holi
Join us at the largest Holi Festival in regional Victoria, a fascinating cultural celebration that encompasses food, music, and colours where participants throw powder dye into the air, covering all in attendance with vibrant colours. Enjoy delicious food, Bollywood music and dance, DJs, and kid-friendly activities. This is a family-friendly, and strictly alcohol, smoking and drug free event.
Presented by the Indian Association of Bendigo and Golden Square Swimming Pool.
Festival of Friendships
Free public event
Date: Saturday March 15
Time: 10.15am - 12.30pm
Venue: Canterbury Park Gardens, Eaglehawk
As part of the Dahlia & Arts Festival, our Festival of Friendships will offer multicultural food tastings, music, and dance with stunning customary dresses and activities including boomerang art workshops, face painting, educational displays and cultural activities to make new friends and so much more to enjoy before the main parade.
Presented by the Eaglehawk Community House in partnership with Indian, Filipino, and African communities.
Badminton and Table Tennis Come and Try sessions for multicultural communities in Greater Bendigo
Free family event
Date: Saturday March 15, 22 and 29
Time: 9.30am - 12.30pm
Venue: Bendigo Badminton & Table Tennis Complex, 140 Victoria Street, Eaglehawk
Multicultural communities are invited to come and try badminton and table tennis in a fun and social environment.
Presented by Sports Focus in partnership with Bendigo Community Health Services, Bendigo & District Table Tennis Association, Bendigo Eaglehawk Badminton Association.
Frida Kahlo: In her own image
Ticketed event
Date: Saturday March 15 - Sunday July 13
Time: 10am - 5pm
Venue: Bendigo Art Gallery
To book: Bendigo Art Gallery website
This exclusive exhibition features Kahlo’s personal belongings, clothing, make-up, accessories, and art, on loan from Mexico’s Museo Frida Kahlo for the first time in Australia.
Presented by Bendigo Art Gallery.
Multicultural Storytime
Free family event
Date: Monday March 17 and Wednesday March 19
Time: 10.30am - 11.15am
Venue: Bendigo Library, 259 Hargreaves Street, Bendigo
Join us at Multicultural Storytime to celebrate language diversity in Portuguese and Mandarin languages and shine the light on the importance of knowing and speaking various languages, particularly in the mother tongue and its role in the healthy development of a child.
Presented by the City of Greater Bendigo and Goldfield Libraries.
A tour of local sacred sites
Free event - Only for BSSC students
Date: Tuesday March 18
Time: 9.30am - 3.30pm, with lunch and afternoon tea catered
Venue: Multiple sites
A bus trip to four sacred sites in Greater Bendigo with the opportunity to learn about Greater Bendigo’s religious diversity. The bus trip includes tours of the following sites:
- Bendigo Islamic Community Centre (local mosque)
- Karen Culture and Social Support Foundation (Karen Buddhist Monastery)
- The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion
- Sacred Heart Cathedral
Presented by the City of Greater Bendigo and Bendigo Interfaith Council.
Lunch and Learn - Intercultural Discussion/Q&A
Free event - By invitation only
Date: Thursday March 20
Time: 12.30pm - 1.30pm, please bring your own lunch
Venue: Galkangu - GovHub Bendigo, 189-229 Lyttleton Terrace, Bendigo
Join us at the screening of the Intercultural Ambassadors’ short film about their lived experience, evolving identity and journey to belonging in Bendigo, followed by a panel discussion to open conversations about these experiences with council staff, external organisations and members of culturally diverse communities.
Presented by the City’s Intercultural Ambassadors Program.
Menopause Information Session for Multicultural Women
Free event - Bookings required
Date: Thursday March 20 and 27
Time: 6pm - 8pm
Venue: Activity Room 2, Bendigo Library
To book: Register online
Session 2: Menopause and Mental Health
Join us for two informative sessions on how to better look after yourself through nutrition, exercise, healthy mental health practices, when transitioning into menopause.
Presented by the City of Greater Bendigo and Women’s Health Loddon Mallee.
Bendigo Latin Festival 2025
Free public event
Date: Saturday March 22
Time: 11am - 6pm
Venue: Garden for the Future, White Hills
A free family-friendly event with live Latin American music, dancing groups, salsa dancing workshops, piñatas, Latin American art, and Latin American food and soft drinks.
Presented by Hispanos Unidos de Victoria with support from the City of Greater Bendigo and Victoria State Government.
Coming up in April and May
Intercultural Hub - Bendigo Easter Festival
Free family event
Date: Friday April 18 - Sunday April 20
Time: 10.30am - 5.30pm
Venue: Rosalind Park, 51-67 Pall Mall, Bendigo
City of Greater Bendigo’s Intercultural Ambassadors are hosting an Intercultural Marquee at Easter Fair 2025 to celebrate and share the ways that cultural diversity enriches our community. Our First Nations community will join with the Intercultural Ambassadors to engage children in fun accessible activities, creating opportunity for them to hear different stories, and enjoy cultural diversity.
Presented by the City’s Intercultural Ambassadors Program.
Bendigo Interfaith Council Film Fundraiser
Ticketed event
Date: Thursday April 24
Time: 7pm
Venue: Star Cinema, 2 Peg Leg Road, Eaglehawk
To book: Star Cinema website
Enjoy a movie with an interfaith and intercultural storyline at the gorgeous Star Cinema and support Bendigo Interfaith Council to raise much needed funds for their activities.
Presented by the Bendigo Interfaith Council and Star Cinema.
Bendigo Annual Interfaith Dinner
Ticketed event
Date: Thursday May 1
Time: 6.30pm - 9.30pm
Venue: The Conservatory, All Seasons, 171-183 McIvor Road, Strathdale
Bookings and information, visit: Bendigo Interfaith Council Facebook page
Join people from diverse faith traditions to share knowledge, food, music and interfaith conversations. The guest speaker at this event is Rev Sharon Hollis, former President of the Uniting Church of Australia.
Presented by the Bendigo Interfaith Council.
