The annual
Beechworth Golden Horseshoes Festival will kick off on Good Friday 30th March and continue until Easter Monday, the 2nd April with a huge program of events guaranteed to satisfy all ages.
Historic Beechworth celebrates its Golden Horsehoes Festival over the Easter long weekend. Photo: Ian Gill / Footloose PhotoBank
The festival commemorates the legend of local would-be politician Daniel Cameron who, in 1855, led a colourful parade through the streets of Beechworth on a horse shod with golden shoes.
At midday on Saturday, visitors can witness the shoeing of a horse with Golden Horseshoes on the roundabout at the intersection of Ford and Camp Streets.The real golden shoes will be on display at Beechworth Gold throughout the weekend.
The festival features a huge program of events including the Beechworth Golden Putters Golf Competition, entertainment stages in both the Hibernian and Empire Hotel's, a fun-run (or walk) over either a 3 or 10 Kilometre course, a night market, children's Easter Egg Hunt, a
Star Wars Retro Movie Night at Montessori School, a Flea-Market and the Beechworth Rotary Market, a vintage, veteran and classic cars Show & Shine, the Echoes of History Guided Walking Tour and an Easter Carnival.
Beechworth has a long history with gold including Daniel Cameron's ride through the streets in 1855 on a horse with gold shoes. Photo: Ian Gill / Footloose PhotoBank
The streets of Beechworth will host the Grand Parade, a highlight of the weekend, commencing at 2 PM on Ford Street and led by a re-enactment of Daniel Cameron's ride.
There's a Gala Dinner on the Saturday night at the Baarmutha Park Function Centre but numbers for this elegant dining occasion are strictly limited, so you'll need to get in early and book.
If you're after something a little more relaxed, there will be a Golden Bush Dance staged at the Memorial Hall, Ford Street on the Sunday evening from 5 PM to 9 PM.
The Hibernian Hotel is one of a long list of venues for events during the Golden Horseshoes Festival. Photo: Ian Gill / Footloose PhotoBank
Most of the festival's events are free but a ticket to the Gala Dinner costs $80 or a VIP Captains Table Guest $120 and includes a welcoming glass of King Valley Prosecco along with complimentary Indigo Vineyard wines matched to each course of the dinner.
Entry to the Bush Dance will cost Adults $10, Children $5 (Under 5's are free) or a Family $20.
All roads lead to Beechworth over the Easter Long Weekend Friday 30th March to Monday 2nd April for the annual Golden Horseshoes Festival. Photo: Ian Gill / Footloose PhotoBank
The Golden Horseshoe Festival provides a fabulous excuse to take time out in Beechworth over the Easter long weekend and enjoy everything this historic township and surrounding districts have to offer, including an impressive range of accommodation options.
Beechworth is 286 kilometres northeast of Melbourne, just over a 3-hour drive north of Melbourne via the Hume Freeway to Wangaratta then the C315 to Beechworth.
