Your Guide to Celebrate Easter in Australia
With a Christian population of over 43.9% in Australia, Easter is a very popular and public holiday period filled with a festive atmosphere.
The Easter season is also generally enjoyed by people of various faiths, beliefs and cultures in Australia as it connotes a time for family, community and festivity.
So in this article, we are going to give you a guide to celebrate Easter in Australia.
What is Easter?
Easter is a world-wide yearly observed holiday and festive season that celebrates religious and cultural significance, which is the day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ after crucifixion.
Easter usually starts and ends with a series of events through the holy week such as Palm Sunday, Holy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday leading up to Easter Saturday.
Who celebrates Easter?
Easter is rooted in Christianity and prominently celebrated by Christians all over the world, including Australia, but has also become a widely celebrated season by many other religions across board.
Why is it celebrated? (History and Significance)
The historical significance of Easter stems from the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after his death by crucifixion.
As per Christian faith, it is recorded that Jesus died for the sins of the world, conquered death, resurrected and redeemed the whole world from sin.
This act has been a major foundation of the Christian faith which signifies God’s plan to redeem the world and offer believers the promise of eternal life.
Easter serves as a reminder of this message of hope and transformation in honour of what Jesus did for the world.
How is Easter celebrated in Australia?
Easter in Australia is a time of festivity, celebration and also a solemn reflection in honour of the season.
Many Australians attend church services through the holy week up until Easter Sunday which marks the resurrection of Jesus.
Aside from the church gatherings, there are also various other festivals and cultural events that take place during the easter season like the Sydney Easter Royal Show, National Folk Festival, the Australian Gospel Festival, Byron Bay Blues and Roots Festival and many more.
Some families during this period also spend time outdoors for picnics at the park, camping, pitching tents or going to the beach. These occasions mostly always consist of a wide variety of amazing food.
Another way Aussies enjoy the Easter season is to celebrate Easter Bilby.
In contrast to the Easter bunny known worldwide, the bilby is a small endangered species in Australia celebrated instead as the easter icon because the Easter bunny is believed to be a bad omen, especially by farmers who experience rabbit infestations.
However, the Easter bunny is still a popular icon among Australian families and many families do Easter egg hunting activities with kids.
When is Easter in 2024?
Easter Sunday for 2024 falls on the 31st of March, preceded by Good Friday which is on the 29th of March, after which is Easter Monday on the 1st of April. These dates are the ending days of the holy week for the season.
Here is a quick guide to Easter in 2024:
- Good Friday – 29th March
- Easter Saturday – 30th March
- Easter Sunday – 31st March
- Easter Monday – 1st April
What’s open on Easter in Australia?
Most of the supermarkets (Woolworths, Coles, Aldi) and liquor stores will be closed on Good Friday.
However, they remain open for the rest of the Easter weekend with changed trading hours. Please refer to your local supermarket and liquor store trading hours for more details.
There are varying restrictions on selling alcohol over Easter weekend in most Australian states and territories. Most states have restrictions on selling alcohol on Good Friday. However, they might vary on Easter Sunday.
Some IGA’s (Supermarket) are expected to remain open on Good Friday.
Kmart, Bunnings, Big W and other major retailers & shopping centers remain closed on Good Friday and will reopen for the rest of the Easter weekend except some stores might be closed on Easter Sunday.
7-Eleven stores and most major petrol stations like Shell, BP, Ampol, EG will remain open every day during the Easter long weekend.
Fast food restaurants like McDonald’s, Hungry Jacks, KFC, Guzman y Gomez are likely to remain open over the Easter weekend. Check trading hours for your local restaurant.
Australia Post usually remains closed on national public holidays, so it is expected they will remain closed during Easter long weekend.
Cinemas are usually open on Easter weekend, including Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
It is advisable to call or check online the trading hours of your local businesses before a visit during the holiday season to avoid disappointment.
List of Easter Events Around Australia
The season of Easter goes far beyond chocolate eggs and bunnies; it’s a time of family, fellowship, community and celebration in diverse ways across the country.
Here are some popular Easter events around Australia:
New South Wales
1. Fairfield Easter Fair
📍 Location: 443 Smithfield Road, Prairiewood, New South Wales
☎️ Phone number: +61 2 9138 0670
🔴 Website: https://fairfieldeasterfair.com/
🎟️ Payment: From $10
2. Sydney Royal Easter Show
📍 1 Showground Rd Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127
☎️ Phone number: +61 02 9704 10002
🔴 Website: https://www.eastershow.com.au/
🎟️ Payment: From $33
Sydney is packed with a lot of events for the Easter season bringing exciting fun activities to the people, and the Sydney Royal Easter Show and Fairfield Easter Fair are two amazing events for the Easter holiday period. Both events offer amazing park activities, and entertainment like rides, food trucks, firework shows and many more. The Fairfield Easter fair runs from the 28th March to 2 April and the Sydney Royal Easter Show runs from 22 March to 2 April.
Victoria
3. Bendigo Easter Festival
📍 Location: Rosalind Park and surrounding areas
☎️ Phone number: 1300 002 642
🔴 Website: https://www.bendigoeasterfestival.org.au/
🎟️ Payment: Free
A popular Easter event that celebrates the vibrant art and culture scene of Bendigo, Victoria. You get to watch a range of performances, workshops, exhibitions as it attracts both local and foreign tourists alike. It will be held from March 29 to April 1.
4. Easter at Queen Victoria Market
📍 Location: Queen St, Melbourne VIC 3000
☎️ Phone number: (03) 9320 5822
🔴 Website: https://qvm.com.au/easter/whats-on-easter/
🎟️ Payment: Free
Queen Victoria Market is one of the most popular places to visit during Easter. Lot of people do their Easter shopping and there are many activities for family and kids with Easter bunny visits, Easter Tea Party and Kids Passport that will keep your family busy during Easter weekend.
Queensland
5. Easter at Victoria Park
📍 Location: Victoria Park, Brisbane, QLD 4000
🎟️ Payment: Free
From 29th March to April 1, get ready to immerse yourself in this family fun-filled adventure at Victoria Park. There will be a range of activities from crafts, meeting bunny, outdoor cinema and more.
Western Australia
6. Fremantle International Street Arts Festival
📍 Location: Various locations, Fremantle, WA 6160
☎️ Phone number: +61 (8) 9432 9999
🔴 Website: https://www.streetartsfestival.com.au/
🎟️ Payment: Free
The Fremantle International Streets Arts Festival is a global awe, an event that turns the streets of Fremantle into a stage of varieties of theater. A series of performances from musicians, dancers, artists, and performers will fill the streets with so much colour and bubble over the Easter period from the 29th of March till the 1st of April.
South Australia
7. Farmers’ Market Easter Fun
📍 Location: Showgrounds, Adelaide, South Australia
🔴 Website: https://adelaidefarmersmarket.com.au/comingeventsactivities/
🎟️ Payment: Free
Take part in a fun Easter trail from 8:30 am to 11:30 am on March 31st at Adelaide Showground Farmers’ Market. Enjoy face painting, fresh food and a visit from Easter bunny. A truly fun-filled event for all.
Australian Capital Territory
8. National Folk Festival
📍 Location: EPIC Showgrounds, Canberra, ACT
🔴 Website: https://www.folkfestival.org.au/
🎟️ Payment: Payment Required
The National Folk Festival is happening from March 28th to April 1 during the Easter weekend. You can experience a wide range of traditional music, dance, crafts, and food. It’s a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of folk culture.
Tasmania
9. AMAZE Great Golden Easter Egg Hunt
📍 Location: 13 Bridge Street Richmond Tasmania
🔴 Website: https://www.onlytasmania.com.au/the-amaze-great-golden-easter-egg-hunt
🎟️ Payment: $20
Annual Easter egg hunt is back again at AMAZE Richmond. There are fun and entertaining activities for kids and accompanying adults like Easter egg hunt, Easter bunny visit and more.
Northern Territory
10. Easter Eggstravaganza
📍 Location: 7 Kitchener Drive, Darwin, Northern Territory.
🔴 Website: https://allevents.in/darwin/easter-eggstravaganza/
🎟️ Payment: Free
In the city of Darwin, the Easter Eggstravaganza event happens at the waterfront where there are lots of exciting activities for the festive atmosphere like the sack races, bunny bowling, Easter egg scavenger hunt, egg and spoon races and more.
Conclusion
As much as the Easter season is a time of sober reflection, it also unfolds as a significant time observed by many for community and family.
A period of festivity, celebration and an array of exciting activities. So whether you’re a chocolate lover, sweet tooth or an outdoor person, the easter period has just the best offerings for you.