All roads lead to Northern Grampians Shire this Easter, with a plethora of activities and attractions to entertain and delight – headlined by Australia's oldest and richest footrace, the Stawell Gift.
Mayor Karen Hyslop encouraged the region's residents to make the most of opportunities to enjoy the best the municipality had to offer, starting with the gift.
"A major part of the Australian sporting calendar and one of the most famous events to grace Stawell and the Grampians region, the annual Easter long weekend carnival sees thousands of athletes, supporters and tourists travel to the area, transforming our historic gold mining town into an athletics mecca," she said.
Stawell Athletic Club will host the three-day event at Central Park from Easter Saturday to Easter Monday, with plenty of entertainment on and off the track.
"As a community, we are extremely proud of the Stawell Gift and all it brings to our beautiful town," Cr Hyslop said.
"We encourage people to come along and enjoy everything the Stawell Gift has to offer, including the fashions day on Saturday, Sunday's Easter egg hunt including more than 7000 Easter eggs, and of course, the exhilarating finals on Monday.
"During your stay you can visit the Stawell Gift Hall of Fame, which is a perfect place to learn more about the event and its incredible history."
Cr Hyslop said the region's Easter festivities offered something for everyone.
"From the Great Western Rodeo and Ozact presenting Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream at Heatherlie Quarry, to art exhibitions, Halls Gap Primary School Market and harness and horse-racing meets, there is so much to see and do," she said.
"The Stawell Lions Club Easter Carnival at Cato Park is always popular with families – particularly the fireworks on the Saturday night.
"On Saturday morning, Stawell's Main Street comes alive as our community comes together to showcase and celebrate our amazing township.
"There will be local street providers, children's activities and plenty of market stalls, enabling family and friends to reconnect while supporting our local businesses.
"I would like to say a big thank you to our wonderful volunteers who every year help to plan and run these community events, thus helping to support and grow our region."
Cr Hyslop said Easter was a vital time for the region's economy, which was still recovering from bushfires in December and January.
"This Easter, we encourage the community to consider staying local and supporting events and businesses around the region," she said.
"Northern Grampians Shire is a great place for outdoor adventure and exploration, with iconic natural and historic attractions, the gateway to the Grampians, wineries, lakes, street and silo art in St Arnaud and beautiful townships built in the gold rush era – each with their own unique charm and activities on offer.
"We would love you to make the most of it, exploring and discovering our beautiful region."
People can visit www.ngshire.vic.gov.au/Events/2025-Northern-Grampians-Easter-Festival-Whats-On or follow Discover Northern Grampians on Facebook for a full list of Easter events.
