Easter holiday fun in Northern Grampians Shire
Published on 25 March 2026
Northern Grampians Shire will be a hive of activity during the Easter school holidays, with visitors flocking to the region to celebrate some of the wonderful events on offer.
While the drawcard for many is the historic Stawell Gift, Australia’s oldest and richest footrace, the wide range of activities and events ensures there is something for everyone.
Mayor Karen Hyslop said Easter and the April school holidays was a perfect time to visit the municipality.
“While all roads lead to Stawell at Easter, there are great events throughout the shire, from the Great Western Rodeo on Good Friday, a tennis carnival in St Arnaud and Ozact’s annual performances of Shakespeare at Heatherlie Quarry in Halls Gap,” she said.
“Halls Gap Primary School will present a market on Easter Sunday and for the art lovers, throughout the weekend there are exhibitions at Stawell Railway Station Gallery, St Arnaud Raillery Hub, Deep Lead and WAMA Halls Gap.
“There are harness and horse-racing meets, the Stawell Lions Club Easter Carnival at Cato Park – which features fireworks from 8.30pm on Easter Saturday – and the StawellBiz Easter Extravaganza.
“The extravaganza, on Easter Saturday from 9am to 2pm, offers a wonderful opportunity for people to reconnect with family and friends and support local traders.
“The main street will come alive with street performers, local singing group ‘Accidental High Notes’, children’s activities, market stalls, a barbeque, raffles and a visit from the Easter Bunny.”
Cr Hyslop said a detailed list of events was available here.
Stawell Athletic Club will host the three-day Stawell Gift Carnival at Central Park from Easter Saturday to Easter Monday, with plenty of entertainment on and off the track.
“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,” Cr Hyslop said.
“The Stawell Gift is such a wonderful event for the whole family and it’s something our town and our region is really proud of.
“People can learn more about its history through a visit to the Stawell Gift Hall of Fame.”
Cr Hyslop said the school holiday fun continued past Easter, with Stawell Sports and Aquatic Centre (SSAC) launching its school holiday calendar of events.
Highlights include a Swim Smart and Stay Safe session with Ambulance Victoria on Thursday, April 9 – which will teach participants about how to call triple zero in an emergency and stay safe around the water – and a Boogie Bounce session on Monday, April 13 from 11.30am to 12.15pm.
Bookings are required for both activities, with numbers for Boogie Bounce limited due to the number of trampolines.
People can call the centre on (03) 5358 0550 or visit reception to book.
“These activities are sure to be popular, so book early to avoid disappointment,” Cr Hyslop said.
“Other activities include aqua sensory play, pickleball, an SSAC challenge, children’s yoga, stadium games and Dungeons and Dragons.
“The festivities conclude with an all-ages pool party on Friday, April 17 from 2pm to 4pm, which is sure to be load of fun. You can visit the centre’s Facebook page for more information.”
The centre is offering free access to the pools and stadium for youth aged 10 to 15 throughout the school holidays.
For people aged 16 and older, there will be a walking football session on the SSAC basketball court on Wednesday, April 8 at 10am.
“Walking football is a low-impact, modified version of soccer where players are required to walk instead of run,” Cr Hyslop said.
“The game maintains the essence of soccer while reducing injury risks, making it ideal for seniors, people recovering from injuries, or anyone looking for a gentle yet engaging way to stay active.”
People can register their interest online here.
Northern Grampians Libraries’ Stawell and St Arnaud branches will also offer April holiday activities.
Both branches host story time sessions on Thursdays at 10.30am, with Stawell also presenting story time on Fridays at 10.30am.
At Stawell Library, council will host a ‘Pop-up Playgroup’ session on Wednesday, April 8, from 1.30pm. At 2pm, there will be a face-painting class with Bev. The class costs $2 per person and people can call (03) 5358 1274 to book.
On Wednesday, April 15, the branch will host a ‘Crafternoon’. Entry for this activity also costs $2.
In St Arnaud, the library team will run board games session on Thursday, April 9, from 10am to 5pm.
“The library will run this all day, so you can drop in and enjoy a game at any stage,” Cr Hyslop said.
“Staff are also encouraging people to bring in board games to play.”
On Tuesday, April 14, there will be a badge-making activity at 2pm, with a special ‘Pop-up Playgroup’ story time at 10.30am on Thursday, April 16.
Families can also participate in a scavenger hunt throughout the fortnight or challenge the librarians during a ‘Great Library Read-Off’. Information is available at St Arnaud branch.
Cr Hyslop encouraged residents and visitors to make the most of opportunities on offer throughout the holidays.
“Thank you to everyone who makes all of these wonderful events and activities happen,” she said.
“I encourage you to jump on to council’s website and see the full event calendar for the holidays.”