A feeling of excitement and magic fills the air in Maldon each Easter, transporting residents and visitors back to childhood.

Is the cause the twinkling lights atop Mount Tarrengower Tower, which local children believe to be the Easter Bunny’s home? Or simply the excitement and joy of children, who wait in anticipation for the arrival of the fluffy, bouncing creature bringing a delivery of chocolate eggs? Either way, the Maldon Easter Fair is an event not to be missed.

The four-day event begins on Thursday evening in Main Street as children and adults alike bake delicious scones, with the highly entertaining pie-eating contest, a welcome distraction while the fluffy treats are baking.

While the night is usually frosty, the treat of eating the contestants’ scones, layered with jam and whipped cream, as you watch the inaugural lighting of the tower lights makes the crisp air feel sweet.

On Friday, the all-important Open Air Combined Church Service at the Beehive Chimney is a welcome reminder of the important events in history that are being celebrated before watching a football match between two rival teams, Maldon and Newstead. There will be fun and games for the kids with an easter egg hunt, jumping castle and face-painting.

Or, if football’s not your thing, you can pop down to the Vintage Engine Rally at the Vintage Machinery Museum and check out their fantastic display.

Over the weekend, Maldon Golf Club will hold their annual Hole-in-One Competition, where a lucky (or very accomplished golfer) can win $2,000.

Pop down to the market Saturday morning at the Beehive Chimney or head to Sandy Creek Clydesdales for a look at the stunning horses and take part in a fun-filled Easter egg hunt.

Saturday night, it’s time to get your dancing shoes on. The event remains at Bill Woodfull Oval (unfortunately moved during COVID) with the dance instructor leading us as we fumble our way through the ‘Chicken Dance’ and ‘Walk Like an Egyptian’, but at least there’s more room to fling your limbs out wide!

Finally, the Easter Parade; the event that brings out the child in even the oldest of people as they parade through town on colourfully decorated floats, atop horses, in cars or on foot as the waiting crowds cheer with excitement as the procession does, not one, but two laps of Main Street, chocolates and lollies thrown to the excited children.

My personal favourite event, the Egg Toss Competition, follows shortly after, with participants throwing eggs across ever-wider distances to their partner, eggs cracking indiscriminately across the road, until inevitably someone gets hit and the egg cracks open. I do not, however, envy the cleanup crew!

This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 8 April 2022.