The Easter long weekend is an action packed time on the Beechworth community event calendar. We recommend you plan ahead to make sure you leave enough time to experience all that our beautiful hometown has to offer. Here are our top picks!
1. Road trip trivia. Treat the family to some Chocolate history on your way to Beechworth. Did you know that Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés is said to have introduced chocolate into Spain centuries ago back in the early 1500s? Served as a drink and popular with the upper classes, Spanish chocolate was mixed with honey to sweeten the naturally bitter taste. Legend also has it that the ancient Aztecs enjoyed ‘Chocolatl’ in a special drink that they described as “finely ground, soft, foamy, reddish, bitter with chilli water, aromatic flowers, vanilla and wild bee honey.” Yum!
2. Family fun at The Golden Horseshoes Festival. Grab an early vantage point along Ford Street, Beechworth on Easter Saturday (31st March), to catch all the action at The Beechworth Bakery & Beechworth Honey Grand Parade, kicking off at 2pm. A long weekend and festival highlight, The Grand Parade includes a re-enactment of politician Daniel Cameron leading a colourful parade on a horse shod with golden shoes back in 1855. With a sea of colourful floats from schools, community groups and businesses from the area, and our very own Bee School Beekeepers, this one is a must-see!
Especially for the little ones, the Children’s Easter Egg Hunt is another great festival event. Starting at 10am on Easter Sunday (1st April) in the lovely Mayday Hills, children 12 and under are invited to join in the annual egg hunt, with plenty of chocolatey goodies to be discovered and enjoyed! For full details on all the festival events visit http://www.beechworthgoldenhorseshoes.com.au/
3. Wander a bee friendly garden. Discover the wonderful world of bees at Bee School! The serene and relaxing bee-friendly garden & veggie patch (self-guided) walk is the perfect spot to regroup after the hustle and bustle of the Easter parade. Enter through the beautifully crafted wrought iron gates and explore the fascinating link between bees and pollination while watching the inner workings of a live bee hive. The Bee School Picnic & Play area located under the expansive Liquid Amber tree is a great casual spot for a BYO picnic or afternoon tea stop. Be sure to leave us a message on the #beecause chalk board on your way out. Open daily.
4. Discover The Honey Shop. Step inside our iconic retail destination located at the top of Ford Street in Beechworth and surrender to the delicious honey-tasting-station featuring more than 30+ 100% Australian honey varieties. Try to find the Queen amongst the worker bees (from behind a viewing window) as you watch the live beehive next to the sunny honey bee atrium. The Honey Shop also offers a self-guided and family-friendly honey education tour (starting every ten minutes) that shares the inspired story of our fourth generation beekeeping family – The Goldsworthys – and their journey producing 100% Australian honey since the 1880s. Open daily.
5. Send an Easter Telegraph. Old school is cool school in Beechworth which is why the beautifully preserved Telegraph Station built in 1958 during the Gold Era, remains one of the busiest telegraph offices in the world. That’s right, thanks to the dedicated support of the international Morse Code Fraternity, when you visit the Telegraph Station, a Morse Code expert can help you send a telegraphic Easter message anywhere in Australia or overseas. Fondly referred to as the “Internet of it’s day” the kids might find this early system of electronic communication quite novel. #noselfies. Located in the Beechworth Historic and Cultural Precinct, opening times may vary.
6. Enjoy an Easter Picnic. The Beechworth Gorge is a popular driving, riding or walking circuit filled with beautiful scenery, views and picturesque stops – the perfect spot for an outdoor picnic. Pack a bottle of our Sparkling Honey Soda into your backpack or basket for a refreshing non – alcoholic picnic drink alternative. Walking the Gorge is the perfect way to shed those extra Easter kilos too. For more details on the various routes you can take to the Gorge, drop into the Beechworth Information Centre.
7. Refuel at Bridge Rd Brewery. Looking for a refreshing local beverage, a delicious meal and somewhere for the kids to play? Look no further than Bridge Road Brewery, located in Old Coach House Brewers Lane, Beechworth, a place where honest food is appreciated and creativity in beer is flowing. With a fabulous selection 
of house-brewed craft beers on tap you’re spoilt for choice, but do try the latest Mayday Hills release “Mayday Hills Honey” beer which has a tropical mid pallet hop punch, strong honey flavours on the finish and the distinct flavours of our very own Beechworth Honey too. The Brewery offers a tour each Saturday at 11am. It’s popular and during the busy Easter period, bookings are definitely recommended. Visit their website for more information.
8. Easter Provenance. Rich in history and offering an enviable selection of dining options for foodies, Beechworth is home to the elegant, contemporary and highly awarded Provenance Restaurant. Showcasing ingredients from local producers, the al carte and degustation menus are created by Owner Michael Ryan, 2013 Age Good 
Food Chef of the Year. Inspired and infused with Asian, European and Middle Eastern flavours, Provenance is the perfect choice for a romantic long weekend dinner or Easter Sunday Lunch. Bookings essential. Call (03) 5728 1786. Provenance is located at 86 Ford Street, Beechworth.
9. Sunday Cruisin’. What says “Country” better than a leisurely Sunday drive? After you’ve explored Beechworth, it’s time to hit the road and venture out to see some of the surrounding towns. Stanley and Yackandandah are both within an easy 30 minute drive from the main roundabout on Ford Street. Autumn is apple season so the perfect time to discover the orchards and chestnut groves, lookouts, walking tracks and some great country fare in Stanley, while Yackandandah’s beautiful tree-lined main street is a lovely place to explore while enjoying a delicious coffee from Saint Monday cafe. (Handy driving hint: Keep the kids occupied on the drive and keep an eye out for beehive boxes in the area…)
10. Treat your skin. If you prefer the indulgence of some “me time” over chocolate eggs, why not book in for a “Bush Therapy”, regionally inspired treatment at The Spa Beechworth. Taking inspiration from the surrounding bush, fresh mountain air, beautiful landscapes and native flora that surround Beechworth, this exfoliation and massage treatment celebrates the local bush incorporating a Wattle Seed body scrub and Peppermint Gum infused massage oil. Duration: 1hr 30mins. Call The Spa on 03 5728 3033 for Easter and School holiday opening hours.
