VIEW Sydney Royal Easter Show Photo Gallery
Quite apart from its religious aspects, Easter in Australia is known, and enjoyed, more for its occurring on a four-day holiday weekend starting on Good Friday and ending on Easter Monday.
In Sydney in 2004, there was the effort to coordinate events into an Easter in Sydney festival which encompassed parts of the New South Wales school holidays which started at the Easter weekend.
Autumn events
Where, previously, Easter in Sydney was mainly noted for the holding of the massive Easter Show, this became just a part, although a major part, of an Easter in Sydney festival.
The festival has now been folded into an autumn in Sydney program which includes:
- Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill Gardens and the four-day Easter Racing Carnival at Randwick Racecourse.
- The Sydney Royal Easter Show.
- Major football matches encompassing Australian Rules, Rugby League and Rugby Union.
- Cultural events including stage productions, symphony and ballet performances, and the opening of museums at nighttime.
Racing carnival
The Golden Slipper is the world's richest race for two-year-olds. Three other Group One races are held on the day at the Rosehill Gardens Racecourse.
The Easter Racing Carnival at Randwick Racecourse includes Derby Day, Doncaster Day, Oaks/Ladies Day, and Sydney Cup Day.
Royal Easter Show
The Sydney Royal Easter Show (which has now been held for more than 180 years) is a firmly entrenched Sydney tradition and includes carnival shows and rides, equestrian and animal shows, various types of racing, various types of competition, agricultural displays, food stalls.
Along with the ferris wheel and fun rides, there are such events as wood chopping competitions, pig racing, motorbike action, horseriding exhibitions.
For the kiddies, showbags, packaged goodies of almost limitless variety, are a particular attraction.
Sports competitions
For the sports lovers, there is enough variety to competitions during this period. Not only are the various football leagues catered for but there could be swimming competitions and Supercar races as well.
Cultural events
Other events include after-dark visits to Sydney museums and galleries, as well as performance events including live theatre.
