With a number of local events, community activities and an influx of visitors to the region already, it’s certain to provide an economic boom for the region.
It will be the first Easter uninterrupted by disaster in many years, and the forecast for mild autumn days will only help to bring people to the region.
Last Easter was meant to be the resurgence from COVID-19 impacted years the region was waiting for, but lingering impacts of the November 2022 floods still had an impact.
Berrigan Shire Council manager economic development and tourism Merran Socha said Easter 2023 was still a bumper period, but did say this year appeared to be busier with longer-term holidaymakers.
“Last year the river was re-opened at the beginning of February, well in time for Easter, and while things were slower than we hoped it was still quite a good Easter.
“This year visitor numbers are building, with strong numbers into our visitor centre at Tocumwal already.
“Many have chosen to get here before the crowds, and are choosing to stay longer.
“Easter is often seen as the last camping weekend of the season, and because we are a strong camping area this weekend’s forecast is surely expected to bring even more people out with their boats and for some fishing.
“That influx of people then filters down into local businesses.”
Ms Socha said it will further build on the strong Victorian Labour Day weekend crowds.
“The feedback from the March long weekend is that a lot of businesses had a great weekend.
“We can only hope to see more of the same this weekend.”
While the Murray River is a drawcard for Easter visitors, a strong events calendar is also assisting in visitor numbers.
Ms Socha said she’s been receiving a lot of queries about the Tocumwal Races on Easter Saturday in particular.
It is a six race feature, with trackside entertainment and fashions on the field, making for a great day out.
The other key event for the weekend is the Finley Pro Rodeo on Easter Sunday, which is an Australian Pro Rodeo Association event.
Kicking off the weekend with be a Good Friday football and netball derby, with local sides Tocumwal and Berrigan to come head-to-head in Tocumwal on Friday.
A host of other smaller Easter events will be hosted across the Berrigan Shire and Murrumbidgee council regions.
Details of many of these events can be found within the pages of this edition.
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