According to the organisers for the Lightning Ridge Easter Festival 2024, the weekend long event is filled with too many activities to name, but the Bull and Bronc Ride, horse races, fireworks, markets, a car show, novelty golf events and mining simulation competitions all raise a mention. 

“The Easter Festival has been running since the 1970s and has changed substantially with the times. There’s so much going on, it’s virtually impossible to encapsulate in a few words,” Lightning Ridge Tourism Association President Andrew Kemeny said.

Far from the days that saw kids racing goats with rickshaws down the once dirt road streets of Lightning Ridge, the popularity of the volunteer-run and community funded festival has encouraged the committee to keep it growing and evolving. 

“We’re always looking to do something different if we can deliver it…we don’t want to copy what anyone else is doing,” Mr Kemeny said. 

The festival was attended by around 4,000 people last year. (Supplied)

Certain aspects of the festival certainly are unique to the offerings of Lightning Ridge, including a competition to dig for over $20,000 worth of opals, and the popular challenge that simulates the underground work done by local miners. 

“Outback Opal Hunters is watched in over 100 countries around the world…so we bring (the tv stars) down to the centre of town and they do selfies and sign autographs.”

The festival’s popularity is undeniable, with local accommodation usually being fully booked for the weekend a year in advance. 

“There is a limit to how far we can push it because people literally get here and cannot stay,” Mr Kemeny said. 

Appearances from the Opal Outback Hunters tv show stars always draw a crowd. (Supplied)

“Last year we had day trippers (staying in) Moree, Dubbo, Coonamble…they come from hundreds of kilometres away.”

For anyone eager to make the trip to Lightning Ridge over the Easter weekend, however, Mr Kemeny said there’s still plenty of opportunity. 

“If you have not booked accommodation then start calling the accommodation to grab a last minute vacancy or make contact with the Lightning Ridge visitor information centre because quite often they are aware of vacancies and opportunities.”

Mr Kemeny also encouraged people to consider local farm stays and accommodation at nearby villages such as Grawin Opal Fields. 

Festival attendees are encouraged to bring cash for the weekend as some events will be cash only, with only one bank in the community. 

For more information about what the weekend has to offer, visit the Lightning Ridge Easter Festival’s official website.