PREVIEW - 2021 Midstate Mopars

Last year, Midstate Mopars was one of many car shows around the country to be cancelled or ‘go virtual’ due to COVID-19. But things are looking brighter in 2021 and Midstate Mopars will be back in Bendigo this June as a live show.

Hosted by the Central Victorian Chrysler Club Inc., Midstate Mopars will be the first opportunity for the Chrysler faithful to get together and celebrate all things Mopar in 2021.

Two-Day Show

The 14th Annual Midstate Mopars is scheduled for Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 June, with Saturday consisting of a cruise through the district, while Sunday will be the popular show & shine in Bendigo’s Town Hall precinct.

The Saturday cruise leaves from Lake Weerona for Heathcote to take in that town’s community market and shops, with craft beers and wine tasting on the menu, while the new bakery will satisfy hungry drivers. The cruise will return to the All Seasons Bendigo hotel for dinner and live music.

Sunday’s show & shine is where all manner of Mopars gather, from Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth, Imperial and DeSoto, to AMC, English Hillmans, Japanese Galants and French Simcas and Centuras.

Of course, Aussie Chryslers will be well represented, from Royals, R and S Series Valiants, the various V Series Chargers, VIPs, Regals and Rangers to the last CM Series cars and Aussie Dodge light commercials.

In past years, the cruise and the show & shine has attracted Mopar owners and enthusiasts from all over Victoria and beyond. This year should be no different, but attendees are advised that special conditions have been implemented to allow the 2021 Midstate Mopars to go ahead.

2021 Changes

To meet Victorian state government health requirements, a number of important changes have been made for Midstate Mopars this year.

Firstly, vehicle entries will be capped at 300. This is down on the usual numbers, but necessary to ensure DHHS compliance.

Secondly, the event will be pre-entry only, with vehicle entries closing on 30 May and no roll-ups permitted. Again, this is to ensure DHHS compliance and allow contact tracing if required.

Pre-entry applies to drivers AND passengers – no-one can enter the event without a pre-purchased ticket. Vehicle entry is $35/car, which covers the driver only. Passengers are an additional $5 each. These tickets are available for pre-purchase through the Central Victorian Chrysler Club Inc. Once the 300-vehicle limit is reached, no further tickets will be issued.  

Finally, public entry to the show & shine will also be ticketed. The Town Hall precinct display space will be fenced off, with designated entry and exit points.

Public entry tickets are $5/person, with kids 16 and under free. Kids still need their own ticket, though. Public entry tickets can be pre-purchased online through bendigotourism.com, with limited public ticket sales also available for pre-purchase on-site at the Bendigo Tourism Centre.

Proceeds from ticket sales will be devoted to several community organisations, including the Marong SES and Fresh FM.

2021 Midstate Mopars – Essential info

When: Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 June, 2021

Cruise – Saturday 12 June from 1:00PM

Show & Shine – Sunday 13 June from 8:00AM

Where: Central Bendigo

Entry – Vehicle & Driver: $35 – PRE-PURCHASE ONLY

NOTE: VEHICLE ENTRY CAPPED AT 300, ENTRIES CLOSE 30 MAY

Entry – Vehicle Passenger: $5/person – PRE-PURCHASE ONLY

Vehicle driver/passenger pre-purchase tickets available through Central Victorian Chrysler Club Inc.

Entry – Public: $5/adult – PRE-PURCHASE ONLY

Entry – Public: Free/child (U16) – PRE-PURCHASE ONLY

Public pre-purchase tickets available through Bendigo Tourism

More Details

Entrants: email [email protected] or call (03) 5446 7450

Public: go to bendigo.vic.gov.au or call 1800 813 153

Bendigo – your car club destination

Bendigo is the golden heart of Victoria, but there’s much more to the central Victorian city than its mining history, with parks and gardens, the arts and cultural precinct, numerous festivals, heritage architecture and vintage trams, abundant restaurants, a thriving multicultural community and nearby wineries amongst its many attractions.

While Bendigo has been home to Midstate Mopars since its inception, the city has increasingly become a preferred destination for other car clubs to hold their events, too.

One reason for this lies in the city’s location; two hours’ by road from Melbourne and slightly less by air from Sydney, making it ideal for day trips. For those coming from further away, there are abundant accommodation options – from self-contained apartments to B&Bs, farm stays and conventional motels – with over 4,500 beds in total.

Another reason is that the City of Greater Bendigo and Bendigo Tourism works closely with clubs organising shows and events, not only providing a base for their event, but also assisting with venue selection, catering and entertainment, organising an event itinerary, council permits, traffic management, restaurant and accommodation recommendations, touring options in the region, ticketing services, media exposure and even sponsorship opportunities.

This full-service approach makes the process of organising club runs, display days and more elaborate automotive events so much easier.

As well as Midstate Mopars, Bendigo has hosted the Rod, Stock & Custom Show, National Citroen Rally, HD-HR Nationals and various other club events.

Maybe Bendigo can host your club event, too.

To find out more about holding your car club event in Bendigo, contact the City of Greater Bendigo Major Events team on (03) 5434 6298, email: [email protected] or go to: bendigo.vic.gov.au

Thanks to City of Greater Bendigo for assistance with this article.