And Beechworth saw a colourful and often noisy display on Saturday with its annual grand parade down Ford Street, a highlight of the Easter weekend’s Golden Horseshoes Festival.

The event’s name harks back to a 19th century publicity stunt where a political candidate led his supporters into the North East town on a horse shod with gold.

Attracting both attention and votes, the occasion is remembered each year through the festival, which includes a public gold shoeing of a horse as well as markets, show rides, live music, children’s activities, a golf day, fun run and Easter church services.

Saturday afternoon’s parade continued the gold rush theme, with festival committee member Lanie Rock highlighting the links to the region’s past.

“Everyone will have their take on what history in Beechworth means to them and that will come up in the floats,” she said.

Miners mingled with bushrangers, gold nuggets were wheeled down the street, period dresses proved hot in the sun and an antique carriage hitched a lift, too fragile to be used otherwise.

The many emergency service vehicles led to duelling sirens at times, while Albury-Wodonga Pipes and Drums provided more melodious sounds.

Some participants had more than fun on their mind – the parade included the Beechworth to Bridge group, who kept walking on their journey to stamp out the stigma of suicide.

Stanley’s Water Warriors had a point to make as well, with representatives Helen McIntyre and Carmel Smith stressing their concerns about water were broader than any specific situations.

“It’s our most precious resource but it’s being mined and taken away from our township, which is hugely rich and diverse in farming, horticulture, you name it, and the small community is absolutely mortified and worried that we’re going to run out,” Ms Smith said.

Other groups also tried to raise awareness, like the Ritchies IGA members wearing shirts proclaiming the new store’s opening on April 11, more than two years after it was destroyed by fire. 

The IGA float handed out grocery samples and received cheers as it turned off Ford Street.

Bringing up the rear of the parade, literally, came the City of Beechworth Goldfields Nudist Camp Drum Band, aka the group of friends whose skin-filled appearances have become an annual tradition. 

One young spectator, when his mother earlier suggested it might be time to go, objected saying, “but I want to watch the nudists”.

Mum could only agree.