Events Calendar
Contact : Events Calendar | P : 03 5320 5500

Ballarat hosts a huge number of events and festivals throughout the year which celebrate the best of the region. Visitors from around the nation gather to enjoy Ballarat's famous hospitality, arts and culture, beautiful gardens, historic buildings and fascinating heritage.  Add Your Event!

Heritage Weekend 2013

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Sat, Apr 6, 2013 - Sun, May 26, 2013
Sat, Apr 13, 2013 - Sun, May 19, 2013
Sat, Apr 27, 2013 - Sun, Jun 30, 2013
Sat, Apr 27, 2013 - Sun, Jun 30, 2013
Tue, Apr 30, 2013 - Tue, May 28, 2013

Public holidays 2013-2014

Holiday20132014
New Year's Day Tuesday 1 January Wednesday 1 January

Australia Day

Monday 28 January
*substitute for Sat 26 January
Monday 27 January
*substitute for Sun 26 January

Labour Day 

Monday 11 March Monday 10 March

Good Friday

Friday 29 March Friday 18 April

Saturday before
Easter Sunday

Saturday 30 March Saturday 19 April

Easter Monday

Monday 1 April Monday 21 April

ANZAC Day

Thursday 25 April

Friday 25 April

Queen's Birthday

Monday 10 June Monday 9 June

Ballarat Show
(in lieu of Melbourne Cup) 

Friday 8 November TBA

Christmas Day

Wednesday 25 December Thursday 25 December

Boxing Day

Thursday 26 December Friday 26 December

Note: All public holiday dates are accurate at the time of publishing, but may be subject to change.

 
   


 

Events Media Releases

  • Vintage cars Ballarat Heritage Weekend
    29, April, 2013

    Twenty vintage vehicles, that featured in the ABC television series the Dr Blake Mysteries, will be on display in Camp Street as part of Ballarat Heritage Weekend. The cars that appeared in the Dr Bla...
  • Tempt your tastebuds at Harmony Fest
    21, March, 2013

    Italian, Japanese, Thai, Indian, African, Mexican, Spanish are just some of the flavours set to tempt your tastebuds at Harmony Fest this Sunday (24/03). Harmony Fest will be held at Alfred Deakin Pla...
  • The Virtual Choir Project
    19, March, 2013

    Can you hold a tune? Do you have an ok level of computer literacy? And do you live in Ballarat or the surrounding region? The City of Ballarat, together with VicHealth and Regional Arts Victoria have ...
  • Begonia Display preview
    06, March, 2013

    Photo opportunity: What:Special preview of the 2013 Begonia Display When:Tomorrow, Thursday 7 March at 4pm Where:Robert Clark Conservatory, Ballarat...
  • What do you love about Ballarat?
    28, February, 2013

    What: FirstBallarat Imaginecommunity conversation When:10am, Thursday 28 February, 2013 Where: Pleasant Street Primary School Who: Pleasant Street Primary School students and teachers, Ballarat City C...
  • Special Meeting for Public Holiday Consultation
    15, February, 2013

    There's still time to have your say on Ballarat's Public Holiday, with a meeting to hear community submissions on Wednesday 20 February and the community survey open to Thursday 28 February. A Special...
  • Finish the week with a twilight music experience
    08, February, 2013

    Finish the working week with a relaxed evening of entertainment, artistry and food at the inaugural City of Ballarat Backyard Tasters event. City of Ballarat Backyard Tasters kicks off tomorrow night...
  • Last chance to register for The Courier Begonia Parade
    07, February, 2013

    Photo opportunity: What:The CourierBegonia Parade - last chance to register. Stems Flower Market and Ballarat Floral Art Group working on their ‘floral princess' float Who:Representatives from S...
  • School holiday programs set to sizzle this summer
    14, December, 2012

    Photo opportunity: What:Fun Skate event When:Tomorrow,Saturday 15 December between 1 and 4pm Where:Delacombe Sports Stadium, Nandiriog Drive, Delacombe The City of Ballarat website is a one stop shop ...
  • Promoting global arts, cultural exchange and international connections
    07, June, 2012

    Photo opportunity Who:People and Communities Portfolio Councillor Craig Fletcher, Ballarat Specialist School Arts Co-ordinator Diane Olsson and students What:Cr Fletcher will collect student artwork t...
  • Consortium Kick Starts Major Sports Precinct Project
    09, May, 2012

    The Consortium to spearhead the development of a Major Sports and Entertainment Precinct in Ballarat met for the first time last night The meeting was attended by Cr Mark Harris Mayor, Cr Judy Verlin,...

 

There are a great range of events that the City of Ballarat host every year, they are all free, family friendly, and include;

 

Summer Sundays

Every Sunday in January. 5 to 8pm

Pack a picnic and enjoy summer in Ballarat’s Botanical Gardens at Council’s free music event. Every Sunday in January, from 5 to 8pm the Gardens will host an array of music and indulgent desserts tempt your taste buds.  The 2013 event program will be announced later this year.

Follow Summer Sundays on Facebook

In 2013 Summer Sundays will be held on 6, 13, 20 and 27 January

 
 

Australia Day

26 January from 5pm to late.

It’s un-Australian to be a Ballarat resident and not visit Lake Wendouree on Australia Day. To start the celebrations, from 5pm there will be food for sale and free live entertainment at the McDonald Bandstand adjacent to Pipers Cafe on the Lake Wendouree foreshore.

Following the fee music, the evening culminates with the 3BA Fireworks Spectacular display high above Lake Wendouree.

In 2013 Australia Day will be held on Saturday 26 January.

 

Ee Prisoner of War Memorial Service

First Sunday of February. 11am

The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens is the first outside of Canberra to be awarded national status.  The Memorial was officially opened by the Chief of the Defence Forces, General Peter Cosgrave in 2004.

An estimated 35,000 Australians were held prisoner of war during the 20th Century, more than 8000 died in captivity. Prior to the construction of the Memorial no complete list of names of Australian prisoners of war had ever been compiled. 

In 2013 the Ex-POW memorial service will be held on Sunday 3 February. 

 

Ballarat Begonia Festival

Labour Day long weekend in March

10am to 5pm

The Ballarat Begonia Festival is a significant and historic major event for Ballarat and has been held every year since 1953. This free festival features the iconic Begonia display, horticultural exhibitors, extensive plant sales, live entertainment, children’s activities, art, the Begonia Street Parade, and much more.

To find out more at the Begonia Festival Website or follow on Facebook   

In 2013 the Begonia Festival will be held from 9 to 11 March.

 

ANZAC Day

25 April from dawn

Thousands of Australians pay their respects at the many ANZAC Day services held across the nation.  

Ballarat offers a series of Commemorative Services, listed below. Tributes will be paid to all those who served our country, however special thoughts will be for the Ballarat based soldiers who fought and died for Australia.

A number of ANZAC Day commemorative services are held cross Ballarat, they include:

Ballarat

  • Dawn Service, Ballarat Cenotaph                 
  • Commemorative Service and March, Ballarat Cenotaph     

Sebastopol

  • Commemorative Service and March

Buninyong

  • Commemorative Service                  

For more information on Anzac Day services please contact the Ballarat RSL on 5332 3300.

In 2013 ANZAC Day is on Wednesday 25 April.

 

Ballarat Heritage Weekend 

Mother’s Day weekend in May. 10am to 5pm

Ballarat Heritage Weekend provides an opportunity for our community to celebrate the city’s rich cultural heritage as the doors to some of Ballarat’s finest heritage buildings are opened to the public.

Each year the event features a particular theme and era, which is represented by the inclusion of unique heritage collections, activities, street and building tours, and much more. 


For more information visit the Heritage Weekend Website, or follow the event on Facebook 

In 2013, Heritage Weekend is held on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 May

 

Rememberance Day 

11 November. 11am 

 

Remembrance Day provides us with an opportunity to pause and reflect on the sacrifices made by all those who served and particularly those who gave their lives so that we might live in peace. Doing so means they will forever be remembered.

In 2013 Remembrance Day is on Thursday 11 November.

 

Christmas in Ballarat

First Friday of December. 

5.30 to 8.30pm.

 

The festive season comes alive in Ballarat with spectacular Christmas topiary displays and colourful decorations along the Sturt Street gardens. Come and have your photo taken with Santa’s reindeer located in the 300 block outside Myer from mid November.

Bring the kids along to the Christmas Street Party for fun and excitement to kick off the festive season. Enjoy Christmas activities, festive foods, stage entertainment and a visit from Santa! The event will be held in Alfred Deakin Place, Camp Street. More information on this event will be available shortly.

If you are in the CBD throughout December, beware of Elves bearing gifts!

In 2012 the Christmas Street Party will be held on 7 December.