Australia Day Picnic in the Park returns for fifth year in Victoria Park

The City of Ballarat will host its fifth annual Australia Day Picnic in the Park on Monday 26 January, inviting community to enjoy a relaxed afternoon of family-friendly activities in Victoria Park.  

Held next to the Inclusive Play Space on Oak Avenue, the free event will run at an earlier timeframe of 10am-2pm due to the forecasted heat.  

This change has been made to help ensure the safety and comfort of attendees, vendors, and performers. People are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the event during the cooler part of the day.  

The event will feature food trucks, market stalls, live music, lawn games, mini golf and kids’ activities including face painting and a craft space run by Furals Art.  

Australia Day Picnic in the Park is the centrepiece community event of the long weekend, accompanied by a range of other activities across the city.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves said Australia Day Picnic in the Park is designed to be welcoming and accessible, giving people the opportunity to connect, relax, and spend time with family and friends.

“Grab a spot in the bean bag lounge or bring your own picnic rug and make the most of this family-friendly day out,” she said.  

“The weekend also provides an opportunity to recognise the contributions of our local heroes and formally welcome new citizens to the community.”

Festivities across the long weekend will begin with the Australia Day Community Awards, recognising the 2026 Ballarat Citizen of the Year, Ballarat Young Citizen of the Year, and Community Event of the Year.

This year's awards attracted an outstanding number of nominees, reflecting the depth and diversity of contributions being made across the Ballarat community. The winners will be presented their awards at a private reception.

The Ballarat Australia Day Community Awards are provided by the National Australia Day Council (NADC) and are administered by local councils throughout Australia.

The final Summer Sundays free concert, held on 25 January from 3-7pm in the Botanical Gardens, will also add to the celebration.  

Featuring four performances from top artists including two local acts, a variety of food trucks and the Garden Bar serving up the region’s finest wines, craft spirits, and local brews.  

“Grab a picnic rug or camping chairs and come enjoy some great live music in the beautiful gardens as we round out another year of Summer Sundays,” Cr Hargreaves said.

Don’t forget to scan the QR codes around the grounds and take the feedback survey. One lucky winner will be chosen to win a Ballarat experience worth $2,500.  

An Australian Citizenship Ceremony will also be held as part of the Australia Day program, welcoming over 90 conferees from 13 countries around the world.

The ceremony will mark the final step in the journey to becoming an Australian citizen and is one of many held throughout the year in the City of Ballarat.

The ceremony will be held as a private event for invited guests.

For more information on events happening over the long weekend, visit Ballarat in The Know.