WHEN: 30 JUNE - 22 JULY
WHERE: SOVEREIGN HILL
ENTRY: SEE WEBSITE
This Christmas in July things are heating up at Sovereign Hill.
During the day, Christmas trees and colourful decorations will line the Main Street. 'Hands-on' activities for children, a full theatre program, faux snow falls and delicious treats bringing Christmas cheer to all.
By night, as the sun sets and the snowflakes fall, Main Street will be transformed by sparkling grand-scale images and bright Winter Wonderlights dancing along its familiar facades. Tickets available online - get yours now!
WHEN: 30 JUNE - 15 JULY
WHERE: ARMSTRONG ST. STH, (Adjacent to Ballarat Town Hall and Myer)
ENTRY: Adult $15, Child $8, Family $30
Ice, ice, baby! Get the kids out of the house and into great winter fun activities. Lace up the skates and take to the real ice in the heart of Ballarat's CBD. It's guaranteed fun for the whole family during the school holidays.
Book your 1 hour ice skating session now!
WHEN: 30 JUNE - 15 JULY
WHERE: KRYAL CASTLE
ENTRY: $35 Adult, $28 Concession, $16 Child, $99 Family
You will be enthralled by the Kryal Castle Kights of Fire and Snow Queen Neva.
Witness the spectacular Flaming Joust on the Main Arena as Sir Hector meets the Black Knight in a fiery class, and the knights battle to cure the icy heart of the Snow Queen.
WHEN: 30 JUNE
WHERE: Ballarat Mining Exchange
ENTRY: Gold coin entry, pay at the door
Showcasing the versatility of the humble spud, the Potato Festival will stimulate all your senses and go beyond just fries or potato salad. Think gnocchi, the classic baked potato and more.
Experience the potato in a variety of dishes and forms and watch as the produce of the region is put under the spotlight. If ever you wanted an excuse to carb load, it's here.
WHEN: New permanent exhibit
WHERE: Ballarat Wildlife Park
ENTRY: Check website for details
Ballarat Wildlife Park is pleased to announce the arrival of six new Meerkats to its family. Ode, Imani, Asha, Kali, Lulu and Jamila, just in time for the Ballarat Winter Festival.
The Meerkats of Ballarat will inhabit their brand new enclosure at the park, which includes a heated sleeping quarters that will be perfect for those cold winter nights in Ballarat.
WHEN: 30 JUNE - 29 JULY
WHERE: Alfred Deakin Place and Police Lane, Ballarat
ENTRY: Free entry
Wander Ballarat's laneways this winter and arrive at Alfred Deakin Place to see local artist installations light up the night. These lumieres come to life every evening between 5pm - 12am.
Experience a uniquely Ballarat Dub Step sound-synchronisation every hour on the hour between 5-10pm.
WHEN: 30 JUNE - 29 JULY, 10:00AM & 3:00PM
WHERE: Tours depart from the Gold Monument, Cnr Sturt and Albert street, Ballarat
ENTRY: $35 Adult, $12 Child
The Hot Chocolate Historical City Walking Tour is a guided walking tour of inner city Ballarat. This comprehensive tour brings to life the history of this goldrush city as you walk amongst the gardens, statues and heritage buildings. At the end of the tour warm up with a hot chocolate and cake at Craigs Royal Hotel.
WHEN: 5, 13, 27 JULY, from 6:00PM
WHERE: Ballarat Municipal Observatory and Museum
ENTRY: Check website for details
Several planets will be visible during July and at 6.30PM from 14th - 27th July Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars will be visible. Mars will also be the closest it's been for 15 years and you will be able to see the South Pole on Mars from late July to early August. Don't miss this great opportunity to view the Red Planet. Outside open fire to keep warm (dress for the snow) and hot drinks available.
WHEN: 5, 13, 27 JULY at 6:00PM
WHERE: Ballarat & District Trotting Club
ENTRY: Admission at the gate
Experience a family fun night at the trots with our winter race meeting.
WHEN: 7 JULY
WHERE: Bridge Mall
ENTRY: Free entry
Sample fabulous food and wine, enjoy a coffee and a tasty bite to eat while listening to local artists and shopping for local produce.
WHEN: 8 JULY, 11:00AM - 4:00PM
WHERE: Ballarat Mining Exchange
ENTRY: Free entry
This winter we are creating a luxury retail destination all under one roof. Ballarat is opening up its little black book to give you its best boutique retail outlets.
Independent designers, retailers of clothing, accessories, jewellery, footwear, prestige cosmetics, cosmetic services and homewares will all be there!
Enjoy coffee and cake whilst wondering through the historic surrounds of the Ballarat Mining Exchange.
WHEN: 10 JULY, 10:30AM & 1:30PM
WHERE: Mary's Mount Centre, Loreto College
ENTRY: $15
The hilarious rhyme and rhythm of Tony Wilson's The Cow Tripped Over the Moon is transformed into a hip hop infused adventure story of one cow and her desire to jump the moon.
Presented by Patch Theatre Company.
WHEN: 10 - 12 JULY, 11:00AM and 2:00PM
WHERE: Creswick Theatre Company
ENTRY: See facebook for details
Creswick Theatre Company are geared up to host the fairy godmother of all pantomimes "Cinderella" for the July School holidays. Written by Amanda Stone and Directed by Dee Davidson.
Can our sweet Cinderella evade her horrible ugly step-sisters and nasty step-mother to win the Prince's heart? You'll have to be there to find out and remember, we encourage audience participation!
WHEN: 20 JULY
WHERE: Delacombe Stadium
ENTRY: Admission at the gate
Come and grab a bargain at the YMCA Winterfest Indoor Market!
WHEN: 29 JULY at 3:20PM
WHERE: MARS Stadium
ENTRY: $25 Adult, $5 Child
The Western Bulldogs will play the second of their two 2018 AFL games for premiership points in Ballarat when they take on the Port Adelaide Power. On the back of last year's hugely successful inaugural AFL game the City of Ballarat is expecting the games to be a sell-out.
It will be more than just a football match with a festival featuring carnival rides, football inflatables, petting zoo, arts and crafts area, face painting, buskers, food trucks and more.
Join avid footy fans from across Victoria and enjoy all that Ballarat has to offer by booking one of the accommodation packages available.
WHEN: 30 May - 23 JULY
WHERE: Various venues, see website for details.
Federation University TAFE are proud to present the battle to be crowned Ballarat's best pie from twenty of the city's famed restaurants and cafe's. With a focus on local produce, each venue's pie must feature three local ingredients. Licensed venues will also pair their pie with a locally brewed beer or cider from Red Duck Brewery, or 321 Cider (for the big kids among us!)
Don't forget to vote for your favourite pie, and share your pics on Instagram using the hashtags #pieballarat #plateupballaratpie #fedunitafe #wandervictoria #thecourier as well as #(venuename)pie and #beername.
WHEN: Weekends and school holidays
WHERE: The Maze House
ENTRY: Purchase tickets at venue
The Maze House is celebrating winter with a themed maze-hunt and prize, decorations including snow frosted windows overlooking the winter garden and snow flakes throughout the cafe. While you get cosy by the log fire you can indulge in fun winter foods including snow flake and snow men cookies, hot chocolates and light lunches.
