Not only does Ballarat have a rich cultural history, but it's full of so many exciting events for everyone to enjoy. One of those events is the Ballarat Heritage Festival, a two week extravaganza of more than 40 events. Visit Ballarat from May 17-26 to watch the city come alive with free interactive exhibits, city tours and installations. Here are five of our top picks from this year’s Ballarat Heritage Festival.
Inspired by the Wadawurrung Dreamtime story of Parrwang, the magpie who helped lift the blanket of darkness from the land to create the first dawn. This Ballarat Heritage Festival, the Victorian Opera in association with Short Black Opera is taking this story to Wadawarrung Country for the first time. Catch the incredible retelling of Parrwang at Civic Hall Ballarat on Friday, May 24 and Saturday, May 25. Tickets range from $24-35, which you can purchase here.
Now in its fourth year, Craft Lab is a celebration of traditional artisanal skills coupled with a contemporary flair. The event will be held at the historically significant Ballarat Mining Exchange. There are lots of activities on the Craft Lab 24 roster that you'll be able to try over these two big weekends.
For this captivating event, Craft Lab will bring 17 carefully selected practitioners from the local region to share their craft and design knowledge and techniques. Across two weekends on May 18-19 and May 25-26 you’ll see weavers and metalworkers, ceramicists, jewellers and more — who will share their knowledge, expertise and rare trade secrets with visitors. You can also have a go yourself at one of the many workshops at the Rare Trades Centre.
The Great Takeaway is also back for another year, and is an Australian-first dining concept. On Thursday May 23, visitors and locals alike will dine amongst some of the finest locally produced materials, textiles, glassware and ceramics. Each guest will enjoy a three-course meal and entertainment, then their handcrafted table setting will be theirs to take home (worth more than $300). Tickets to this exclusive event will cost you $275 including dinner, drinks and your setting.
All aboard the Ballarat Steam Train, and travel in style just like they did in the 1920s! Sit in old school carriages similar to that seen in the Harry Potter films on a one-way journey from Melbourne to Ballarat and vice versa. Hop on board from Newport to Ballarat on Friday, May 24 or go from Ballarat to Southern Cross on Sunday, May 26.
Already in Ballarat? Catch one of the steam shuttles from Ballarat to Lal Lal and back at multiple times during the day, and enjoy the picturesque regional scenery. Tickets for a one way journey between Melbourne and Ballarat is $63, and for the regional shuttle trains it's $83. Find out more here.
If you prefer your outings in the spooky side, there’s plenty for you to do at Ballarat Heritage Festival. From dining in the dark to ghost tours, Ballarat comes to life when the lights go out. Take a tour of the Old Ballarat Gaol to learn about its dark history and infamous inmates from May 17-26.
Those looking for something extra uncanny should opt for the Ballaarat Mechanics Institute's Night Tours or a ghost tour, while those looking for something a little more relaxed take a tour of the Town Hall or the Grainery Lane Speakeasy.
Explore the globally renowned outdoor video installation Monuments, by homegrown talent Craig Walsh. This visually stunning installation will take your breath away, as you observe moving images projected onto trees at Sturt Street Gardens in Ballarat.
Cap off festival evenings by watching stories from the city's recent and not-so-recent past, including: First Nations artist, poet and singer Barry Gilson, as well as Charles Zhang from the Chinese Australian Society of Ballarat. Showings are happening every day during the festival from 6pm to 9pm, find out more here.