Blooming in Ballarat
15 Feb 2013
Set to bloom for its 61st year, the Ballarat Begonia Festival combines entertainment, children’s activities and horticultural offerings for the entire family.
Costa Georgiadis will be headlining the event with some helpful garden advice and DIY workshops by a number of specialists. There will also be a gardener’s market and the opportunity to tour through the Ballarat Botanical Gardens.
Tap your feet along to the sounds of a Beach Boys Tribute show and the Buble Experience, featuring the songs of Michael Buble, as well as many more acts. Plus for the kids, there’s a farmyard and super sandpit. There’s also hip-hop dancing and a Hansel and Gretel show.
The Begonia Festival includes a parade, a colourful celebration showcasing a variety of community groups. The parade travels along Wendouree Parade, between Carlton Street and North Gardens. This year, the parade is themed Fairytales.
The Begonia Display, a ticketed event, will explode with colour as thousands of tuberous begonias bloom. Located in the Conservatory, the display is open every day of the Festival, 10am-5pm.
This is the only ticketed part of the event.
Adults $6 or Concession $4. Children under 16 are free.
What: Ballarat Begonia Festival
Where: Ballarat Botanical Gardens and Lake Wendouree Foreshore
When: 9-11 March, 10am-5pm
Website: ballaratbegoniafestival.com
As a special treat, and for the first time in regional Victoria, Flicks and Sticks will be held in Ballarat as part of the Festival. Featuring some of Australia’s best short films, the event is not to be missed. The Whitlams will be on hand to perform and bush larrikin, Murray Hartin, will be entertaining the crowd.
Where: Fariyland on the Lake Wendouree foreshore.
When: 9 March, 6:30pm
Website: www.flixinthestix.com.au
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