Celebrate the holidays in the city

THE festive season is underway for Ballarat.

With less than three weeks to go until Christmas, the City of Ballarat has announced a bevy of offerings for people to enjoy into the holidays as part of their Christmas in Ballarat program.

The list of events was revealed on Monday with a pop-up installation at Sturt and Albert streets near Parent Place, which included Ballarat Centre of Music and the Arts performers and Santa Claus.

Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves said the Christmas in Ballarat program will feature a range of exciting activities.

“There’ll be lots of stuff coming up in the Bridge Mall, there’ll be Santa, and markets, and with the small businesses there it’ll be a great place to shop for your Christmas presents,” she said.

“There’s lots of art that will be happening in Ballarat like Santa’s Telephone Box happening in Town Hall and of course it’ll lead into our beautiful New Year’s fireworks celebration.”

Returning activities include the Christmas in Ballarat Art Trail presented by Justine McAllister, where participants can look for Holly the Christmas Swan across five different locations, while Albert Street will come alive with festive decorations.

Also next to Parent Place, Ballarat’s Magical Christmas Emporium, designed by local creative Zlatko Balazic, will entertain people with interactive and automated festive-themed attractions.

From 9 December until Christmas Eve, Bridge Mall will become a mecca of holiday atmosphere with activities and performances.

Free Christmas workshops and live street music will also take place.

The program will conclude with a fireworks display at Lake Wendouree on New Year’s Eve at 9.30pm, overseen by Northern Fireworks director Matthew Batty and his team.

The attraction is expected to bring in 10,000 people and Mr Batty said it’s a privilege to coordinate the showcase.

“We’ve done Australia Day and Summer Sundays but this is our first for New Year’s Eve which is exciting because I think the community’s been wanting fireworks on this occasion for many years,” he said.

“I love the design aspect of it. I spend many hours with different colours and effects, putting it all into what you see on the night.

“It’ll be over a tonne of fireworks, over 6000 individual shots, 40 firing modules and unique effects like smiley faces, love hearts, and a cat face.

“The show will be set up at the isthmus where the Olympic greens are and across three fireworks pontoons spread out near the yacht club.”

Visit christmasinballarat.com.au to see the full program.