Begonia Fest parading into long weekend with displays, trails and stages

EVIE LAMB & CHRISTOPHER O’LEARY

FROM Chinese dancers to SES rescuers and rock and rollers, this year’s PowerFM Begonia Parade is shaping up as a beauty.

The annual weekend-long Ballarat Begonia Festival is one sleep away, while the much-loved parade will return as a highlight on Monday 9 March.

It’s set to start at 11am, travelling along Wendouree Parade from the Ballarat Tramway Museum and concluding adjacent to the North Gardens.

Treasured tradition: Sovereign Hill volunteers, Chinese Australia Cultural Society Ballarat members, and Green Leaves Early Learning staff are among many preparing to be part of this year’s Begonia Festival Parades. Photo: EVIE LAMB

Thousands are expected to line Wendouree Parade and watch it with spectators encouraged to plan ahead, allow extra time to travel and arrive early to get a good viewing spot.

This year more than 30 local community groups, schools and businesses are preparing to take part, presenting themed floats, performers and live music.

City of Ballarat mayor Cr Tracey Hargreaves said the parade is one of the festival’s most treasured traditions.

“Families gather along Wendouree Parade to watch the Begonia Parade and for many it has become a tradition passed down through generations,” she said.

“It’s a wonderful way to celebrate local groups and the effort they put into bringing the parade to life.”

Sovereign Hill volunteers Cassandra Hills and Elie Knox.

Participants also compete for awards across five categories: Mayor’s Choice, Best School Entry, Best Community Entry, Best Business Entry and Best Musical Entry, with entries judged on execution, theme and design, creativity, and entertainment value.

Among them, the Sovereign Hill Volunteers plan to bring a touch of 1850s gold rush history to the parade, while the Chinese Australian Cultural Society Ballarat members will be dressed in colourful traditional costumes highlighting the beauty of Chinese arts and cultural diversity.

To ensure a safe parade route, Wendouree Parade will be closed between Carlton Street and St Aidans Drive from 6am-12.30pm on the day.

Meanwhile, this year’s main Begonia Festival weekend attraction – apart from the spectacular begonia display in the conservatory – is The Musical Plants by Playable Streets, turning live plants into unique organic instruments.

The Begonia Stage, hosted by Chloe Thomson, will include horticulturalist Sophie Thomson, chef and food critic Matthew Evans, and chef and CEO of Mabu Mabu Nornie Bero.

And by entering the Snail Trail competition residents have the chance of winning a regional getaway. Entrants have to name and locate the 10 snail sculptures to go into the draw. The snail with the most votes from the public will win the primary school that designed it a $1000 School Art Supplies voucher.

For those young and young at heart, there is the Garden of Giggles, a Western Bulldogs zone, the Integra Tiny Town, face painting and vintage tram rides.

The weekend-long festival is free to attend and runs from 7-9 March, with a full list of parade participants available on the Ballarat Begonia Festival website.