Carnival to bring family fun

WITH the Ballarat Show cancelled this year due to organisers being caught between venue changes, the Victorian Showmen’s Guild are filling its absence with an event of their own.

The Ballarat Family Carnival, taking place at Morshead Park next month, will be aimed at bringing the Show’s familiarly festive atmosphere to the region.

“The Ballarat Show organisers haven’t got their infrastructure ready yet so we’ve stepped in for our members that usually do Ballarat Show,” Victorian Showmen’s Guild member Emile Verfuth said.

“This gives them somewhere to work where otherwise they’d have nowhere to go, and the people of Ballarat will still have their carnival setting so they don’t miss out altogether.”

Running across three days, the event will feature amusement rides, food, family games, children’s activities, and of course, show bags.

The Ballarat Show was previously held at the showgrounds since the mid-1930s, and is expected to return next year at a new purpose-built site at Mount Rowan.

The Victorian Showmen’s Guild has been active since 1945 with the aim of supporting the state’s showmen industry and organisers.

“All the people coming are always part of the Ballarat Show,” Mr Verfuth said.

“It’s that continuity for our members. If the Ballarat Show’s not on that week and we didn’t organise anything, they wouldn’t be working.

“It’s important to keep things rolling along because if some members miss a show, they might not come back the following year, and we need to make sure the Ballarat Show’s still supported.

“It’s our side of things with the rides and sideshows, carnival foods. We’ve probably got about a dozen to 20 member groups who’ll be working their stalls and rides.”

The Ballarat Family Carnival will return on 8 to 10 November.

Event times are 5pm to 10pm on the Friday, 10am to 10pm on Saturday, and 10am to 5pm on Sunday.

Entry is $2 per person.