Five things you can’t miss at Begonia Fest

ALTHOUGH the Ballarat Begonia Festival is set to be delivered a little differently this year, the City of Ballarat have ensured a variety of flower-centric showcases and workshops are still going ahead.

Blooming from 6 March to 28 March, the extended festival allows for additional displays and collaborations, each to be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.

Although there’s much to be seen and admired, here’s five of our must-see floral displays for this year’s Ballarat Begonia Festival.

Discover more Ballarat Begonia Festival events or learn more at ballaratbegoniafestival.com.

Illuminated Garden

Brought to you by local set-design and production house Form Imagination and creative agency Picture Thinking, find a range of light-up flower displays at the Illuminated Garden.

Located in the 300 block of the Sturt Street Gardens, the installation will include a tribute to Lake Wendouree, a fantastical veggie patch and, of course a literal glowing tribute to the reason for the season, all in a fun and imaginative way that’s sure to keep everyone entertained.

Be guided by the lights, wander around glowing over-sized lilies and interact with the giant flowers for the entirety of the festival.

Spherophyte Sculpture

Located directly across from the Town Hall, Spherophyte is a mesmerising sculpture incorporating slow, meditative movement and light.

Artist and creator Alex Sanson said he loves to create sculptures that incorporate a hypnotic motion.

“I like to try to induce a sense of joy and engagement with the world around us,” he said.

“I’m very excited to install Spherophyte in central Ballarat and hope that it may elicit moments of peacefulness, delight and imagination.”

While Spherophyte will be on site until the end of the festival, the sculpture operates for between 10am to 10pm each day.

Robert Clarke Conservatory Display

The stunning annual Begonia display at the Robert Clarke Conservatory is always a gem of the festival, regularly drawing visitors from far and wide.

The City of Ballarat’s horticultural team have worked for 10 months growing a range of Begonias in over 500 varieties, eventually picking 700 of the best for the display.

Although the display is still set to go ahead, organisers are following a COVID-safe plan meaning social distancing, a QR sign in on entry and 50 people maximum within the Conservatory which may result in queues at peak times.

Urban Garden

For the first time, the Ballarat Begonia Festival is set to present the Urban Garden display.

A range of regional florists and artists are set to be involved including Raven and the Rose, Wootton and Nicholls, Soho Rose Farm, Gardenia Magnifica, Ballarat Floral Art Group, The Refined Bloom Co., Gingham Greens and more.

In addition, the showcase will also include an extensive creation by floral specialist Katie Marx and an innovative floating Begonia Carpet by Floral Enterprises’ Kevin Moneghetti.

Begonia Garland

On display throughout the entire festival, the Begonia Garland is set to showcase over 100 paper clay hand-crafted and painted Begonias and eight bespoke native birds.

The display was made possible thanks to Ballarat’s own celebrated multimedia artist and proud Wadawurrung woman Dr Deanne Gilson who created the collection as a tribute to the festivities.

Set to adorn the Town Hall, the Begonia Garland showcases the very same Begonia flowers that inspired Gilson’s Apex Art Exhibition at the Ballarat Begonia Festival around 30 years prior.