Heritage Fest turning back time

THE city’s award-winning retrospective event, Heritage Festival, is set to return late next month, promising eight days of vintage attractions.

The program will run from Saturday, 21 May until Sunday, 29 May, and City of Ballarat deputy mayor Cr Amy Johnson said the festival will mark the region’s history for both visitors and locals.

“Ballarat has a lot to celebrate in regards to our heritage and I think the Heritage Festival is a great way to showcase that,” she said.

“You will notice people dressed up in heritage attire cycling around the city and it is a sight to behold and even more fun if you participate in it.”

For the first time, Heritage Festival will offer the Food Edit, which will see participating venues providing a range of dining workshops and events across the program.

Returning attractions will include the Ballarat Beard & Stache Competition, the Ballarat Tweed Ride, steam train tours, and Sovereign Hill’s Heritage Harvest weekend.

Last year, Heritage Festival took first place at both the 2021 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards’ and the 2021 Victorian Tourism Awards in the festivals and events categories.

Over 10,000 people are expected to attend the Heritage Fest, and Brayden Dorney, organiser of the Ballarat Beard and Stache competition, said the events will provide a great way to get in touch with the city’s history.

“I think the Heritage Festival’s just a great fit for Ballarat overall. There’s just such a diverse range of things on offer,” he said.

“There’s a great contrast to it, and it brings people of all different backgrounds together to appreciate what Ballarat has and the history of it.”