Fifties fest back to Rock Ballarat

ROCKABILLY and rock-and-roll culture will be celebrated in the CBD next month as the Rock Ballarat Festival returns.

Event organiser Stevie Kaze said this year’s event from Friday, 12 to Sunday, 14 February will be based in the Civic Hall precinct, offering the usual pin-up competitions, live bands, retro-style stalls, classic cars and dancing, just in a COVID-safe way.

“We’re trying to keep the structure the same with some paid and free events. We’ve limited our ticket numbers based on the Civic Hall’s capacity,” he said.

“Inside we’re running our Tiki Party and burlesque on the Friday night, our pin-up events will be on the Saturday and Sunday mornings, and on the Saturday and Sunday from midday we’ll have our paid band events. Our headliners are The Lincolns.

“We’re moving our street party and trade stalls to the landscaped area between the Civic Hall and Doveton Street, we’re setting up a stage there for live and recorded entertainment, a dance floor, and it will be gated so we can control numbers and contact tracing.”

Bands will play a few sets to give the public multiple chances to get on the dancefloor in a “self-regulated rotation.” Current restrictions allow 50 people to dance in an area at once.

“The public will still be able to see the Festival as they travel by, they’ll feel the vibe, hear the 50s music, see some dance demonstrations, and see vehicles displayed outside and behind the Hall.”

A rock-and-roll karaoke competition, and glamour hair and make-up sessions are new offerings planned for 2021.

Visit rockballarat.com.au.