Create, craft, and show it off

THE Ballarat Times News Group 2022 Ballarat Show is back, and along with the agricultural and family events, there’s also a chance to get creative.

With entries for the Show’s many competitions now open, organiser Jackie Kalogerakis said she wants to see everyone getting involved in their arts, crafts, and cookery offerings.

“We welcome all age groups to get involved. Ballarat’s got some amazing artists out there and this is an opportunity for them to really showcase that,” she said.

“There’s obviously some prizes to be won. We have things like colouring competitions, painting, photography, a Lego-building one for the children, cake-decorating, haberdashery, and plants.

“Lots of people come to the show to see the displays, so the more people that enter, the more stuff there is to look at. People can enter in as many competitions as they want to.”

The traditional jam and marmalade competitions are returning alongside floral displays, scone making, and crafting entries.

A new lighthouse building competition is open to children and school groups with the theme of ‘sea, sun and shells.’

The arts, crafts and cookery competitions receive an average of 400 entries, and Ms Kalogerakis said they have plenty of regulars.

“This really carries out long traditions that have been around for many years in cake-decorating and arts and crafts,” she said.

“It encourages that community feel, and encourages children to have a go at cooking, arts, craftwork with their parents.

“It’s such a wonderful way for people to express themselves and engage more in this annual tradition. It’s particularly important now we’re back and there’s already an excitement building.”

Entries will be exhibited at the Ballarat Showgrounds’ Harry Smith Pavilion from Friday, 11 until Sunday, 13 November.

The first, second and third place entries of each category will be labelled. Enter at ballaratshow.org.au.