Fest brings autumn fun to Ballan

MORE than 3500 people roamed the streets of Ballan last Sunday during the annual Ballan Autumn Festival – a celebration of local culture, creativity and community.

The town’s closed roads were lined with stalls, displays, entertainment, and participants in the ever-popular parade which Ballan Autumn Festival Association president Kevin Harper said was a highlight for locals as usual.

“Everyone in Ballan was represented, from nursery schools through to nursing homes,” he said.

“There were at least 45 entrants in the parade and it went for about 37 minutes.”

Although it was a grey and drizzly day, Mr Harper said the community still came out in force.

“Only three of 126 stalls didn’t turn up, and we had a good range of quality stalls,” he said.

“Because it was cold, the food stalls did very well.

“Our local entertainers braved the wind and rain to keep us all entertained.

“The pet show had 17 entries and ran almost in a hail storm at one point, but the dogs were performing and knew there were some treats for them at the end.

“Attendees came back from previous years, not just from Ballan, and our local farmers were rejoicing that we had rain.”

Ballan District Vintage Machinery and Vehicle Club’s Ray Meadows said he had been part of the festival since the 1980s, showcasing steam engines.

“We enjoy interacting with people and telling them all about our hobby,” he said.

Moorabool Environment Group’s Mara Hayler and Moira Smith had their own stall, advocating for environmental issues in the area.

“It’s important to us to keep people aware of what’s going on,” Ms Hayler said.

The association estimates attendance was between 3500 to 4000 people, but “everyone in Ballan” was there.

Looking to Ballan Autumn Festival 2026, Mr Harper said many stallholders are already keen to sign up again.

Association members will be advocating for funding from governments and grants programs to cover costs for planning and running the event.