Festival for all turns 50 in Ballan

A FESTIVAL in Ballan is so community driven most of the town want to take part in it.

On Sunday 15 March, the 50th Ballan Autumn Festival will be hosted in the town’s centre.

Many Ballan residents will be involved in the free festival’s parade down the town’s main street.

“It’s a gathering and a celebration of what makes Ballan good,” festival president Kevin Harper said.

“The parade is the thing that always comes back as the most important part to the locals, that they want to see the parade continue.

“The parade has pre-kindergarten kids being pushed in their prams, kindergarten kids, to people from the nursing home being pushed in their wheelchairs or on their walkers or in the coach, if they can’t.

“Everyone is included and has the chance to be included, so nobody is excluded.”

The festival’s president said the 50th edition celebrated the contribution residents across generations had made to their town.

He said Ballan was worth celebrating because it was a community that worked together.

“We saw it a few weeks back when there were fires in Blackwood,” he said.

“The alarm went off, the fire brigade went out, Zest, Elsie Rose Bakes and us were talking together about what do we do.

“We stayed open, and all on their Facebook pages saying we’re open, you don’t need to buy anything, you just come here and sit in the air conditioning. That’s one example of how Ballan works.”

Throughout the town as part of the festival, there will be activities such as a petting zoo, pet show, silent disco, an open mic stage, pony rides and morning and afternoon teas.

There will also be live entertainment, market stalls and food vendors.

Returning to the festival is the woodchop, which the festival’s president said represented “country values and skills and gifts that are still much needed”.

He said the festival reflects its growing town and passionate residents.

“Last year it was very wet and we carried on and there were smiles everywhere,” he said.

“But whatever the weather might throw at us, the festival still thrives, which says that inherent in it, it’s got a beating heart. And it’s that beating heart that will continue whatever is pressured upon it.”

More information at ballanautumnfestival.au.