Festival springs back

By Carol Saffer

‘Blooming Marvellous’ is the theme for this year’s Ballan Autumn Festival.

The floral topic celebrates BAF’s springing into autumn on Sunday, November 13, 2022.

It is a requirement that the festival’s funding, provided by the state government and the Moorabool Shire Council, be used by the end of the 2022 calendar year, hence the need to hold BAF in spring.

Kevin Harper, Ballan Autumn Festival president, said the forthcoming event would trial a new format designed to be COVID-safe and flexible enough to respond to health directions as they change.

“We are shaping the festival to develop a sustainable model to deliver a COVID-safe festival going forward,” Mr Harper said.

“If all goes according to plan, we will be back bigger and better on the normal third Sunday in March 2023.”

Extensive consultations with locals and stakeholders are helping the volunteer-run BAF committee ensure the festival reflects the local needs and expectations.

The essentials of the festival, the grand parade, pet show, street stalls, live entertainment, and local traders’ activations will not change.

The new format includes moving the live entertainment to the yet-to-be-completed sound stage in Mill Park.

Food stall vendors will be in the Park, alongside the stage and the skate ramp, while traditional non-food stalls are planned for both sides of Inglis Street.

Mr Harper said the new look BAF would kick off as usual at 9.00am, and the grand parade down the main street will start at 11.00am.

Application forms are now open for a place in the grand parade, business activations and stalls trading on the BAF website.

“Register your interest as soon as possible,” Mr Harper said.

“Volunteers are much in need, and the festival cannot happen without them, so we urge locals who like to get involved in applying now,” he said.

Further detailed announcements as to the progress of the new festival will be made public towards the end of August.

For more information, visit www.ballanautumnfestival.com.au