It’s showtime

By Helen Tatchell

It is only five more sleeps until the themed Autumn Festival in Ballan begins.
Anyone can dress up and ‘celebrate local superheros’ on the day, or as the 1st Ballan Scouts have done prior, decorated haybales to complement the theme.
Volunteer organisers are expecting 10,000 visitors to the otherwise quiet township, with the festival the highlight of Ballan’s public calendar.
President (BAF), Deryck Carruthers said the festival theme of “celebrating local superheroes” has ensured a jam-packed programme of events and activities.
“In addition to an all-ages costume competition with prizes sponsored by Oz ComicCon, the festival has added a number of free workshops, on the superhero theme.
“To hone some of those superhero physical skills, Circus Lab will be teaching circus tricks and aspiring “mad scientists” can learn the basics of how to build machines with SciencePlay Kids,” he said.
Local artist and animator Jonny Hall will be teaching the basics of comic character design with a ‘Create Your Own Superhero’ workshop.
With the Ballan Autumn Festival running for the past 45 years and costing close to $40,000 per year for volunteers to raise and deliver, the changing theme offers something fresh and different.
“We are super excited about this year’s superhero offering, and are really impressed at what it’s inspiring,” Mr Carruthers said.
“It’s thrilling be able to offer local people so many fun and diverse activities on the superhero theme. We can’t get over just how excited people are for this year’s festival.”
In addition to the workshops, there’ll be the annual parade, rides, over a hundred stalls, street food, a petting zoo, a pet show, a high tea organized by the CWA and wandering superheroes organised by Moorabool Wind Farm. The Gorden Gospel Choir will be performing “superhero songs” and dance group L2R will be busting some moves to a superhero theme.
But wait, there’s more. “Straight Outta Wakanda!” an African Star Dance and Drumming Company will be leading a fabulous drumming workshop.
You can’t miss this year’s event. Put in in your diary, now.
The Ballan Autumn Festival will take place in the main street this Sunday, March 15, 2020 from 9am-4pm.
For further information and the full programme of events, go to the BAF website www.ballanautumnfestival.org or find them on Instagram or Facebook.