With an event taking place every day, you’ll find the perfect adventure in Ballarat this festive season.
Admire the Insta-worthy festival decorations along the city’s main thoroughfare, follow the 12 Days of Christmas Windows art trail, shop until you drop at Ballarat’s ever-growing retail offerings, then indulge in the finest food and wine and explore the many festivals and events with your family and friends.
This year, the City of Ballarat has introduced a number of new festive-themed installations and activities, as well as welcoming back crowd favourites, including the floral Reindeer who this year celebrate their 10th birthday.
Businesses and event organisers across the city are also in full festive spirit, with more than 200 events taking place across Ballarat during December.
Ballarat Mayor Ben Taylor said the extensive event listings across Ballarat this festive season will assist to activate and encourage visitation and spend in the CBD throughout December.
“Whether it’s wandering Christmas markets, listening to carols or snapping the perfect photo of your children with Santa’s Reindeer, there is certainly an event for everyone – making Christmas in Ballarat this year one of our biggest,” he said.
“It’s the perfect chance to invite family and friends to Ballarat for the day, or even the weekend, where they can shop for their Christmas presents while enjoying the extensive number of activations spread out across the CBD.”
Check out the online Advent Calendar
Plan your Christmas adventure using our new online Advent Calendar. With an event taking place every day throughout December, you’ll be sure to find something to do with your family and friends.
Don’t forget to visit every day and find one of three unique codewords for your chance to win the ultimate summer family fun pack, which includes a family pass to Nitro Circus, Ballarat Wildlife Park, Kryal Castle, Sovereign Hill and Ballarat Bird World.
Leave a message for Santa
Who doesn’t love the idea of calling Santa to tell him what they want for Christmas? Hear your child’s wishes when they call Santa from the red telephone box outside Myer and leave a message for him between 8am and 8pm (Calls are free).
This experience is brought to you by City of Ballarat, Hackerspace and Telstra.
Snap a photo with the floral Reindeer
The Reindeer are back and it’s their 10th Birthday! These festive sculptures have become an icon for Ballarat at Christmas time, so come and take a photo with Santa’s Reindeer and share it across the world as so many have over the past decade.
The Gingerbread House
Come and see this delicious-looking gingerbread house layered with lollies and, watch your children’s faces light up when they push the button and see the house come to life.
The Gingerbread House, which has been created by local artists Zlatko Balazic and Margie Balazic, can be found next to Parent Place.
12 Days of Christmas Windows*
This collection of temporary artworks is inspired by the Twelve Days of Christmas and will be a nod to local traditions, with an emphasis on our regional city, our heritage, our First Nations peoples and our shared future.
The City of Ballarat has commissioned six local artists to create the window displays to fill the city’s shops and streetscape with Christmas joy and creativity.
From Friday 6 December, you can follow the trail of the 12 Days of Christmas Windows, starting with the Partridge in a Pear Tree at Central Square and continuing down through to 12 Drummers Drumming in the Bridge Mall.
