See & do

28 Nov 24

What’s on in Ballarat this summer

Golden City Paddle Steamer, Lake Wendouree

From Australian-exclusive exhibitions to free outdoor concerts and festive markets, kick back and soak up the summer sun in Ballarat.

Read on to explore our summer calendar of events....

Medieval to Metal line-up

Thumbnail for Medieval to Metal: The Art and Evolution of the Guitar

Medieval to Metal: The Art and Evolution of the Guitar

BallaratUntil 2 Feb

Thumbnail for Blues, Brews, Barbecue and Medieval to Metal at Hop Temple

Blues, Brews, Barbecue and Medieval to Metal at Hop Temple

Ballarat22 Dec, 29 Dec + more

Thumbnail for Art Classics: Electric Counterpoint

Art Classics: Electric Counterpoint

Thumbnail for Medieval to Metal Art Bites: Guitars in Art with Pauline O’Shannessy-Dowling

Medieval to Metal Art Bites: Guitars in Art with Pauline O’Shannessy-Dowling

Ballarat14 Jan & 16 Jan

Thumbnail for Medieval to Metal Rockumentary Film Series: This is Spinal Tap 1984

Medieval to Metal Rockumentary Film Series: This is Spinal Tap 1984

Thumbnail for Art Gallery of Ballarat Medieval to Metal Workshop: Pitcha Makin Fellas

Art Gallery of Ballarat Medieval to Metal Workshop: Pitcha Makin Fellas

Thumbnail for CASH: A journey through the American recordings

CASH: A journey through the American recordings

Thumbnail for Medieval To Metal Art Bites: Bizarre Guitars with Emily Van Der Molen

Medieval To Metal Art Bites: Bizarre Guitars with Emily Van Der Molen

Ballarat21 Jan & 23 Jan

Thumbnail for Medieval to Metal Rockumentary Film Series: Gimme Shelter 1970

Medieval to Metal Rockumentary Film Series: Gimme Shelter 1970

Thumbnail for Art Gallery of Ballarat Medieval to Metal Artist Talk: Tony Mott

Art Gallery of Ballarat Medieval to Metal Artist Talk: Tony Mott

Thumbnail for Art Gallery of Ballarat: Medieval to Metal Setlist Dinner

Art Gallery of Ballarat: Medieval to Metal Setlist Dinner

Thumbnail for Live Music at The Red

Live Music at The Red

Ballarat29 Dec & 26 Jan

Thumbnail for Retro Riff

Retro Riff

Pyrenees22 Dec, 27 Dec + more

Ho, Ho, Ho...Merry Christmas

Christmas in Ballarat

Get into the Christmas spirit with a festive line-up of food and drink, live music, markets, workshops, exhibitions and art trails.

Eat & drink

Thumbnail for Cocktail Classes at Itinerant Spirits

Cocktail Classes at Itinerant Spirits

Ballarat28 Dec, 4 Jan + more

Thumbnail for Grainery Lane Gin Tasting and Blending Masterclass

Grainery Lane Gin Tasting and Blending Masterclass

Ballarat4 Jan, 18 Jan + more

Thumbnail for Summer Truffle Hunts at Black Cat Truffles

Summer Truffle Hunts at Black Cat Truffles

Hepburn22 Dec, 28 Dec + more

Thumbnail for Whiskey Experience at Itinerant Spirits

Whiskey Experience at Itinerant Spirits

Ballarat22 Dec, 29 Dec + more

Thumbnail for New Years Eve at Itinerant Spirits

New Years Eve at Itinerant Spirits

Thumbnail for Tastes of Australia

Tastes of Australia

Thumbnail for Lunch of Capretto from Meredith Farm

Lunch of Capretto from Meredith Farm

Forage & Feast festivities

Thumbnail for Forage & Feast: A taste of summer in the Central Highlands

Forage & Feast: A taste of summer in the Central Highlands

Ballarat13 Jan–16 Feb

Thumbnail for G&Tea at Grainery Lane

G&Tea at Grainery Lane

Ballarat22 Dec, 29 Dec + more

Thumbnail for Forage & Feast Cocktail Flight

Special Offer

Forage & Feast Cocktail Flight

BallaratItinerant Spirits

Thumbnail for Balinese Barbeque Rijsttafel

Balinese Barbeque Rijsttafel

Ballarat19 Jan & 9 Feb

Thumbnail for The Flavours of Ballarat: Six-Course Degustation at Nolans

The Flavours of Ballarat: Six-Course Degustation at Nolans

Thumbnail for Forage & Feast Gin High Tea

Forage & Feast Gin High Tea

Thumbnail for Baking and Shaking with Turret Bakehouse at Itinerant Spirits

Baking and Shaking with Turret Bakehouse at Itinerant Spirits

Ballarat23 Jan & 30 Jan

Thumbnail for Gin Blending Masterclass at Mrs Baker’s Still House

Gin Blending Masterclass at Mrs Baker’s Still House

Thumbnail for Live Music Sundays at Taltarni Cellar Door

Live Music Sundays at Taltarni Cellar Door

Thumbnail for Botanical Watercolour – Paint and Sip at Mrs Baker’s Still House

Botanical Watercolour – Paint and Sip at Mrs Baker’s Still House

Pyrenees18 Jan & 15 Feb

Thumbnail for Beaufort Summer Fest

Beaufort Summer Fest

Thumbnail for Art Gallery of Ballarat: Medieval to Metal Setlist Dinner

Art Gallery of Ballarat: Medieval to Metal Setlist Dinner

School's out!

What's on in Ballarat this summer school holidays

All the inspo you need for summer holiday shenanigans this December and January.

Special events

Thumbnail for Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran at the Art Gallery of Ballarat

Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran at the Art Gallery of Ballarat

Ballarat26 Dec, 2 Jan + more

Thumbnail for Kryal Castle’s Superhero Academy

Kryal Castle’s Superhero Academy

Moorabool27 Dec–28 Jan

Thumbnail for Australia Day Celebration

Australia Day Celebration

Thumbnail for Lunar New Year at Sovereign Hill

Lunar New Year at Sovereign Hill

Ballarat1 & 2 Feb

Thumbnail for Auslan Day at Sovereign Hill

Auslan Day at Sovereign Hill

Deals & offers

Find out where to get more bang for your buck in Ballarat...

Free

Summer Sundays at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens

Ballarat's favorite live music event is back this January.

Exhibitions

Thumbnail for JXSH MVIR: Forever I Live

JXSH MVIR: Forever I Live

BallaratUntil 2 Feb

Thumbnail for Lee Touzeau: In the Forest

Lee Touzeau: In the Forest

Ballarat22 Dec, 25 Dec + more

Thumbnail for The Unicorn Collection

The Unicorn Collection

Ballarat27 Dec, 3 Jan + more

Thumbnail for Reveal: Works from the Permanent Collection

Reveal: Works from the Permanent Collection

Ballarat10 Jan, 11 Jan + more

Thumbnail for Cultures of Ballarat – Art Show

Cultures of Ballarat – Art Show

Ballarat22 Dec, 29 Dec + more

Thumbnail for Amanda Western Exhibition

Amanda Western Exhibition

BallaratUntil 24 Dec

Thumbnail for Exhibition by Joy Smith, Here and There

Exhibition by Joy Smith, Here and There

Thumbnail for Shac’n not Stirred

Shac’n not Stirred

BallaratUntil 7 Jan

Thumbnail for Exhibition artist Joshua Mack: An Unfinished Circle

Exhibition artist Joshua Mack: An Unfinished Circle

Ballarat4–26 Jan

Thumbnail for Exhibition – Forgotten Realms. A ceramic exhibition by Maddison Lauren Trezise

Exhibition – Forgotten Realms. A ceramic exhibition by Maddison Lauren Trezise

Ballarat11 Jan, 12 Jan + more

Thumbnail for Exhibition artist Maree Heap ‘Wallflower’

Exhibition artist Maree Heap ‘Wallflower’

Ballarat1–23 Feb

Thumbnail for Exhibition – Nature’s Cadence by Tamzin Rasmussen

Exhibition – Nature’s Cadence by Tamzin Rasmussen

Ballarat8 Feb, 9 Feb + more

Happy new year!

New Year's Eve Firework Spectacular

Ballarat’s biggest firework display is back with a bang this New Year’s Eve!

Workshops

Thumbnail for Makers Series at Sovereign Hill

Makers Series at Sovereign Hill

Ballarat22 Dec, 26 Dec + more

Thumbnail for Medieval to Metal Art Bites: Guitars in Art with Pauline O’Shannessy-Dowling

Medieval to Metal Art Bites: Guitars in Art with Pauline O’Shannessy-Dowling

Ballarat14 Jan & 16 Jan

Thumbnail for Long Bow Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Long Bow Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat17–19 Jan

Thumbnail for Basketry Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Basketry Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Thumbnail for Basic Armouring Workshop

Basic Armouring Workshop

Ballarat18 Jan, 24 May + more

Thumbnail for Ring-making Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Ring-making Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Thumbnail for Buckled Leather pouch Workshop

Buckled Leather pouch Workshop

Thumbnail for Medieval To Metal Art Bites: Bizarre Guitars with Emily Van Der Molen

Medieval To Metal Art Bites: Bizarre Guitars with Emily Van Der Molen

Ballarat21 Jan & 23 Jan

Thumbnail for Distill Your Own Gin at Kilderkin Distillery

Distill Your Own Gin at Kilderkin Distillery

Ballarat23 Jan & 1 Feb

Thumbnail for Discover SAORI Weaving at the Rare Trades Centre

Discover SAORI Weaving at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat8 Feb, 26 Apr + more

Thumbnail for Introduction to Dry Stone Walling at the Rare Trades Centre

Introduction to Dry Stone Walling at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat8 Feb, 9 Feb + more

Thumbnail for Hand-forming Table Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Hand-forming Table Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Thumbnail for Bobbin Lace Workshop at Rare Trades Centre

Bobbin Lace Workshop at Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat22 Feb & 17 May

Thumbnail for Introductory Blacksmithing Workshop at Rare Trades Centre

Introductory Blacksmithing Workshop at Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat22 Feb & 18 Oct

Thumbnail for Limestone Carving Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Limestone Carving Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Thumbnail for Sailors Ditty Bag Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Sailors Ditty Bag Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Thumbnail for Rigid Heddle Workshop Scarf-making at the Rare Trades Centre

Rigid Heddle Workshop Scarf-making at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat22 Feb, 3 May + more

Thumbnail for Earrings Workshop at Rare Trades Centre

Earrings Workshop at Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat8 Feb & 7 Jun

More inspo

Thumbnail for 11 things to do at Lake Wendouree

11 things to do at Lake Wendouree

Family-friendly

Thumbnail for What’s on in Ballarat this summer school holidays

What’s on in Ballarat this summer school holidays

Thumbnail for Top things to do in Ballarat over summer

Top things to do in Ballarat over summer

Thumbnail for 10 places to eat out with kids in Ballarat

10 places to eat out with kids in Ballarat

Family-friendly