Ballarat Begonia Festival
A hallmark on Ballarat’s events calendar, the Ballarat Begonia Festival has been a local tradition for the past 60 years. Held in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens over Victoria’s Labour Day long weekend, the Begonia Festival is a FREE community event featuring gardening advice, family entertainment, children’s activities and the popular Begonia Parade and Begonia Display.
Keep updated by visiting Ballarat Begonia Festival.
Now, thanks to Garden Explorer a new online service, learning more about individual plants or your favourite floral fragrance in the Gardens has never been easier. Garden Explorer allows visitors to look up information about the entire plant database, and with an online interactive map can help plan your tour of the city.
Garden Explorer is available for Ballarat Botanical Gardens and Buninyong Botanical Gardens.
Summer Sundays
One of Ballarat’s most popular events, Summer Sundays is held in the tranquil surrounds of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens during January. Thousands visit the Gardens for the free event which features an exciting line-up of musical talent and various food vendors.
Visit Summer Sundays for more information.
Ballarat Farmers Market
Ballarat Farmers Market takes place in central Ballarat near the shores of beautiful Lake Wendouree.
The market runs all year round and has 50 to 90 or more stalls depending on the season. Enjoy a coffee van, hot food cooked on the spot, fresh vegetables, fruit, bread, olive oil, cheese, jams, chutneys and sauces, clothing, fudge, gifts, health bars, eggs, honey, wine, Cornish pasties, fresh ground coffee, yummy biscuits and hand-made jewellery.
Craft, clothing and gift stalls are available, as well as a range of dry goods (flours, grains, pulses, dried fruit, herbs, herbal teas, nuts and much more) and plants, including natives, edibles and succulents. The market is set in large park lands north of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens. Stroll under the dappled shade of mature trees as you enjoy the market before a visit to the lake or gardens.
Many stalls are seasonal local producers and the range is different at every market. There really is something for everyone.
The market operates on the second and fourth Saturday of each month – except in December when they run the usual market on the Second Saturday then a Twilight Christmas Market on the Friday before Christmas.
Weddings
The Ballarat Botanical Gardens and Lake Wendouree precinct provide the perfect backdrop for your big day.
Popular locations at the Gardens include the wedding trees, Tom Beaumont Lawn, Rose Garden and behind the Conservatory.
For more information, view the weddings brochure.
Robert Clark Horticultural Centre – available for hire
The Robert Clark Horticultural Centre, located in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, is available for function and meeting use.
The Centre can accommodate up to 60 guests and is available to hire Monday to Friday between 8am and 4.30pm.
The Centre opens onto a private landscaped courtyard that can also be utilised. Facilities include a full kitchen, data projector and hands free microphone.
To book your next function or meeting download and complete the Booking Application Form. For more information, contact the Ballarat Botanical Gardens on (03) 5320 5135 or email rccadministration@ballarat.vic.gov.au.
