The Ballarat Begonia Festival, making a flourishing return over the Victorian Labour Day long weekend, will debut a never-before-seen begonia flower from March 9 to 11. The brand new begonia cultivar will be named after the Ballarat Botanical Gardens’ inaugural curator - Begonia ‘George Longley’ - with the highly anticipated colour of the new flower to be unveiled at the festival.
The three-day event with free entry will take place in the iconic Ballarat Botanical Gardens, celebrating the city’s rich horticulture heritage and boasting a line-up of demonstrations and talks led by a roster of celebrity presenters and industry experts including:
- Paul West - River Cottage Australia host.
- Hannah Moloney - sustainable gardener and Gardening Australia presenter.
- Courtney Roulston - MasterChef Australia alumni.
- Jerry Coleby-Williams - horticulture/begonia expert.
Showcasing a signature collection of rare begonias, the conservatory display will return, this year playing homage to the redevelopment of the Ballarat Fernery – one of Australia’s oldest ferneries – that is set to open in time for the festival. Visitors can expect to see an exciting display inspired by the spiral shapes of fern fronds.
WEEKEND ACTIVITIES:
- Food and drink: discover Ballarat’s rich culinary scene with an assortment of local beers, wines and spirits available at the Begonia Bar as well as two precincts with food trucks. Stay tuned for the full event program.
- Begonia Parade: the 2024 Power FM Begonia Parade will take place on Monday, March 11 with more than 30 community groups, schools and local businesses taking part in a vibrant procession along Wendouree Parade.
- Begonia letters: situated in the Ballarat CBD, the big begonia letters will feature the work of Wadawurrung traditional owner and artist Billy O’Toole.
- Family entertainment: for the aspiring green thumbs, there will be kids’ activities including a giant maze, live butterfly tent and bug exploration zone; arts and crafts; Integra Tiny Town (featuring mini cubbies for families to self-explore); and face painters.
- Roving entertainment: bright and beautiful bees, butterflies and ladybugs on stilts will be roaming the Ballarat Botanical Gardens. Running throughout the whole festival, catch a photo with one of the spectacular creatures.
- Markets: browse offerings at market stalls, featuring an assortment of plants, flowers and garden-related gifts.
