From Insta-worthy moments with GIANT colourful eggs and neon artworks, to hands-on experiences and delicious eats, there's plenty happening in Ballarat to keep you and your visitors eggcited (sorry, we had to) this Easter long weekend (Friday 7 April – Monday 10 April).
WHAT’S ON
The Easter Bunny has a special delivery for Ballarat this autumn.
From 31 March-16 April, a colourful display of giant Easter eggs and neon lights will pop up in the Sturt Street Gardens.
This Insta-worthy activation will feature 18 larger-than-life eggs, plus 18 neon installations by acclaimed visual artist Carla O’Brien.
Think neon bunnies, Easter eggs and more.
But that’s not all! Here’s a snapshot of what else is happening in Ballarat over the Easter long weekend:
- trivia at Hop Temple on Wednesday 5 April from 7.30pm, plus the popular Pint & Plate special. And make sure you try some of Hop’s favourite Easter beers, including White Rabbit x Pana Organic Chocolate Stout plus Bright Brewery’s C-Easter and Desist Caramelised White Chocolate Stout
- vintage Easter display at antiques and collectables shed Rocket and Belle from Thursday 6 April until Saturday 8 April from 11am-4pm
- Easter musical bingo with Max Hamond at Hop Temple on Thursday 6 April from 6.30pm. The fundraiser will also be serving up $5 Philly cheesesteaks
- hand paint a pot or vase at Ivy&Coco Studio on Thursday 6 April at 7.30pm
- Yacht Club DJs and Ruby Lou performing live at Volta on Thursday 6 April from 8pm, followed by Morning Maxwell on Saturday 8 April from 9pm
- a bumper Good Friday A-League match between Western United and Central Coast Mariners at Mars Stadium from 3pm. The day will also feature a free Easter egg hunt, face painting, autographs and selfies with Western United players, plus free entry for kids under 14
- Lake Wendouree’s Ballarat Farmers Market on Saturday 8 April from 9am until 1pm
- Pliable Planes: Expanded Textile & Fibre Practices daily at the Art Gallery of Ballarat
- the Skipton Market on Saturday 8 April from 9am until 1pm
- pre-vintage preparation at Michael Unwin Wines from Easter Saturday until Easter Monday
- a set menu Easter lunch at Waubra's Wayward Winery on Saturday 8 April and Sunday 9 April featuring meats & cheese, pickles, focaccia; pulled pork empanadas, labneh; BBQ prawns, preserved lemons, capers; woodfired duck breast, sherry & fig sauce, leek; and hot cross bun brownie, salted caramel semifreddo
- Aunty Jacks Tour and Taste beer tasting and brewery tour on Saturday 8 April and Sunday 9 April at 3pm
- From Wax to Wearable Jewellery workshop with Claire McArdle at Windflower on Saturday 8 April at 3pm
- Inner Poet Discovery Walk with Megan J Riedl through the streets of Ballarat on Saturday 8 April at 3pm
- Blues, Brews & BBQ at Hop Temple on Easter Sunday, including Charlie Bedford live on stage at 1.30pm. And don’t miss the Hop Temple Easter Egg Hunt!
- high tea at Craig’s Royal Hotel on Sunday 9 April at 2pm
- a special Easter Sunday screening of 1948’s Easter Parade starring Judy Garland and Fred Astaire at Regent Cinemas, plus a Kill Bill movie marathon
- get a free $89 scarf at Creswick Woollen Mills with every purchase over $150
- visit the Pyrenees region and scan the QR codes at participating cafes, cellar doors, restaurants and retail outlets for your chance to win a $1000 Pyrenees holiday. Details about the Pyrenees Easter Hunt at visitpyrenees.com.au
THINGS TO SEE & DO
Still need more inspiration?
How about:
- take a stroll around one of Australia’s most significant cool climate gardens, the Ballarat Botanical Gardens. And don't forget to check out the Robert Clark Conservatory's stunning display of begonias, on show until Sunday 16 April
- book tickets to Sovereign Hill, the Ballarat Wildlife Park, Kryal Castle, Eureka Centre, Art Gallery of Ballarat and Creswick Woollen Mills with The Ballarat Pass
- fish for your dinner at Smeaton’s Tuki Trout Farm
- sign up for nature, sightseeing, heritage and wine tours with Golden Nugget Discovery Tours (closed Good Friday)
- stretch your legs at Ballarat’s Woowookarung Regional Park
- go on the free 11am daily guided tour at the Art Gallery of Ballarat
- visit the new Constellation: Forming the Flag exhibition at the Eureka Centre
FOOD AND DRINK
Get your foodie fix at some of our favourite hospitality venues this Easter:
Cafes
- 1816 Bakehouse (18 Armstrong Street North)
- The Turret Cafe (802 Sturt Street)
- Lilly’s at Eureka Centre (102 Stawell Street South)
- The Stables at Hotel Canberra (812 Macarthur Street)
- Griller’s Mark (58 Lydiard Street North)
- Hideaway Coffee Bar (69 Water Street – closed Easter Monday)
- P. Frangos & Sons (313 Sturt Street – closed Easter Sunday)
Restaurants & bars
- Roy Hammond (24-28 Armstrong Street North)
- Carboni’s (152 Eureka Street)
- Boatshed Restaurant (27 Wendouree Parade)
- Lake View Hotel (22 Wendouree Parade)
- Azzuri (613 Main Road)
- The Atrium at Craig’s Royal Hotel (10 Lydiard Street South)
- Merkama (30 Doveton Street North)
- The Western Hotel (1221 Sturt Street)
- Pancho (36 Armstrong Street North – closed Easter Monday)
- Hop Temple (rear of 24-28 Armstrong Street North – closed Good Friday and Easter Monday)
- The Forge Pizzeria (14 Armstrong Street North – closed Good Friday)
- The Mallow Hotel (20 Skipton Street, Ballarat – closed Good Friday)
- Ellington’s Wine Bar (405A Sturt Street – closed Easter Monday)
- Mitchell Harris Wine Bar (38 Doveton Street North – closed Easter Sunday and Easter Monday)
Wineries, breweries and distilleries
- Kilderkin Distillery (14a Hill Street – closed Good Friday and Easter Monday)
- Aunty Jacks (315-317 Mair Street – closed Good Friday and Easter Monday)
- Michael Unwin Wines (10 Powells Road, Windermere)
- Mrs Baker’s Still House (606 Elmhurst-Glenpatrick Road, Elmhurst)
- Blue Pyrenees Estate (656 Vinoca Road, Avoca – closed Good Friday)
- St Anne’s Winery (64 Garrards Lane, Myrniong)
EASTER TREATS
Whether you’re a sweet or savoury type, here’s where to get some of Ballarat’s best Easter offerings:
- From 6-10 April, Roy Hammond‘s impressive line-up of Easter cocktails includes Choc Sazerac (cognac, rye, crème de cacao), Hot Cross Bun (vanilla vodka, Apple Pucker, sherry, Little Drippa, sugar), Choc Puff (rum, crème de cacao, clarified milk, sugar syrup), and Crème Egg (vanilla vodka, Licor 43, crème de cacao, advocaat, condensed milk, sugar)
- Set to be unveiled on 6 April is Aunty Jacks‘ new Easter small batch release – Chocolate Chip Hot Cross Bun Beer. Biscuit, chocolate and caramel malt flavours have been balanced with some herbal bittering and spiced with cinnamon, raisin and cacao nibs
- The Forge Pizzeria's Boozy Bunny cocktail (Baileys, vodka and Nutella with chocolate crumb), Caramello dessert pizza (Nutella base with Caramello easter eggs, vanilla ice cream and salted caramel sauce), and hot cross bun tiramisu (housemade tiramisu layered with 1816 Bakehouse hot cross buns and soaked in Grounded Pleasures spiced chai and masala wine)
- Mitchell Harris' double choc Easter egg cocktail
- Carboni's Next Door's takeaway Easter Box complete with 1kg marinara sauce, 500g fresh fettuccine and a 750g vanilla bean panna cotta with berry sauce
- Johnny Alloo's hot cross bun-style scrolls with orange, nutmeg, allspice, currants and walnuts
- Saltbush Kitchen‘s new Australian chocolate bark, infused with native lemon myrtle or native peppermint gum
- Lucky and James‘ hot cross bun chocolate featuring candied orange, sultanas and currants coated in a special blend of hot cross bun spices and folded through either milk or dark chocolate
- Vegas & Rose's bunny bark in two delicious flavours – white Belgium chocolate with organic roasted hazelnuts, pistachios and edible cornflowers; or milk Belgium chocolate with freeze dried raspberries
- Sovereign Hill‘s raspberry drop Easter eggs and rabbits
- The Little Cupcake‘s Easter cupcakes and bikkies (open Easter Saturday)
And for something a little bit different, Mia and Talbot’s range of non-chocolate gifts will include Easter bath bombs, candles and hampers.
Ballarat Candle Co has also released three limited edition Easter scents – Mr Davies' Hot Cross Buns, MacRobertson's Chocolate Delight, and Red Shop Tea Rooms Carrot Cake.