Ballarat Heritage Weekend facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ballarat Heritage Weekend |
|
|---|---|
| Genre | Festival |
| Date(s) | Mother's Day weekend, 7-8 May |
| Frequency | annual |
| Location(s) | Ballarat |
| Years active | 19 |
| Inaugurated | 2006 |
| Attendance | 14,500 (2012) |
| Organised by | City of Ballarat |
| Website | http://www.ballaratheritageweekend.com/ |
The Ballarat Heritage Weekend is a fun festival held every year in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. It's like a big party that celebrates Ballarat's amazing history. The City of Ballarat has organized this event since 2006. Many people visit Ballarat just for this festival. It's a great way to learn about the past, and many events are free to enjoy!
What Happens at the Festival?
The festival has many popular activities that happen every year. You can often explore old buildings that are usually closed to the public. Imagine stepping inside a historic place!
There are also cool vintage vehicles. You might see old trains, buses, and cars. Sometimes, you can even ride on a historic tram or a horse and cart! People dressed in old-fashioned clothes walk around, making it feel like you've traveled back in time.
You can join walking tours to learn about Ballarat's architecture and history. There are also displays of old collections, live shows, and special exhibits from groups that care about heritage. The Ballarat Mining Exchange, a beautiful old building from 1887, is often used to show these exhibits.
A Look Back at the Festival's History
| How Many People Attended? | |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 4,000 |
| 2009 | 6,000 |
| 2010 | 8,000 |
| 2011 | 9,500 |
| 2012 | 14,500 |
The very first Ballarat Heritage Weekend happened in May 2006. Over the years, the festival has grown and featured many interesting things.
In 2011, there was a special display about Henry Sutton. He was an inventor from Ballarat who created many amazing things. The 2012 festival was all about "Childhood Memories." It had a fashion show with old-style clothes and showed trailers from classic movies.
In 2013, the festival featured cars from the TV show The Doctor Blake Mysteries. There was also a dance party with a 1960s theme. You could see old pictures of Ballarat's mayors and a private collection of retro games. There was even a market for old records!
In 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival went online. People could still enjoy the heritage weekend from their homes!
