‘Cool things’ to do in Ballarat this Winter

Poco Film Festival

Ballarat is experienced in embracing the cold weather - in fact it’s the regional city’s signature season. With a booming food and drink scene; unexpected tours and exhibitions; jam-packed festivals; and a line-up of incredible live entertainment, winter in Ballarat has never been cooler.

Below are some of the best things to do in Ballarat this winter.

POCO FILM FESTIVAL

Ballarat is proud to host the Poco Film Festival - a biennial festival with entries open to filmmakers and animators from all over the country. Poco fosters new and emerging talent and builds a community for creative minds to share, collaborate and inspire.

Short Film Screening
A live screening of the short film finalists will take place at Ballarat’s Regent Cinema on Saturday August 3 at 7pm. Join an unforgettable evening celebrating up to 15 of Australia's best short films; from thought-provoking documentaries to heartwarming dramas and quirky comedies.

Industry Talks
‘Poco Talks’ offers an exciting opportunity to be in the room with a panel of Australian film industry leaders. Taking place at the Terminus Theatre in the Ballarat Goods Shed, budding filmmakers will be able to hear some of the best Australian talent talk about their success both in Australia and overseas.
When + Time: Friday 2 August, 2pm-5pm
Where: Terminus Theatre, Ballarat Goods Shed
Tickets + more info: Available here

ART LATE AT ART GALLERY OF BALLARAT

Art Late at Art Gallery of Ballarat 

Stay up for Art Late, a curated series of late-night encounters at the Art Gallery of Ballarat featuring a dynamic combination of music and thought-provoking art, plus food, treats and a bar.

Pop art meets pop music in a very special ‘summer-y' series of Art Late curated by OK Motels, held in the depths of winter. Explore the latest exhibition ‘Lost in Palm Springs’; check out the Kank Wolverang Record pop-up store; and other late-night Gallery activities including a Palm Springs-inspired installation by Callum Preston and tunes from Melourne five-piece band Bananagun.
When + Time: Saturday 15 June, 6:30pm-9pm
Where: Art Gallery of Ballarat
More information: here

WINTER TRUFFLE HUNTING AT BLACK CAT TRUFFLES

Black Cat Truffles is both a winter and summer truffle farm and restaurant located in the beautiful Central Victorian Highlands. The winter truffle season commences on 8 June with Black Cat Truffles offering indulgent truffle experiences including a tour of the truffière and a chance to try your hand at truffle hunting before indulging in a seasonal degustation meal.
When: From 8 June
Where: Black Cat Truffles, 150 Howards Rd, Wattle Flat VIC 3352
More information: Here

EERIE TOURS

Eerie Tours is one of Australia’s most popular Ghost Tour providers and the first to win a Victorian Tourism Award.

Eerie Tours invites you to spend an evening exploring the dark and paranormal side of Ballarat, a town steeped in early Australian history. Set against the backdrop of Ballarat’s beautiful Gothic inspired architecture, Eerie Tours will provide you with a night of uncanny occurrence and tales of the birth of the Australian spirit, in more ways than one.

Eerie Tours currently offers two tours exploring the supernatural side of Australia’s most haunted city, hosted by a professional team of historians and storytellers:
Ballarat Ghost Tour: Friday and Saturday nights, 8pm to 9:30pm
Old Cemetery Night Tour: Saturday nights, 8pm to 9:30pm
More info and book tickets at eerietours.com.au.

LAL LAL FALLS

Lal Lal Falls

Lal Lal Falls is a waterfall 20 minutes’ drive from Ballarat with an impressive drop into a large, rocky gorge.The reserve features a large grassy area, playground, picnic tables, toilets and barbecues.

Winter is the perfect time to take the short 200-metre walk to the viewing platform as rain usually means the falls are flowing. From the platform, visitors can look down over the falls, or go a little further around the gorge on the Von Guerard View Track for a stunning long distance view.

A DAY IN THE GARDEN AT MOUNT MITCHELL

Explore the historic Mount Mitchell Estate on a full-day tour and gardening experience led by horticulturist, educator, and property owner Kate Tol.

historic Mount Mitchell Estate

Begin with a guided tour of the estate's diverse garden spaces including ornamental; formal rose and kitchen gardens; orchards; parkland; and historic outbuildings. Learn about seasonal gardening techniques and challenges from Kate and participate in hands-on activities like planting, pruning, propagating and hedging.

Exclusive access to the pool house kitchen offers the chance to master sensational scone making while insights at the gardener's cottage will inspire you to apply newfound knowledge in your own garden.
When: Sunday 2 June, 9am-4pm
Where: Mount Mitchell Estate - 3056 Sunraysia Highway, Lexton VIC 3352
More information: Here

UPCOMING SHOWS AT THE BALLARAT CIVIC HALL

Jimeoin: Saturday 8 June
Ever wondered why dogs get so excited around 6pm? Or what is the point of the little toe? Or what to do when you forget someone’s name? Come along and see Jimeoin and you will find out all the answers to the world’s big questions.

The Sunshine Club: Friday 14 June
Hit Productions is proud to be presenting this important Australian work all around the country to metropolitan, regional and remote locations in 2024.

With Wesley Enoch at the helm (a development coup for HIT) the tour will take his play on stage in 2023, further than ever before with all most of the locations presenting the work for the first time. It will build on HIT’s work with First Nations artists and is a great successor to The Sapphires – its learnings and triumphs.

Grug: Friday 19 July
Stunning design and beautiful live puppetry combine to bring Ted Prior’s iconic picture book character to the stage in a smash-hit production that sees audiences join Grug on some of his most exciting adventures.

Em Rusciano - Outgrown: Saturday 3 August
Em Rusciano is back with a brand-new live experience and her first big national tour since her wildly successful ‘Rage and Rainbows’ show in 2019, and look yes, she is still angry, but now she knows why.

Ross Noble: Friday 9 August
Jibber Jabber Jamboree marks Ross Noble’s 21st solo stand-up tour. To celebrate this milestone, he invites you to join him for an evening of the sort of inspired nonsense that has cemented his place as the supreme master of the stream of conscious freewheeling stand up. This is a chance to see Noble live on stage in his natural habitat.