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A white Christmas – could it really be? Photo opportunity: Who: Ballarat Mayor Samantha McIntosh, artists Margie, Zlatko and George Balazic and Damascus College Choir and Band What: Launch of Giant Christmas Present When: 11am, Friday 30 November 2018 Where: Bridge Mall, Ballarat Believe it or not but Ballarat once experienced a white Christmas! Deep in the archives of Museums Victoria you will find old negatives of Ballarat covered in a fresh layer of snow on Christmas Day, dating back more than 100 years. The year was 1901. This particular Christmas day the locals unexpectedly felt the temperatures drop only to see white flakes fall and blanket their city in white. For the first time in recorded history, Ballarat was a winter wonderland at Christmas. Fast forward almost 117 years and this festive season artists Margie, Zlatko and George Balazic will re-tell this story through art. The 1901 Christmas in Ballarat will form the centrepiece of the Giant Christmas Present diorama which returns to the Bridge Mall this festive season. The giant diorama, with the special Christmas-themed scene built inside a shipping container, captured the attention of the Ballarat community last year – making it an easy decision to bring back again in 2018. The interactive artwork will be switched on at 11am today. The Damascus College Choir and Band, who pre-recorded the carols being played in this year’s diorama, will also perform at this morning’s launch. This year’s interactive Christmas decorations play an important role in establishing Ballarat as a Creative City.