News Alert |

Festival-goers are being encouraged to take advantage of the free transport services to and from this year’s Ballarat Begonia Festival.

Last year more than 60,000 thousand people attended the festival over the Labour Day long weekend, with many visitors travelling from across the state.

Attributing to the festival’s success each year is the ease of transport and parking services available to visitors.

The popular free Park and Ride, shuttle services and tram rides will return in 2019, with the addition of bicycle parking introduced for the first time this year to cater for the growing number of visitors opting to cycle to the festival.

The Ballarat Begonia Festival is presented by the City of Ballarat.

Festival parking Ample Festival car parking is available at Victoria Park (access via Gillies Street).

Free Park and Ride service A free festival shuttle bus is also available throughout the entire weekend between 9.30am-5.30pm, running on a continuous loop to and from the festival car park at Victoria Park.

Cycling to the festival? We have introduced a dedicated area to keep your bike in the North Gardens, access via Nursery Drive. Parking is at the riders own risk and riders should be reminded to BYO bike lock.

Free Bus and Ride shuttle service A free festival shuttle will meet V/Line train services arriving from Melbourne at 9.40am; 11.40am; 1.40pm and 3.40pm. The festival shuttle will depart from Bay 9 of the V/Line Coach Terminal at the Ballarat Railway Station. The return shuttle will depart from Gillies Street to meet the following services back to Melbourne: 11.18am; 1.18pm; 3.18pm; 5.13pm. Shuttle buses will depart 30 minutes prior to these departure times.

Free vintage tram rides The Ballarat Begonia Festival will provide free Vintage tram rides all weekend for your convenience and enjoyment. Travel the 1.3kms of the original track beside the Botanical Gardens on the west side of Lake Wendouree.

Accessible parking Accessible parking is available in North Gardens, access via Nursery Drive. Permits must be shown and displayed. Please note access to the North Gardens accessible carpark will not be available on Monday 11 March until after 1pm due the Begonia Parade. Accessible parking is also available at Victoria Park on all three days of the festival, and all festival shuttle buses are accessible. A dedicated coach and accessible drop off and pick up zone will be available on Gillies Street, strictly no parking.

Power FM Begonia Parade road closure Wendouree Parade will be closed from Carlton Street to St Aidans Drive on Monday 11 March between 6.30am – 12.30pm for the Power FM Begonia Parade. Festival attendees are encouraged to park at Victoria Park and catch the free festival shuttle to view the parade and visit the festival.

Allergic to animals? Begonia Parade visitors are reminded that some groups participating in the Power FM Begonia Parade on Monday 11 March include some furry friends including dogs and horses.  

For more information about parking and transport visit: ballaratbegoniafestival.com

Ballarat residents received a Festival Highlights program with their Autumn edition of myBallarat which provides further information about the numerous services, including the Marveloo, available across the weekend.

A full list of these services and details about this year’s extensive list of activities and entertainment is available online at: ballaratbegoniafestival.com.au

A history of the Ballarat Begonia Festival The Ballarat Begonia Festival is one of Australia’s oldest and most popular community events.

The festival was launched in the autumn of 1953 by local Ballarat residents who were keen to highlight and celebrate the growing post-war prosperity of their town and the local region.

The inaugural Ballarat Begonia Festival was opened by Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies and was an 11-day program of events that included archery demonstrations, square dancing and floral displays.

A young Queen Elizabeth attended the festival in 1954 to admire the floral displays, and the Queen Mother visited a few years later.

Over the decades the festival has included just about everything from car rallies, to sheep dog trials and talent quests. 

Festival highlights

Power FM Begonia Parade (along Wendouree Parade) from 11am, Monday 11 March Begonia Display in the conservatory Hear from our special celebrity guests Paul West (River Cottage Australia), dirtgirl (Get Grubby TV) and Costa Georgiadis (Gardening Australia) Visit the Central Highlands Water Giant turtle and learn what to you can do to reduce plastic waste Live entertainment across four music stages 26 food and coffee outlets including the Forge Pizzeria in the Begonia Courtyard Quench your thirst in the Begonia Bar with local beers from Red Duck Brewery and Cubby Haus Brewing, wines from Wightwick and gin from Kilderkin Distillery Circus Drop Zone – an intergenerational entertainment space where visitors can learn to juggle or ride a unicycling, or alternatively view performances on a six-metre-high trapeze Floral Tram Join the Federation University Arts Academy’s Word of Mouth choir as they perform Ariel’s Songs Obstacle Course with ninja trainers Super Sandpit Pot-A-Plant Activities with BotaniKids Paint with the Society of Artists and Funky Plaster Fun Story Time with the Ballarat Foundation every hour Stems Greenery photo wall Floral Carousel by the Floral Art Group Garden Trail Competition to win a $3,000 travel voucher from Flight Centre Gardener’s and Creative Designer’s Markets Friends of the Botanical Gardens Plant Sales Nursery Fish Hatchery Tours Spinners and Weavers demonstrations Ballarat Woodworkers Guild Exhibition 

Quotes attributable to Ballarat Mayor Samantha McIntosh:

“I look forward to seeing you and your family among the beautiful backdrop of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens for the 67th annual Begonia Festival this long weekend.

Come and explore the Gardens, be inspired by one of the expert talks and take part in the free live entertainment – No matter your age there is sure to be an activity that sparks your interest.

This year we will also explore how everyone can use our precious resources more wisely, so I hope you take something away from this year’s festival – I know I will.”