Mayor’s Message - Friday 15 March 2024

Following another glorious Ballarat Begonia Festival, we now turn our attention to another major event, Harmony Fest.  

It is a celebration of all the different cultures that make Ballarat such a brilliant and diverse city.  

The festival was first held in 2021 and has become the most vibrant celebration of cultural diversity.  

As the first officially recognised Intercultural City in Australia of the Intercultural Cities Network, we pride ourselves on maximising and valuing the cultural diversity of Ballarat.

The festival will be held from 15 – 27 March across the city and will be headlined by the Harmony Day flag raising ceremony in front of the Town Hall at 10.30am, Thursday 21 March and the Harmony by the Lake event from 12pm on Sunday 24 March.  

But there is so much to do during the festival, such as Chinese Library tours, Indian food festivals, global markets and musical performances to name a few.  

An Intercultural City is one where diversity is deemed an advantage and the norm. What better way to celebrate our diversity than by attending a Harmony Fest event?

I encourage you to explore the program, see what is on offer and get along to one of the many Harmony Fest events.

Harmony Fest is designed to align with Harmony Day, the United Nation’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which is celebrated on 21 March. The day encourages Australians to come together to reflect on and celebrate the many cultures that create our great nation.

You can view the full program at ballarat.vic.gov.au/harmonyfest. Happy Harmony Fest to one and all!

- Mayor Cr Des Hudson