Ballarat 70th Begonia Festival

The city of Ballarat will be in full bloom starting this weekend as the Ballarat Begonia Festival returns for its 70th year of majestic vibrancy. Known for their stunning, bright white, yellow, orange, pink and red colours, the flowers have enjoyed a long history with Ballarat stretching back to the late 1800s. Kicking off from Friday 11 March, punters can revel in the free, outdoor event full of flower displays, installations, gardening workshops and live music.

Begonia is a perennial flowering plant native to a tropical climate but can be cultivated for its stunning, bright flowers in cooler climates. Considered to be a high-maintenance variety, Begonias demand some form of attention for ten months of the year and bloom for roughly six weeks. While most Begonias are non-scented, the floral collection at the festival contains three scented varieties: John Smith, Dawn Song and Yellow Sweetie.

Much of the fun will take place at the historic Ballarat Botanical Gardens from Saturday 12 to Monday 14 March. The Robert Clark Conservatory will display a spectacular collection of 700 rare begonias, allowing you to marvel and awe at the intricate floral display and installations. Watch out for the famous flower clock and illuminated swan! Three laneways in Ballarat’s city centre will come alive with begonia and nature-inspired installations co-created by artists Hattie Molloy and Esther Olsson. 

After admiring the sea of flowers, visit one-off begonia-inspired creations crafted by Ballarat locals. First stop: Kilderkin Distillery. The distillery has conjured a limited-edition Begonia Floral Gin by infusing begonia leaves, stems and carefully curated herb and fruit botanicals, including chamomile and long-leaf waved flower. For those with a sweet tooth, pick up some Begonia Drops, a take on Sovereign Hill’s classic hard-boiled lollies. Enjoy some live music at the Main Stage at the Botanical Gardens from the likes of Rechords, Pink Moon, Sweet Monas, Charlie Bedford and Deborah N. 

If you’re looking for a long weekend road trip, then add the Ballarat Begonia Festival to your itinerary. 

Ballarat Begonia Festival
Friday 11 to Sunday 20 March 2022
ballaratbegoniafestival.com