BALLARAT twins Ebony and Hayley Ware, 7, perfectly summed up last night’s 3BA Skyworks Spectacular – “they were really colourful and really big”.

The girls were two of the thousands who gathered at Lake Wendouree last night for the annual Australia Day fireworks, which were held up nearly 30 minutes by strong winds after early concerns they may not go ahead at all.

Rugs and warm clothing were also the order of the day as the temperature dropped sharply in the lead-up to the event.

But the blowy, chilly conditions were forgotten about 9.45pm as fireworks in all colours of the rainbow, and even animal shapes and smiley faces, delighted the crowd, ending in a spectacular crescendo of colour.

Ballarat brother and sister, Hailee, 7, and Brodie, 4, Pring were among those enthralled by the display.

“I liked the rabbit,” Brodie said.

“And I liked the end,” Hailee said.

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The fireworks were coordinated by Adelaide pyrotechnics expert Robert Balfour, who used special Japanese and ghost shells in his 15th show in Ballarat.

Ballarat’s Australia Day celebrations kicked off at 5pm with family entertainment on the lake foreshore provided by the City of Ballarat Municipal Brass Band, Mister Whiskers and the Sweet Monas.

Traditional aboriginal didgeridoo and guitar music group Western Creation and Melbourne-based Prayer Babies, who play original country-tinged music, also kept the crowd tapping along.

Ballarat mayor Mark Harris said the celebrations were really successful.

“There were a lot of family groups,” Cr Harris said.

“It was a bit chilly with some high winds, and I was starting to get nervous it wasn’t going ahead at all, but when they did they were absolutely brilliant.

“The whole day went very well.

“There was something in it for everyone.”

Ballarat Police said the crowd was well behaved, with only a few minor incidents occurring throughout the evening.