When: Saturday between 9am and 1pm.

Where: Victoria Street, Creswick.

Details: A much loved monthly event and definitely a great day out for the whole family. Free live music and more than 90 specialist sites, offering a variety of unique handmade goods ranging from arts and design to freshly made delicacies, something for everyone. Talk directly to producers and designers, learn about the ingredients and processes that brought the item to you. Free entry. For more details, go to www.creswickmarket.com.au or via Facebook.

Ballarat Arts Trail

When: Saturday and Sunday, 9.30am-5pm.

Where: Ballarat and Creswick. 

Details: Twelve artists are open their studios to the public this weekend, including a stone carver, a bodger (chair maker), and artists working with textiles using eco printing, Shibori and stitch, paintings in watercolour, pastels, oils and mixed media, ceramics and works involved in the reclaiming and recycling of found objects. Entry is free. Watch for the blue flags on the day. Arts Trail maps are available from the Ballarat Tourist Information Centre, the Art Gallery of Ballarat and the Creswick Tourist Information Centre. For more details go to http://artstrail.webs.com.au,  or phone 5331 5623.

My Son Pinocchio - Geppetto's Musical Tale

When: Saturday, 2pm matinee and 8pm, and Sunday, 2pm matinee.

Where: Federation University, Founders Theatre, University Drive, Mt Helen.

Details: Come along and enjoy this BLOC Juniors production. Be amazed at how the blue bossy fairy grants lonely Geppetto his wish, turning wooden Pinocchio into  a real boy. Lots of laughs, singing and dancing and fun for the whole family.  Tickets cost $22 and are available from the door or online at www.blocmusictheatre.com.au

Ballarat Orchid Show

When: Saturday, 10am-5pm, and Sunday, 10am-4pm.

Where: Primary Industries Training Centre, corner Gillies and Gregory Street, Wendouree.

Details: Marvel at the beautiful display of orchids from the members of the Ballarat Orchid Club.  Club members will also be on hand to answer questions from the public on growing and caring for orchids. There will also be potting and care demonstrations, and plant sales. Entry is $3, children under 16 admitted free.

Golf Open Day

When: Sunday, noon-4pm.

Where: Ballarat Golf Club, 1800 Sturt Street, Ballarat.

Details: Give golf a go at this free community event at Ballarat Golf Club’s practice facilities. Try chipping, putting and driving and get some tips from the pros, including some of Australia's best trainee golfers who are in Ballarat as part of the PGA National Futures Championship. Free sausage sizzle and golf equipment supplied. For more details, phone 5338 3000.

Native Flower Show

When: Saturday, 10am-5pm and Sunday, 10am-4.30pm.

Where: Robert Clark Horticultural Centre, Ballarat Botanical Gardens, next to conservatory, Wendouree Parade, Ballarat.

Details: View a wonderful display of native flowers grown in local gardens, large range of native plants for sale and an extensive range of books on native plants. Entry is $5, tea and coffee included. For more details, phone 5343 2245 or go online to www.apsvic.org.au

Woodside Open Garden

When:  Sunday, 10.30am-4pm   

Where: 149 Lexton-Evansford Road, Burnbank.

Details: The gates of Woodside homestead will be open in a rare opportunity for visitors to explore and enjoy the rambling county gardens, located between Talbot and Lexton, as part of a family-friendly fundraising event for the Waubra Kindergarten, Waubra Primary School and Evansford Community Centre.  Entry is $7 adult, primary school aged children admitted free. There will be garden tour and talks, poetry, live music, art exhibition by local artists, plant and cake stall, kids activities, devonshire tea and BBQ. For more details, go to www.woodsideopengarden.wordpress.com or www.facebook.com/WoodsideOpenGarden

‘Vandemonian Ballarat: a hidden history’ lecture  in honour of Professor Weston Bates OAM.

When: Wednesday, October 22, at 5.30pm.

Where: Victoria Theatre, Sovereign Hill, 3 Bradshaw Street, Ballarat.

Details: The life of Tasmanian convicts who made their way to the goldfields will be explored this year as Sovereign Hill again holds its annual lecture about Ballarat’s rich history in honour of Professor Weston Bates OAM. Entitled ‘Vandemonian Ballarat: a hidden history’, the lecture by the University of Melbourne’s Professor Janet McCalman, will look at the convicts who were sent to Van Diemen’s land (now known as Tasmania) and how they found their way to the Ballarat goldfields. For more details, phone 5337 1199.

Piano for Pleasure concert

When: Sunday October 19, 2.30pm

Where: The Art Gallery of Ballarat

Details: The Piano for Pleasure concert on Sunday will include soprano Eleanor Davey, accompanied by Thomas Williams, singing a selection of well known standards. Thomas Williams and Nathan Chua will complete the program with piano music from JS Bach to Dudley Moore's Beethoven Parody. This exciting concert is at the Ballarat Art Gallery at 2.30pm and entry is free.