UPDATE:
At a press conference earlier today, mayor Samantha McIntosh addressed concerns about the early finish to White Night.
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“There was a roll in to start the night and a roll out to finish the night. It is not very easy with an event of such capacity and such significance to immediately start and immediately finish – that certainly was part of the plan,” she said.
“There may be different ways that we conduct the event next year, always with the first one it is a bit of trial and error. It was an amazing success.”
Cr McIntosh later told The Courier that while it was a fantastic night, the early morning part of the program might need a bit of tweaking if Ballarat was to hold the event again.
She suggested there were possibilities of working with local community groups such as cyclists and runners who would be up early in the morning to enjoy it in their own way.
RELATED COVERAGE
EARLIER:
White Night Ballarat has drawn widespread criticism for shutting down hours before its scheduled finish time.
Despite being advertised as being open until 7am the festival closed about 4am, leaving scores of families disappointed.
Many took to White Night Ballarat’s Facebook page to vent their frustration after deliberately getting up before the crack of dawn to avoid the swarms of people at night.
However, when they arrived in the CBD was in shutdown and all the lights had been turned off.
Letitia Walden said: “Very disappointing my husband took my son down to see the lights and everything packed up at 6.20am, I thought you advertised 7pm – 7am let down my son, false advertising.
Elizabeth Mooney was also critical of organisers for closing down the event early.
“Luckily I saw the lights last night but came back for photos at 5.30. Bumped into this family of disappointed children. In the background is the dismantled sign. Birdman left the building hours ago and you can see the street sweeper coming down the street. I arrived at 5.30am to darkness in Lydiard Street and met some very disappointed people. One lady had travelled for an hour, there were a group of elderly some on walking frames and a few families with young children. It's extremely poor form to close an advertised event hours early. The art gallery were wonderful and refused to close despite organisers suggestions and their cafe was full of people. All that was left in the way of lights were a few angel wings and the fibre lane tent. So disrespectful to Ballarat.”
It is not yet known why the event was closed early.
In a press release sent out this morning by White Night Ballarat, the event was labelled an overwhelming success.
It is estimated 40,000 people attended the event.
The Courier has contacted the festival directors and is awaiting response.