Thursday
The Little Brass Band presents “Christmas Crackers”
Join the five-piece brass ensemble and get into the Christmas spirit at the Cabaret Club.
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When: 8pm.
Where: Cabaret Club, 4/9367 Western Highway, Warrenheip.
Friday
Carols at St Patrick’s Cathedral
The annual Carols in the Cathedral returns, with a full chorus and brass ensemble. Highlights will include Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus and traditional carols.
When: 7pm.
Where: St Patrick’s Cathedral, corner Dawson and Sturt Streets, Ballarat.
Tickets: free, but donations welcomed for the 3BA Christmas Appeal.
Ballarat Christmas lights bus tour
Check out all the amazing Christmas light displays around Ballarat.
When: 8.45pm to 10.30pm.
Where: Gold Bus Depot, 9-11 Martin Drive, Delacombe, or Civic Hall at 9pm.
Tickets: $12 adults, $8 children, $28 family, phone 1800 775 295 to book.
Private Function at The Eastern
Headlining a superb punk lineup, the brilliantly-named Private Function return to Ballarat. Girl Germs, Lymes, The Creeks, Sabotaj Mahal, and Ramdigital also performing.
When: 8pm.
Where: The Eastern, 81 Humffray Street North, Ballarat.
Tickets: $15 on the door.
Dead Salesmen at The Main Bar
Check out Ballarat’s iconic acoustic duo The Dead Salemen at The Main Bar’s new outdoor stage. Support from FLOC and AMiner.
When: 8pm.
Where: The Main Bar, 26 Main Road, Ballarat.
Tickets: $10.
Saturday
Ballarat Parkrun
A free timed 5 kilometre run through the park. Walkers, joggers, runners, and leashed dogs and prams are welcome.
When: 8am.
Where: Victoria Park, corner of Sturt and Gillies Street, Ballarat.
Tickets: free.
Brown Hill market
Get all sorts of fresh produce and maybe some last-minute Christmas presents at the Brown Hill market.
When: 9am.
Where: Brown Hill hall, 375 Humffray Street North, Brown Hill.
Tickets: free.
Creswick Produce Swap
Bring some of your fresh local produce to swap with others in attendance and leave with exactly what you were looking for.
When: 9.30am – 1pm.
Where: Creswick Neighbourhood Centre, 19-21 Victoria Street, Creswick.
Tickets: Free.
The Treble Cleft at The Lost Ones
Hear some unconventional instruments create improvised soundscapes.
When: 3pm.
Where: The Lost Ones, 14 Camp Street, Ballarat.
Tickets: free.
Jingle Bells Rock at Farmers Arms
Enjoy the greatest hits from the 1970s to today in Creswick.
When: 8.30pm.
Where: Farmers Arms Hotel, 31 Albert Street, Creswick.
Tickets: free.
Yacht Club DJs at Karova
Get sweaty at Karova with mashup kings Yacht Club DJs, playing a hometown show for the first time in a while. Featuring Peekaboo and Groove Sweat.
When: 8.30pm.
Where: Karova Lounge, 15 Field Street, Ballarat.
Sunday
Ballarat market
The Ballarat showgrounds are transformed into a sprawling market, with all sorts of good available.
When: 8am.
Where: Ballarat Showgrounds, corner of Creswick and Howitt Streets, Ballarat.
Tickets: $2.
Daylesford Sunday market
Get to Daylesford station and find something interesting. Dogs on leashes are welcome.
When: 8am.
Where: Daylesford Station
Tickets: free.
Free family Christmas fete
Following a Christmas service, a free family fete from 3.30pm, featuring a petting zoo, face painting, crafts, and more, with dinner from 6pm before a Christmas concert at 7pm.
When: 10am to 8pm.
Where: Hilltop Church, corner of Mair and Dawson Streets, Ballarat.
Miners Rest carols
Join Leigh Moneghetti and some special guests for traditional Christmas carols. Also, find out the winner of the Shine Bright Miners Rest Christmas lights competition.
When: 6pm
Where: Miners Rest Community Hall, Market Street.
Tickets: free.
Regurgitator at Karova
They’ve certainly done an awful lot to get where they are – all the way from Brisbane to play a massive Christmas show, Regurgitator are back in business, with new album HEADROXX joining classics like Tu-Plang and the infamous UNIT. Support from Glitoris and World Turtle World.
When: 6.30pm.
Where: Karova Lounge, 15 Field Street, Ballarat.
Ballarat Christmas lights bus tour
Check out all the amazing Christmas light displays around Ballarat.
When: 8.45pm to 10.30pm.
Where: Gold Bus Depot, 9-11 Martin Drive, Delacombe, or Civic Hall at 9pm.
Tickets: $12 adults, $8 children, $28 family, phone 1800 775 295 to book.
Monday – Christmas Eve
Miracle On Humffray Street
Ballarat’s finest, The Yard Apes, headline a night of rock and roll at The Eastern for Christmas Eve.
When: 6pm.
Where: The Eastern, 81 Humffray Street North, Ballarat.
Tickets: free.
Smythesdale Fire Brigade Santa Run
The Smythesdale Fire Brigade will help show Santa around the district, and everyone is invited to come out and say hello.
When: 6pm.
Where: various locations in Smythesdale, Scarsdale, and Ross Creek – map available on Facebook.
Tickets: free.
Christmas Eve at Karova
Join a bunch of local artists and get loose for Christmas Eve – Mum won’t mind if you’re a little dusty as long as you don’t forget her present in the morning.
When: 8pm.
Where: Karova Lounge, 15 Field Street, Ballarat.
Tuesday – Christmas Day
Christmas Day Lunch 2018 at Mercure Ballarat Hotel - 12pm - 3pm - Mercure Ballarat, 613 Main Road, Ballarat
The Mercure Hotel is putting on a huge spread for Christmas lunch, with unlimited drinks service.
When: 12pm.
Where: Mercure Ballarat, 613 Main Road, Ballarat.
Christmas Lunch at the Golf House Hotel
Don’t worry about cooking, with the Golf House Hotel’s three course Christmas lunch.
When: 12pm.
Where: Golf House Hotel, 920 Doveton Street North, Ballarat
Tickets: $95 adults, $45 children aged 12 to 16, $25 children under 12.
Christmas Lunch at The George Hotel
Enjoy a huge Christmas buffet at The George, with a glass of sparkling on arrival.
When: 12pm.
Where: The George, 27 Lydiard Street North, Ballarat.
Tickets: $125 adults, $60 children under 14, phone 5333 4866 to book.
Wednesday- Boxing Day
Ballarat Trots race meeting
The Ballarat Trotting Club holds its traditional Boxing Day night meeting, with heaps of children’s activities.
When: 5pm.
Where: Ballarat Trotting Club, corner Bell and Sutton Streets, Redan.