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Ballarat Swap Meet
It's back again, all weekend at the airport - one of the biggest swap meets you'll ever see. Support the Ballarat Rotary Clubs and find something interesting.
Where: Ballarat Airport, Airport Road, Mitchell Park.
When: from 7am Friday to 6pm Saturday.
Tickets: $15 Friday, $10 Saturday, or $20 weekend pass.
Avoca Community Bank Carnivale
Celebrate 20 years of the Avoca Community Bank with a food truck picnic and live entertainment, plus magicians, jumping castles and obstacle courses to keep children amused. Receive a token to vote for a community project to be funded, like picnics at the pool or a new scoreboard at St Arnaud.
Where: Cambridge Street, Avoca.
When: from 5pm.
Tickets: free.
Palais-Hepburn grand opening
Miss Sina King and DJ Hotwheels officially open the revitalised Palais-Hepburn - take your dancing shoes.
Where: Palais-Hepburn, 111 Main Rd, Hepburn Springs.
When: doors 7pm.
Tickets: free.
No Age at Karova
You know those bands you see on Rage late at night and they stick with you for years? Californian noise-punks No Age are those guys. Check out the raucous two-piece play a rare show in Ballarat, with support from Vintage Crop and Lymes.
Where: Karova Lounge, 15 Field Street, Ballarat.
When: Doors 8.30pm.
Udder Ubductees at The Eastern
Promising a menagerie of punk rock, Melbourne's Udder Ubductees headline The Eastern, supported by I Have A Goat, Shapes Like Rapids, and Donkey Vote.
Where: The Eastern, 81 Humffray Street North, Ballarat.
When: doors 8.30pm.
Tickets: $10.
SATURDAY
Ballarat Parkrun
Put your running shoes on, and chase a personal best around Victoria Park at this free timed five kilometre event - last week was the 200th in Ballarat, and numbers are growing.
Where: Victoria Park, corner of Sturt and Gillies Streets, Ballarat.
When: 8am sharp.
Tickets: free.
Brown Hill Market
There's food, craft, collectables, treasures and more available at this monthly market.
Where: Brown Hill Hall, 375 Humffray Street North, Brown Hill.
When: from 9am.
Tickets: free.
Creswick Produce Swap
Take something along for the swap table and find exactly what you need in exchange.
Where: Creswick Neighbourhood Centre, 19-21 Victoria Street, Creswick.
When: from 9am.
Tickets: free.
Rockin' Rokewood with the Arts
Rokewood comes alive at this free event, supported by WestWind. Louise Numina will be painting live, Wilson and White will be performing blues music, and there's plenty of children's activities.
Where: Rokewood Memorial Hall, 66 Ferrars Street, Rokewood.
When: from 9am.
Tickets: free.
Western Wolves medieval combat
Watch the pros duking it out in full plate steel at Kryal Castle - the Western Wolves will take on competitors from the Australian Medieval Combat Federation to prepare for the World Championships.
Where: Kryal Castle, 121 Forbes Road, Leigh Creek.
When: Events at 10.30am, 12.30pm, and 2.30pm.
Tickets: from $35.
Gnocchi Masterclass
Learn how to make traditional gnocchi with Chef Dona before sharing delicious lunch - a hard offer to pass up!
Where: Carboni's Italian Kitchen, 152 Eureka Street, Ballarat.
When: 11am.
Relay for Life
Help raise money for the Cancer Council and support 27 teams completing an overnight relay around the athletic track.
Where: Llanberris Athletics Reserve, York Street, Ballarat East.
When: 4pm to Sunday 10am.
National Centre of Photography exhibition launch
Robbie Rowlands' superb and surreal photos will be on display as part of the National Centre of Photography's inaugural exhibition - for two weeks only.
Where: National Centre For Photography, Mitchell Family Gallery, 4 Lydiard Street, Ballarat.
When: 4pm, open Wednesdays to Sunday 10am to 4pm.
Tickets: free.
Four Seasons Fine Music Festival
The first event for 2019 will feature eight singers from the Australian Chamber Choir, performing Bach and more at a beautiful church.
Where: St John's Anglican Church, Napier Street, Creswick.
When: 7pm.
This is not your average trivia night - join Freddie Fandango and Adriana Obscenities for a night of games and music, for adults only.
Where: The Cabaret Club, 4/9367 Western Highway, Warrenheip.
When: 8pm.
Dan Sultan at Palais-Hepburn
Australian rocker Dan Sultan returns to the stage, playing the reopened Palais-Hepburn - he promises some classic b-sides and outtakes as well as new songs and covers.
Where: Palais-Hepburn, 111 Main Rd, Hepburn Springs.
When: doors 8pm.
Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange play The Eastern
The freshest Sunday morning set Meredith Music Festival's seen in a while, the Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange is a blissful jam ensemble led by 30/70 drummer Ziggy Ruckman - supported by Purr Usual and Ramdigitial.
Where: The Eastern, 81 Humffray Street North, Ballarat.
When: doors 8pm.
Tickets: $10.
Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Wax Nomads
Get down to Karova and check out some superb local DJ work - fresh from supporting CC:DISCO! at the Duke Street Block Party.
Where: Karova Lounge, 15 Field Street, Ballarat.
When: from 9pm.
Tickets: $10.
SUNDAY
Head of the Lake 2019
See all the colour of Ballarat's most competitive and prestigious race on Lake Wendouree - rowing squads from Ballarat secondary schools go head-to-head in boys and girls races, with bragging rights at stake.
Where: Lake Wendouree, Ballarat.
When: First race 9am.
Tickets: free.
Check out our Head of the Lake previews:
- Ballarat Grammar ready to fire
- Loreto College looking the goods
- Ballarat High School looking for glory
- Ballarat Clarendon College is gearing up for a big race
- St Patrick’s College eye another triumph
- Damascus College on the rise
- And keep an eye out for Phoenix Community College's preview in Friday's issue
Ballarat Market
Head down to the showgrounds to shop through some fantastic local stalls and enjoy a fun way to start your Sunday.
Where: Ballarat Showgrounds, Creswick Road.
When: 8am - 1pm.
Tickets: Free.
Daylesford Sunday Market
See the thousands of unique and quirky items up for sale this Sunday at the Daylesford Train Station.
Where: Daylesford Train Station.
When: 8am - 3pm.
Tickets: free.
Mermaid Market returns
The Mermaid Makers Market will have dozens of creative crafts for sale - last year's market was a huge success, and there'll be plenty of handcrafted treasures to find.
Where: Wendouree Sports and Events Centre, Norman Street, Ballarat.
When: 9am to 2pm.
Tickets: free.
Smart Building and Living Expo 2019
Check out the latest in sustainability in Buninyong - experts will be ready to answer your questions on electric vehicles, cutting out plastic, and tiny houses, among dozens of other exhibitors.
Where: Royal Park, corner of Hedrick and Warrenheip Streets, Buninyong.
When: from 10am.
Tickets: free.
Ballarat Highland Gathering
The pipes and drums return to Victoria Park for the Ballarat Highland Gathering, with competitions and a massed band display at 4.15pm.
Where: Victoria Park, corner of Sturt and Gillies Streets, Ballarat.
When: from 10am.
Tickets: free.
TUESDAY
Wendouree Community Celebration
Promoting the new facilities in Wendouree, enjoy mini-golf, a sausage sizzle, and heaps more, with clinics from local basketball heroes and an inflatable climbing wall.
Where: Wendouree West Recreation Reserve, Holly Grove, Wendouree.
When: 3.30pm to 6pm.
Tickets: free.
Chamber Philharmonia Cologne
Experience one of Germany's finest ensembles in Ballarat, performing Bach, Tchaikovsky, and Vivaldi's La Tempesta di Mare.
Where: Central Uniting Church, Ballarat
When: 7pm.
Beginners line dancing
Pick up a new hobby and make some friends with linedancing classes for "absolute beginners".
Where: Carmel Welsh Hall, 263 Albert Street, Sebastopol.
When: 7pm.
Tickets: $6.