Picnic in the Park, new addition to summer event calendar

Preparations are well underway for the latest addition to the City of Ballarat’s summer event calendar, with Picnic in the Park set to take place on January 26.

The market style event follows a resolution of Ballarat City Council to substitute fireworks with a significant cultural event on 26 January and reschedule the fireworks to another public event.

Fireworks will now take place at Lake Wendouree on January 16 as part of the City of Ballarat’s wider summer program.

Picnic in the Park will be held at Victoria Park from 11.30am-3.30pm on January 26 and feature market stalls, food trucks, music and children’s activities.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Daniel Moloney said the community event would be another opportunity to gather with family and friends after limited opportunities in the past two years.

“We feel this Picnic in the Park will strike a good balance between giving our community the chance to come together, while also providing a more respectful environment that acknowledges much of the hurt and sorrow experienced by a big part of our population,” Cr Moloney said.

“There are changing sentiments around January 26 – the Survival Day dawn ceremony has been held the past two years and is incredibly moving.

“We need to recognise that there are a range of very diverse emotions for people associated with the day and that’s okay, as long as people are respectful of other’s opinions; that’s what makes this country such a great place to live.

“We have our Australia Day citizenship ceremony at Town Hall in the afternoon and seeing the look on the faces of new Australian citizens and what it means to them is one of the most rewarding things as Mayor.

“And of course, we also have our Community Awards the night before, where we celebrate the achievements of residents who make the City of Ballarat what it is.”

As part of the Picnic in the Park event, the City of Ballarat is offering the chance for any local creatives, designers, artists or makers to sell and showcase their products. This opportunity is free for vendors but limited to the first approved sites.

To apply for a stall, visit www.creativeballarat.com.au/opportunities.