2013 City of Ballarat Christmas Street Party - Friday 6th December 5.30pm to 8.30pm

Christmas Street Party 2012

FREE family activities and stage entertainment; tasty food options plus of course plenty of Christmas atmosphere!

Kids Activities include Christmas Bag Making, Festive Biscuit Decorating, Finger Puppet Decorating, Reindeer Hat Making, Christmas Mask Decorating, Letters to Santa…and much much more.

Enjoy Live Music, Ballarat Centre of Music & the Arts Dance Group, The Kazoos and one of Santa’s favourite kids entertainment groups…the Mighty Buzzniks!

Dress as your favourite Christmas Character for your chance to win spot prizes.

Shop at the Pop Up Shop Ballarat which will be open during this event.

Location:  Camp Street, Ballarat

Pop Up Shop Ballarat

Merry Christmas

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from 'Discover My Ballarat' blog.

City of Ballarat Annual Christmas Street Party - 7th December 12

Last night we headed down to the annual City of Ballarat Christmas Street Party.  The weather was kind to us and the atmosphere was very friendly and festive.  My son decorated some shortbread and a paper Christmas Tree (pictured below).  We then strolled down to the stage and we were entertained by The MikMaks children's entertainment band.  They were fun, cheeky and engaging for young and old.  This was followed by a visit from Santa Claus.  I highly recommend going next year if you get the chance, we had a lovely time.

Click on images to enlarge.

Floor dancing

 The MikMaks

A visit from Santa 

The MikMaks: Click here to visit their website

A trip to Melbourne to visit Santa's Magical Kindgdom

 Caitlyn & Sean all set for Santa's Magical Kingdom

On Thursday, I drove to Burnley in Melbourne with the kids and my cousin Tina to visit Santa's Magical Kingdom.  Picture this - Two large circus tents.  One filled with carnival rides and attractions, Christmas themed activities including craft, Santa Land, Mrs Claus Christmas Story Land, food stalls and show bags.  The other tent contained a circus.  Well, that is Santa’s Magical Kingdom and boy did we have fun.  For only $35 per person (kids 2 years and under free), all of the activities and rides, including entry to the circus were included.  We only had to pay extra for our food (the prices were reasonable), $10 for a show bag and money for our Santa Christmas Photo (prices vary depending on the package).  Some of the sideshow carnival games cost extra also.

The highlight of the day was watching my son’s face light up as he entered Santa’s Magical Kingdom and watching my one year old daughter frown when she approached Santa.  The rides were fun and the circus was amazing watching all of the tricks that these performers do.

If you are hanging out for a serious dose of Christmas, head to Melbourne for Santa’s Magical Kingdom.  Hurry, sessions are selling out fast.

For more information visit:     www.santasmagicalkingdom.com.au

Tickets can be purchased at Ticketek:   Purchase Tickets here

Location:  Burnley Oval, Corner of Swan Street & Madden Grove, Burnley.

 

Click on images to enlarge.

 

 It's snowing....

 Fun on the rides

Spot the Christmas Lights in Ballarat - Interactive Post

Okay this is one of my favourite parts of Christmas - 'Christmas Lights'.  So I got thinking (watch out!) and I thought it would be great to have an interactive blog post where my readers could alert us all to Christmas Light Displays in Ballarat.  You might find a business with a great Christmas Light Display or you might know of a great neighbourhood street near you full of lights that might be worth a drive down.

To get involved email:   discovermyballarat@hotmail.com

Let me know your first name & suburb where you live which will be published.  Or you can remain anonymous.  Then give me the address of the business or the Street & Suburb of where the Christmas Lights are located.  No individual house addresses please.  If you could also give us a description of the lights, that would be good also.

We have to start off with the first done by our very own council:

1)  Sturt Street, Ballarat.  Two Christmas Trees with lights, a Santa's sleigh and his reindeer. 
     Submitted by Margaret, 'Discover My Ballarat' Blog.

Christmas Decorations by Day

Okay, the other day I featured Ballarat's Christmas Decorations at night, with its gorgeous lights and all. Today, with the sun shining brightly, I could not help but go on a walk with my daughter to take photos of our beautiful Christmas Decorations during the day.  Enjoy!

Click on the images to enlarge:

 Our Christmas Tree - Sturt Street Ballarat

 Ballarat's very own Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer

 Reindeer - Sturt Street Ballarat

 Baubles - these are located opposite the Town Hall

 Our Town Hall

Christmas has arrived in Ballarat!

Have you stopped to take a look at the Christmas Decorations around the Town Hall in Sturt Street, Ballarat?  If not, take a trip down or better still, go at night.  I spent around 20 minutes the other evening taking some photo's for you all.  Christmas has certainly arrived here in Ballarat.  Every time I drive down Sturt Street, I feel the Christmas spirit.  Christmas is my favourite time of the year.  I love spending time with my family and this year will be our first Christmas as new residents in Ballarat.  I would like to offer a big thank-you to the City of Ballarat for placing these decorations up for all to enjoy.   Click on the below images to enlarge.

This tree above is located near the Bridge Mall

Reindeer  - and there is a sled too!

The large tree near the Town Hall.  

Merry Christmas!

Annual City of Ballarat Christmas Street Party - Friday 7th December

Okay I am super excited about this one.  Christmas has arrived in Ballarat and to celebrate, the City of Ballarat is having its Christmas Street Party on Friday 7th December from 5.30 - 8.30pm in Alfred Deakin Place, Camp Street, Ballarat.

Featuring a great line up of stage entertainment and a visit from Santa (of course!)  There will be lots of activities for the kids including angel wand making, festive biscuit decorating, Christmas card making, letters to Santa, face painting and much more.

Kids, dress up as your favourite Christmas Character for your chance to win some spot prizes and the adults can do some Christmas Shopping at the Pop Up Shop located in the Backspace Gallery.

For more information:

Christmas Events in Ballarat:  http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/arts,-culture-events/events/christmas-in-ballarat.aspx

Pop Up Shop Ballarat Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pop-Up-Shop-Ballarat/463053027047152?ref=ts&fref=ts

Christmasfest by the Lake - 30th November 12

On Friday 30th November 2012 (5-9pm), Pleasant Street Primary School will present Christmasfest by the Lake.  This event promises to have fun for the whole family including camel rides, petting zoo, jumping castle, face painting, Santa's cave, food, beer, wine, entertainment and plenty of market stalls.  Purchase unique Christmas gifts for your family and friends and buy a show bag.

This event is already in my diary.  I may see you there.

For more information about this event, visit their website:

www.christmasfestballarat.com.au

Thank-you to Serena for alerting me to this event.