Hop on over to Ballarat this Easter for a long weekend filled with everything from giant Easter eggs and neon lights through to the Gruffalo and Missy Higgins.

Giant Easter eggs and neon lights

23 March – 4 April

The Easter Bunny has a special delivery for Ballarat this autumn.

A colourful display of giant Easter eggs and neon lights will again pop up in the Sturt Street Gardens (opposite the Ballarat Town Hall and Myer).

This Insta-worthy activation will feature:

• 18 neon installations by Melbourne artist Carla O’Brien
• 18 giant eggs painted by Ballarat artist Rebecca Warr
• 5 gold Easter bunnies

Warr’s ‘Eggsquisite Kaleidoscope’ installation is inspired by nature, movement, colour, pattern and shape.

“My aim was to produce a giant kaleidoscope of colour that the viewer can step into and become a part of,” Warr said.

The Gruffalo at Kryal Castle

29 March – 14 April

Beloved children’s book character the Gruffalo will take centre stage at Kryal Castle this Easter.

Venture deep into the heart of childhood fantasy with special live appearances, hands-on art activities plus unforgettable photo sessions.

Autumn festivities at Sovereign Hill

29 March – 14 April

Step back in time at Sovereign Hill, which will be open 10am-5pm daily throughout the Easter long weekend.

The autumn school holiday program will include candle-making workshops, coin press demonstrations, seasonal sweets, plus your chance to find a $500 gold nugget every day.

Missy Higgins at Civic Hall

29 March

Missy Higgins is celebrating 20 years since the release of her trailblazing debut album The Sound Of White with “an anniversary tour with a difference”.

The Second Act Tour’s now sold-out Ballarat show will take to the stage at Civic Hall on Good Friday at 6.30pm.

Higgins’ first set will include some brand new songs, plus a few fan favourites from early in her career, all played in stripped back, acoustic mode. The Aussie singer/songwriter will then return with her full band to perform The Sound Of White in its entirety, plus some of her other hits.

More Ballarat attractions

• The final weekend of Pick Your Own Sunflowers at Dunnstown (Friday 29 March from 12pm-8pm and Saturday 30 March from 12pm-5pm)
• Sovereign Hill’s sound and light show AURA (8.45pm every night over the long weekend)
• Stunning display of more than 500 begonia plants in the Robert Clark Conservatory at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens (9am-4.30pm daily until the end of March)
• Easter Celebration at Creswick Woollen Mills (Saturday 30 March and Sunday 31 March from 10am-5pm)
• Ballarat Wildlife Park (9am-5pm daily)
• Ballarat Bird World (10am-5pm daily)

Food & drink

• Good Friday seafood degustation at Black Cat Truffles (Friday 29 March from 12pm-4pm)
• Easter weekend tasting event at Underbar (29-30 March)
• Good Friday and Easter weekend at Aunty Jacks (29-31 March)
• Good Friday and Easter at Grainery Lane (29-31 March)
• Good Friday and Easter at Roy Hammond (29 March – 1 April)
• Easter Saturday lunch at Magnolia (Saturday 30 March from 11am)
• Explorer Masterclass at Itinerant Spirits (Saturday 30 March and Sunday 31 March at 12pm and 2pm)
• Easter at Hop Temple (Saturday 30 March and Sunday 31 March from 12pm)
• Cocktail masterclass at Roy Hammond (Saturday 30 March at 2.30pm)
• Blues, Brews and Barbeque with Jarrod Shaw at Hop Temple (Sunday 31 March from 1.30pm-4.30pm)

More inspiration

• Ballarat Nightlife Market at Morshead Park (Friday 29 March from 3pm-8pm)
• Integra and Power FM Easter Egg Hunt at Grange Park, Lucas (Saturday 30 March from 9.30am-3pm)
• Easter egg painting with Vegemite at the Cyril Callister Museum (30 March – 14 April)
• The first weekend of the new Ballarat City Tales & Hidden Lanes Tours (Saturday 30 March and Sunday 31 March from 10.30am-1pm)
• Easter Bunny at Central Square (Saturday 30 March from 11am-3pm)
• Beaufort Town Market’s Easter Market at the Beaufort Memorial Rose Garden (Saturday 30 March from 9am-1pm)
• Zephyr and Zodiac Owners Club of Melbourne’s 50th Anniversary Show & Shine at Lake Wendouree (Saturday 30 March from 9.30am-1pm)
• Open day at GOR Woollen Mill (Saturday 30 March from 10am-2pm)
• Cosmic Eggstravaganza: A Family Easter Event at the Ballarat Municipal Observatory and Museum (Saturday 30 March from 2.30pm-4.30pm)
• Blackwood Woodchop and Easter Carnival at the Blackwood Recreation Reserve (Saturday 30 March from 10am-6pm)
• Easter school holidays at Newlyn’s Maze House (28 March – 14 April)

Located at the Ballarat Town Hall, the Ballarat Information Centre will be open 10am-4pm daily throughout the Easter long weekend.