The Ballarat Begonia Festival is an innovative garden-based horticultural festival that showcases our city’s natural assets including our unique and rare collection of Begonias.
Established in 1953, the Ballarat Begonia Festival is an innovative garden-based horticultural event that showcases Ballarat’s natural assets including its unique and rare collections of begonias. For 10 months of the year, the City of Ballarat’s horticultural team has grown and nurtured thousands of begonias in over 500 varieties. The impressive collection is the rarest in the Southern hemisphere. The annual event is held in March and represents an authentic part of Ballarat’s story. It is one of Ballarat’s largest events drawing thousands of visitors to the city.
As part of the festivities, the Ballarat Begonia Festival also has an annual parade.
In 2024, the Art Gallery of Ballarat and the Ballarat Frolic Festival had a joint entry, "The Queen Of Begonias" by artist Scotty So.
Photo by Tara C Pool
The City of Ballarat acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land we live and work on, the Wadawurrung and Dja Dja Wurrung People, and recognises their continuing connection to the land and waterways. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging and extend this to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.
Please note, this website contains the names and photos of people who have passed away.