Ballarat Winter Festival
A Ballarat winter program with ice skating, light installations, family-friendly attractions and the Hot Chocolate Showdown.
About the event
Ice skating, lights and winter attractions
The festival is a winter program in Ballarat built around ice skating, light installations and family-friendly attractions. Its format brings those activities together with the Hot Chocolate Showdown, a local food-and-drink competition focused on limited-edition hot chocolates.
Hot Chocolate Showdown across local venues
The Hot Chocolate Showdown involves local cafes, bars and bakeries competing with limited-edition hot chocolates. The wider Hot Choc Showdown also included a citywide trail with more than 30 participating cafes, bakeries, restaurants and distilleries serving their own hot chocolate creations.
Skating rink and major activations
A central pop-up ice skating rink was located on Armstrong Street South outside Ballarat Town Hall. Its program included daily 45-minute public skating sessions, themed nights, APSA coach-led lessons and sensory-friendly sessions.
Other major winter activations connected to the festival included Sovereign Hill’s Winter Wonderlights, Kryal Castle’s Knights of Fire and the HIDDEN immersive art installation at Ballarat Civic Hall. The primary organizer is the City of Ballarat.
Free access with paid extras
General festival access and the Hot Choc Trail were free to explore, while selected experiences varied in cost. Individual drinks and menu items were priced by each venue, and the pop-up ice skating rink had its own ticket pricing, with a discount code available through participating local dining venues.
Frequently asked questions
What is the festival?
It is a winter program in Ballarat combining ice skating, light installations, family-friendly attractions and the Hot Chocolate Showdown.
What is served in the Hot Chocolate Showdown?
Local cafes, bars and bakeries compete with limited-edition hot chocolates, and the wider Hot Choc Showdown featured more than 30 cafes, bakeries, restaurants and distilleries on a citywide trail.
What is included in the ice skating program?
The pop-up ice skating rink offered daily 45-minute public skating sessions, themed nights, APSA coach-led lessons and sensory-friendly sessions.
Who organizes the festival?
The primary organizer is the City of Ballarat.
Is it free?
General festival access and the Hot Choc Trail were free to explore, with selected experiences varying in cost. Drinks, menu items and ice skating were priced separately.
Save the places behind the experience
Track visits and discover more of Pearl's hospitality world.