Events in Victoria 

The Ballarat Antique Fair claims to be the largest and longest running fair in Australia and White Hat has no reason to doubt them.

This event seems a wonderful match of venue and entertainment. Our heritage homes can often be pigeonholed as places for historic re-enactments, but they are very young in European terms and were usually created as places to entertain and host cultural activities.

So Frenchy So Chic provides the opportunity to picnic with choice deli foods, entertain the kids, dance on the grass listen to French bands and all in civilised surroundings. 30-somthings with children and a taste for the good life - this is particularly for you. More info & booking details

Our rating - 5 Hats

Harcourt Applefest The Harcourt Applefest is a community festival celebrating everything apple related.

The popular Rosebud Kite Festival has been running for 15 years, and this year will feature international kite specialists as well as the usual stalls, family entertainment, carnival rides and kite making classes. Full details at Rosebud Kite Festival.

The Castlemaine Documentary Film Festival is an annual three day event at the iconic Theatre Royal in Castlemaine, mainland Australia’s longest continuously operating cinema.

The Festival is an immersive experience of 12 films in 1 cinema across 3 days. It features a world-class program showcasing the very best in Australian and international non-fiction films. Audiences explore fascinating worlds and cultures together, bringing them face to face with real-life characters, real-life stories and real-world problems.

The festival provides a deep and enriching experience by connecting audiences with many of the film directors and key contributors by way of live in venue and live via Skype Q&A sessions, uncovering the stories behind the stories, as well as specialist panel discussions. Curated by dual Emmy Award-winning director, Geoffrey Smith, the Castlemaine Documentary Film Festival celebrates diversity, profiles the global issues of our time (and times past), creates community, challenges injustices and holds people and governments to account.

White Night 2019 will return to the regional city of Ballarat from 7pm on Saturday 21 September until 2am on Sunday 22 September.

Local, interstate and international artists, musicians and performers will weave a spell over the city in a celebration of art, culture and creativity.

Under the artistic direction of David Atkins OAM, White Night Ballarat invites visitors and locals to make their journey around Ballarat’s iconic buildings, cultural institutions and streets, in celebration of reclaiming and reimagining the city through projection, installations, performance and music.

Full details at White Night Ballarat

White Hat often has to remind visitors that Victoria is a state with four seasons - unlike some of those boring northern states - and we recommend that one of the best ways to experience spring in the Victorian countryside is to visit the Bright Spring Festival.

Bright has a natural beauty complemented by fine cafés and restaurants, marvellous local wineries, accommodation to suit all budgets, adventure sports, walking tracks and bike trails and shopping. The festival offers street and river markets, theatre events, art exhibitions, fireworks, plenty of entertainment and open gardens. For a full list off the open gardens see the White Hat Open Gardens page.

For the full itinerary, visit the Bright Spring Festival website at www.brightspringfestival.com.au

The Riverboats Music Festival is the Murray River’s premiere contemporary music event.

Staged in the twin-towns of Echuca-Moama, Riverboats takes place under towering river red gums in a natural amphitheatre next to the mighty Murray. Historic paddlesteamers meander past all weekend, and occasionally the corellas get a bit raucous at sunset. There is one stage and plenty of room for dancing, great artists and some of the best food trucks going round.

White Hat can recommend taking a 2.5 hour trip from Melbourne to spend a weekend on the river for this annual celebration.

This year's lineup includes The Waifs, Tex Perkins - Far From Folsom, The Public Opinion Afro OrchestraMark Seymour & The Undertow, Augie March, Gabriella Cohen, Benny Walker, Jen Cloher, Don Walker, Deborah Conway & Willy Zygier, Fraser A. Gorman,  The Kill Devil Hills,  and Leah Senior 

Our rating - 4 Hats

With photographs from across Australia and around the world together with a host of exhibitions and events the Ballarat Foto Biennale is the largest photography event in the Southern Hemisphere. Full information at Ballarat Foto Biennale

Celebrate the annual arrival of some of the ocean’s most majestic creatures as our coastal waters play host to humpback and southern right whales and even the occasional killer whales.

The winter school holidays don’t just mark the half-way point of the school year; they also mean that humpback whales, southern right whales and even the occasional pod of killer whales start to arrive in our coastal waters.  The Island Whale Festival celebrates the arrival of these majestic creatures in our waters.

This immersive three day event takes place on Phillip Island, and has something for everyone, with a weekend packed full of free or low cost activities right across the island. Whale spotting will of course be a highlight of this weekend, and visitors will have plenty of opportunities to do this from either land or sea.

BOREALIS on the Lake is bringing the Northern Lights to Lake Daylesford this winter.

The installation is designed to transport  those present to a place far away, where time slows down as their eyes look up. Through colour, movement, density of light beams and changing weather, unique auroras are projected over the lake. Set to a tranquil soundtrack, this is an immersive experience. Created by Switzerland-based Dan Acher, the installation is enjoyable by people of all ages.

Full details, price and bokkings at the official website

Over 80 bands covering all styles of Jazz. 4 major venues all in close proximity.

For White Hat, the Twilight Jazz at Cruden Farm is one of the special events of the year. We strongly recommend you gather the family together and get down to one of the most special gardens in Australia as there is only one chance a year for the general public to experience it at the special time of twilight.

Our rating - 5 Hats

Workshops, concerts and stalls. The Port Fairy Folk Festival usually sells out well in advance, so White Hat advises that you should book early.

This carnival includes one of Australia's most famous foot races and has been held every Easter for over 120 years with the running of the Stawell Gift on the Easter Monday.

The Woodend Winter Arts Festival showcases music, literature and the visual arts in intimate historical venues over three pleasurable days.

Full details at the Festival Website