The Ballarat Heritage Festival has been awarded top honours in the Australian Tourism Awards Festivals and Events Category in a ceremony held on the Sunshine Coast over the weekend.
In 2021, the festival was expanded to a 24-day event for the first time to give people the chance to experience Ballarat's unique heritage in a COVID-safe way.
The Australian Tourism Industry Council noted the Ballarat Heritage Festival stood out among other events by addressing the COVID-era and managed to host a successful event encircled in lockdowns and restrictions.
The City of Ballarat is proud to join previous winners Sovereign Hill on the honour role of the tourism industry's peak awards.
City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Daniel Moloney said he was proud to see the festival take out the top honour at the national awards.
"It is amazing achievement putting Ballarat and the Ballarat Heritage Festival at the forefront on the national tourism stage," he said.
"Seeing the success of the 2021 event excites me even more for the upcoming festival and I can't wait to be captivated again at the 2022 Ballarat Heritage Festival in May."
A City of Ballarat signature event, the festival further establishes Ballarat's unique character and drives visitation to the region. The festival showcases Ballarat's rich heritage in a contemporary way while, delivering key Ballarat Event Strategy outcomes.
It also aligns with the City of Ballarat's Traveller Experience Plan and provides an opportunity for partnerships with key stakeholders, such as Sovereign Hill and Federation University.
