Following on from their Winter Wonderlight spectacular, Sovereign Hill will be ablaze this spring with the Food, Fire & Light Festival.
History, art, culture, music and fiery food will come together this October at the inaugural Food, Fire & Light Festival from 5pm to 10pm across two weekends; Friday 11 and Saturday 12 October, and Friday 18 and Saturday 19 October.
The immersive journey will light up Sovereign Hill through artistic creativity and blazing visual expression underneath the Ballarat nightsky.
FOOD, FIRE & LIGHT FESTIVAL
- When: Friday 11 and Saturday 12 October | Friday 18 and Saturday 19 October, 5pm to 10pm
- Where: Sovereign Hill, Ballarat
- Tickets: $68 (includes a complimentary Sovereign Hill ticket from 10am-5pm)
- Purchase: Available at foodfireandlight.com.au
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
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Across light installations, fiery visual performances and foodie experiences including cooking over flames and smoky cocktails, Food, Fire & Light combines the unique displays of the hottest element.
The festivities will commence with an acknowledge of country and the region’s rich First Nations history with a Welcome to Country in Sovereign Hill’s brand-new Wadawurrung Cultural Precinct featuring sculptural displays, captivating storytelling and a fire burning from opening to closing as hosted by the local Wadawurrung Traditional Owners.
As per the event name, food will be a central feature of the new festival. Master butcher Ralf Fink and his team at Oakwood Smallgoods will serve smoky flavoured meats straight from the fire, chargrilled over open coals in a pit to plate experience whilst rising culinary star Morgan Hipworth will flex their dessert arm with flaming hot S’mores and caramelised crème brulé. Ballarat favourite Carboni’s Italian Kitchen will dish up the ultimate cheese-on-cheese affair: Fettuccine Cacio e Pepe tossed in a wheel of melted Parmigiano Reggiano. On the drinks front, head into the pop-up bars scattered throughout the site for cold ale, mulled wine or a hearty bushman’s brew, or try some smoky cocktails, or drinks with speckled gold at the whisky and gin bars.
Covering the light section of the festival is The Valley of Lights, which will illuminate Ballarat’s newest events precinct at Sovereign Hill, accommodating up to 7,500 guests. Walk through a tunnel of fire crafted by artist Richard Thomas using natural materials and salvaged items to a field bathed in thousands of lights dancing in time to music.
Other highlights of the festival will include roving fire performers at the Main Street Illuminations, shimmering falls as a installation of waterfall pyrotechnics rain down from Poppet Head gantry, blacksmith demonstrations, and silent films in Victoria Theatre. The iconic bowling alley will become an adult arcade for Bowls and Brews and you can watch gold pouring whilst sipping on a gin cocktail speckled with gold. Finally witness the craft of 1850’s industrial practices, hot tyring.
Sovereign Hill Museums Association CEO Sara Quon says Food, Fire & Light is a unique sensory experience showcasing artistic endeavour and a celebration of the dark. “This event is a testament to our commitment to evolving with the cultural landscape, pushing boundaries, and inspiring new audiences. This event is designed for the adventurous and the inquisitive, inviting you to explore vibrant cultural experiences in unexpected settings.”
Sovereign Hill Museums Association Board President Angela Carey adds, “We have always been at the forefront of delivering exceptional events and pioneering new ideas while celebrating contemporary creativity. Food, Fire & Light represents a bold evolution of our heritage, offering an immersive experience that illuminates Sovereign Hill in an entirely new way.”
Food, Fire & Light Festival is supported by the Victorian Government through its Regional Events Fund and the City of Ballarat and will be taking place across 11 & 12, and 18 & 19 October. Purchase tickets here.
