Victoria’s favourite tourism destination is home to a raft of new school holiday experiences, along with those Victorians already know and love.  From Sunday 26 December until Sunday 30 January, head to Sovereign Hill and enjoy all that’s on offer.

The great Victorian tradition of theatre is alive and well at Sovereign Hill and a brand new pantomime, Blackbeard the Pirate, will debut over the school holidays.  Children will delight as they experience a live theatre performance full of colour and comedy. Written specifically for the summer school holidays, Blackbeard will see audiences boo and cheer as they help Captain Really Brave rescue his true love from the nasty pirate.  The stage show is an original production from Sovereign Hill with all script writing, set building, costume design and production taking place on site.  Sovereign Hill pride themselves on their comedy pantos, ensuring a memorable and quality experience for all audiences.

Blackbeard the Pirate, will be performed daily at the Victoria Theatre on Main Street and is included as part of a Sovereign Hill ticket.  

After all that hungry work cheering and booing at the theatre, its time to explore and discover Sovereign Hill’s many secret spaces.  Settle in for a relaxing picnic by Sovereign Hill’s lake with a pre-ordered picnic hamper, created by the renowned Peter Rowland Group. Featuring a range of savoury and sweet delights, the hamper can be purchased online when booking your visit – and even includes a complimentary rug.  Spread your rug and hamper and watch the kids engage with balance beams, Hole in the Face pictures and old fashioned lawn games in the nearby Sovereign Hill playground and lake.  

A visit to Sovereign Hill would not be complete without trying to strike it rich panning for gold on the Diggings.  Get your Gold Licence, grab a pan and find some buried treasure of your own. Sovereign Hill’s friendly expert diggers are on hand to offer handy, gold-panning tips as you sift, shake and splash pans along the banks of the creek.  Gold panning is a highlight of any visit to Sovereign Hill and included in the purchase of a Sovereign Hill ticket.

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No two days are the same at Sovereign Hill and this season, as part of Sovereign Hill’s Summer Series, there’s a range of special events, workshops and celebrations available.

On Monday 27 December, join George Buchanan, winner of Making it Australia 2021, as she welcomes guests to Sovereign Hill with a Victorian inspired Art & Craft workshop - no doubt with a modern twist. Participating with George is included in your Sovereign Hill ticket.  

On Saturday 22 January, a History of Tea in Australia workshop will be held from 2-3.30pm.  Hosted by Australian Tea Masters’ Sharyn Johnston, tasters will learn, sip and blend as they create their own tea to take home as a tasty souvenir of a fascinating day out.  Head to eventbrite.com.au/e/history-of-tea-with-australian-tea-masters-tickets-212088752167 to book your place at the tea table.

All of the classic activities that visitors expect at Sovereign Hill will be available to experience, and included in the price of a ticket.  Take the 12-minute narrated Red Hill Mine walking tour and witness gold turning from liquid to metal at the gold pour demonstration.  Watch the Red Coats march up Main Street and cover your ears whilst their muskets fire.  Head to the Wheelwrights workshop for wheel-making demonstrations. Enjoy the cool underground of the Quartz Mine tour. See how candles are made and discover how some mines bought up to 1000 candles a day to light their work.  

Visit summer.sovereignhill.com.au/ for information about the Sovereign Hill’s Summer Series, to book tickets.  

Sovereign Hill is located at Bradshaw Street, Ballarat and sits on Wadawurrung Country.

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