G'day Ballarat! I've got an important question for you this week, and it involves a lot of water and a bit of nostalgia: Should Eureka Pool bring back its old waterslide? It's been gone since 2015, and with swimming season almost here, I thought we'd put it to a vote.

We've also got acrobats performing over dinner, a few changes at familiar local spots, and a perfectly good excuse to spend 20 minutes watching birds instead of doing housework.

Enjoy the read.

– Luciano Devoto

Five courses of Sichuan-inspired food, with six acrobats performing while you eat. That's one way to make dinner a little more interesting.

It's part of Fringe Encore, bringing 12 shows to five Ballarat venues from Thursday 22 to Sunday 25 October.

There's also a Kath & Kim-inspired drag comedy, an improvised murder mystery and Sammy J performing at Civic Hall.

I'd be curious to see how much eating gets done with six acrobats in the room.

The weather might not be screaming summer just yet, but Eureka Outdoor Pool reopens on Saturday 31 October.

There's a heated 50-metre pool for keen swimmers, plus a toddlers' pool, water play area and playground for the little ones.

Saturday hours are 6 am to 6 pm, with full opening hours and admission prices available here.

Central Square might be up for sale, but that hasn't stopped another coffee shop moving in. Warrnambool-born Coffee Treat is opening at Shop 25, serving takeaway coffees, iced drinks, toasties, melts and sweet treats.

You can order ahead through their app, too. Handy when your quick shopping trip takes longer than planned.

The kitchen at Midlands has closed for a major rebuild, but nobody's going hungry.

Food trucks are taking over from Wednesday 21 October, serving lunch and dinner five days a week, with different cuisines and two trucks on Fridays and Saturdays.

The new kitchen, bar, playground and kids' dessert bar are expected by mid-December, with a larger dining area coming next year.

If you live in Buninyong, Cardigan Village, Learmonth or Miners Rest, picking up a library book just got easier.

The City of Ballarat has installed 24-hour library lockers where you can collect items you've reserved online and return borrowed books.

No need to drive into town or rush to beat closing time.

Think you can carve Ballarat's best pumpkin? Bring your masterpiece to the Halloween Nightlife Market at City Oval on Friday 30 October, 4–8 pm. Kids and adults can enter, with prizes up for grabs.

Those orange recycling bags are now available at Ballarat Central, Sebastopol and Wendouree libraries. If you haven't joined the program, you can register online to recycle soft plastics in your yellow-lid bin.

Got a cake, photograph or flower arrangement worth showing off? Entries for many Ballarat Show competitions close Friday 30 October. The Show runs 13–15 November at its new Mount Rowan home.

That magpie patrolling your front lawn has a chance to be counted this week.

The Aussie Bird Count runs until Sunday 25 October, and anyone in Ballarat can take part.

Just spend 20 minutes in your backyard or a local park counting the birds you spot, then submit your tally online or through the free app.

Don't know your rosellas from your rainbow lorikeets? There's a bird finder to help.

3🛏️ 3🛁 -🚗 | House | 276m²

This restored Victorian terrace has three marble fireplaces, two self-contained living spaces and, rather unexpectedly, an indoor plunge pool.

Currently divided into upstairs and downstairs accommodation, it could also become one grand home again, subject to approvals. Not quite your average terrace house, is it?

Can you guess the asking price?

Discover all events, activities, and live music around Ballarat each week inside our events calendar. Check it out!

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Until next Thursday!

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