Here are the best festivals to beef up your calendar over the next month.
Winter is here, and we don’t know whether we should be more concerned with our runny nose or cold toes. The colour of them suggests our toes, but our vanity says nose. No one likes sitting next to a sniffler all day long.
Cold we may be, but cold-hearted we’re not. In fact, our mum says Forte is the best and nicest magazine around. While we can’t physically warm you up, unless you ask super nicely, we can provide information that hopefully softens the chill in the air. It’s not quite sitting in front of the heater with a bowl of soup watching Matilda, but it’s not standing in the rain and listening to The Smiths, either.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
So put on that beanie that makes you look cute, make yourself a hot chocolate and enjoy a snapshot of some of the festivals coming your way this month.
RISING
Melbourne – June 1-12
Rise and shine, campers
Enjoy a surge of music, performance, theatre, visual art and dance, funded by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria and Visit Victoria.
More through rising.melbourne
View this post on Instagram
Glow Winter Arts Festival
Prahran – June 3 – June 12
Get ready to GLOW
Making its way to Prahran Square is the Glow Winter Arts Festival, a display of installations that you’ll never forget. It’s happening over 10 nights, where attendees can warm up with some food and drink on site, while they immerse themselves in the amazing art pieces on display. It’s happening nightly until 10pm.
More here.
Castlemaine Jazz Festival
Castlemaine – June 10-12
It’s the notes you don’t play
Your line-up includes Anita Harris Trio, Double Take, Bete Noire, Breakout, Caught in the Act, Christine Manetta, Esstee Big Band, Fat’azz, Harry Coulson, Jade Kerber, Jennifer Salisbury & Mark Morand, Jon & Wendy Wade Swinging Jazz Quartet, King Stone, G&T Jazz, The Magnificence, Meg Corson Sextet, Melba Big Band, Moonlighting Jug Band, The Old Married Couple, Pip Avent’s Mouldy Jazz, Pippa Wilson, The Seduceaphones, Shirazz, Slipper, Steamboat Whistlers, Sweet Ade, Triple Entendre Jazz Cabaret and Windows of Longing.
More through the website.
National Celtic Festival
Portarlington – June 10-13
Step outside with Celtic pride
Your line-up includes Bush Gothic, Laura Flanagan, Tolka, Hat Fitz & Cara, Fiona Ross & Shane O’Mara, The Ploughboys, Claddagh, Apolline, Rich Davies & the Low Road, Kejafi, La Nina, Trio Fáilte, Sionnach Rua’s Great Irish Songbook, The Bushwhackers, Luke Plumb & Khalida De Ridder, Claymore, Siobhan Owen, The Freewheeler, Austral, The Maggie Carty Band, Melbourne Scottish Fiddlers, The Rummagers, Bo’Ness, Maria Forde, Pete Denahy, The Scanlan Trio and Out of Hand.
More through the website.
Mornington Winter Music Festival
Mornington – June 10-13
A festival to keep you warm
Enjoy live music and free street entertainment, including Jarrod Shaw, Misty Jenkins, Marcelle, The Warrains, Elisha, Pete Pascoe, Sunny Moo, Chris Annable, Bennsong, Lily Clancy, The Busketeers, Busk Stop, Coco Michelle, Robbie McVean, Damon Stone, Matt Joe Gow, Mornington Brass Youth & Citizens Band, The Soul Rangers, Alejandro Aguanta, Olivia G, Eve Ward, Trevor Bartle, Chris Hoffmann, Madison Daniel, Richard London and more.
More here.
Tastes of Central Geelong
Geelong – June 10-29
Bon appétit
Enjoy a festival of food, flavours and fun. You’ll be able to learn a few tricks of the trade from local chefs, samples the goods of Central Geelong, participate in food-themed events and much more. You may have to loosen your belt.
More goodness here.
Oz Comic-Con
Melbourne Convention & Entertainment Centre – June 11-12
Best episode ever
Guests include Aimee Garcia, Kevin Alejandro, Callan McAuliffe and Remy Hii.
More through ozcomiccon.com
Wizards & Witches Festival
Kryal Castle, Ballarat – June 11-13
You’re a wizard, reader
The inaugural festival will bring a little magic to the region of Ballarat across the long weekend. Performing magicians, live entertainment, a jumping castle and a wand-making exhibition where attendees can make their own wand will be among the entertainment.
More through kryalcastle.com.au
View this post on Instagram
East Gippsland Winter Festival
East Gippsland – June 17 – July 10
Discover the treasures of East Gippsland
The East Gippsland Winter Festival is set to light up Victoria’s east with more than 80 spectacular events over three weeks.
From a Laneway Party to fine dining experiences, there’s tons of events on over the three weeks – including free lantern-making workshops, cultural ceremonies and experiences led by traditional Indigenous owners, long lunches that showcase local produce and nature activities such as bush walks, yoga and meditation.
More here.
Bright Darker Days festival
Bright – June 17 – June 19
Dark beer, live music and high country delights
Victoria’s tranquil (and aptly named) high-country town of Bright will host Darker Days festival from June 17 – 19, transforming the picturesque destination at the base of the Alpine National Park into a fiery celebration of dark beer, live music and country delights. Bob Evans, of Jebediah and solo fame, headlines the fest and will be supported by The Northern Folk and This Way North, Since We Kissed, Matt Katsis, and DJ Several Pleasures.
More here.
Warrnambool Storytelling Festival
Warrnambool – June 17-July 3
Everyone has a story
A 17-day feast of storytelling kicks off at the Lighthouse Theatre on June 17 with a special appearance from singer-songwriter Tom Richardson. Literature, music, culture and performance events will take place throughout the festival’s duration.
More through warrnamboolstorytelling.com.au
Adventure Park Winter Glow
Adventure Park, Geelong – June 17-July 10
Everyone needs an adventure
Coming out even bigger than last year’s event, Winter Glow is a perfect treat for the school holidays. There will be more snow, rides and light installations, as well as larger fire-twirling and ice sculpture displays, than the sold-out 2021 event.
Tickets here.
View this post on Instagram
Stars & Bars Festival
The Hygeia, Geelong on June 18
Reach for the stars
Take to the high seas on a cocktail cruise featuring the starry sounds of Henry Wagons & the Only Children and Nathan Seeckts.
More through the website.
Truffle Melbourne Festival
Queen Victoria Markets, Sheds RK-RL, Melbourne – June 18-19
Make a kerfuffle over truffles
The Truffle Melbourne Festival is the largest truffle celebration outside of Europe. A selection of Melbourne’s best truffle chefs will showcase their skills through truffle soups, tasty truffle pizzas, cheesy raclettes, truffled crepes and more.
More here.
Reclink Community Cup
Victoria Park, Abbotsford – June 19
Up there Cazaly
Honouring Gunditjmara/Bundjalung singer-songwriter Archie Roach, this cracking Megahertz (PBS and Triple R) vs Rock Dogs (musicians) footy game will be complemented with music from Cash Savage & the Last Drinks, Private Function, Ausecuma Beats, Izy and Parsnip.
More here.
Negative Waves
Barwon Club, Geelong – June 25
Turning a negative into a positive
Your line-up is Cosmic Psychos, Bored!, Hits, Stiff Richards, Civic, Tiger by the Tail, Ute Root, Swedish Magazines, Electric Purrs, Shanty Tramp, Rot TV, The Fckups, Shove, The Prize, The Maggie Pills, Juliette Seizure & the Tremor Dolls, Hotchkiss and Amba Fear.
Tickets here.
View this post on Instagram
Bantu Fest
Barwon Valley Activity Centre, Belmont – June 25
The quintessential African experience
Making its second outing of the year, Bantu Fest is a celebration promoting African culture and diversity through music, dance, food, visual arts and market stalls.
More here.
Ballarat Winter Festival
Ballarat – June 25-July 17
Walking in a winter wonderland
Come celebrate the city’s signature season through unique events, activities and offerings. Highlights include the Winter Wonderlights, the Pop-Up Ice Rink and the Kryal Castle show, Knights of Fire and Show Queen Neva.
More through visitballarat.com.au
View this post on Instagram
GLOW – Bendigo After Dark
Bendigo – June 25 – July 17
An unforgettable sensory experience.
Running every night from 25 June 2022 to 17 July 2022, the heart of Bendigo will come to life through 11 installations that are all unique and aim to showcase stories of Bendigo through a radiant display of light, colour and sound in a spectacular fashion.
More here.
White Night Shepparton
Shepparton – June 25
A visual arts takeover
This visual feast and cultural event will descend on Shepparton on Saturday, June 25 from 6pm to 12am, attracting thousands of locals and visitors to the city and supporting local tourism and hospitality businesses.
The program will feature the best of the best from previous regional White Night events alongside new elements that showcase the region’s landscape, culture, and history. White Night will transform Shepparton through illuminations, projections, music and interactive works from talented local and national artists.
More here.
