Frankston's South Side Festival is back for its fourth year, packed with visual arts, immersive installations and performances from May 8-18.
The 11-day program features both returning favourites and new additions, designed to showcase the creative spirit of the beachside suburb while appealing to diverse audiences across Melbourne.
“As South Side returns for its fourth year, we have worked to create a program that is exciting, intriguing, and inspiring, to captivate all ages and interests,” says Freyja Macfarlane, South Side Festival Producer. “Whether you’re a patron of the arts, a keen film or theatre buff, or just love a light show, the 2025 program is packed with unexpected surprises.”
South Side Festival
- Neon Fields • Beauty Park • May 8-11
- South Side Sea Soak • Frankston Beach • May 10
- Sydney Dance Company: momenta • Frankston Arts Centre • May 10
- Joshua Searle: Oro Vivo (Living Gold) • Frankston Library forecourt • May 9-18
- Holiday in Frankston • Singing Bird Studio • May 10
- Peter Milne: Lovers and misfits • Frankston Arts Centre’s Mezzanine Gallery • May 10-July 26
- Lori Hakim: Undercurrent • Frankston Arts Centre • May 10-July 19
- Creative Juices • Cube 37 • May 10
- CHEER by Circus Trick Tease • Frankston Arts Centre • May 16-17
- Farmy Farm by Circus Trick Tease • Frankston Arts Centre • May 17-18
- Sincere Apologies • Frankston Arts Centre • May 14-15
- Kiss the Ground Film Screening • Cube 37 • May 15
- Community Workshops and Events • Various locations • Throughout festival
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
After debuting in 2024, Neon Fields will once again transform Beauty Park into a glowing wonderland of light installations. Director of Volter International Carla O’Brien promises exciting new additions: “Get ready for a park full of brand-new neon collections, plus a life-size neon grand piano and drum kit so you can step into the spotlight and be your own rockstar!”
For the brave, South Side Sea Soak returns with its morning ocean plunge followed by breakfast served by the Frankston Life Saving Club. Sea Soak ambassador Fiona Basile encourages newcomers to participate: “The energy in 2024 was infectious. I can’t wait for Sea Soak 2025—join us! You won’t regret it!”
The festival’s arts program features Joshua Searle’s large-scale projections celebrating Colombian heritage, photographer Peter Milne’s exhibition of 1970s Melbourne punk portraits, and Lori Hakim’s contemporary jewellery made from coastal waste. Meanwhile, local punk bands will take over Singing Bird Studio for an all-ages gig called Holiday in Frankston.
Multi-award-winning Circus Trick Tease brings two new shows to the festival: CHEER for adults and Farmy Farm for families. These performances combine high-energy acrobatics with comedy for audiences of all ages.
The festival also includes sustainability events like the Kiss the Ground film screening, followed by discussions on local environmental initiatives, plus community workshops spanning urban gardening and cultural bushwalks with Nairm Marr Djambana.
For more information, head here.
