The East Gippsland Winter Festival returns with winter feasts, art installations, bonfires, live music and more
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20.05.2022

The East Gippsland Winter Festival returns with winter feasts, art installations, bonfires, live music and more

WORDS BY SIDONIE BIRD DE LA COEUR

The East Gippsland Winter Festival is set to light up Victoria’s east with more than 80 spectacular events over three weeks.

Coinciding with the winter solstice and the Victorian school holidays, the East Gippsland Winter Festival is a unity of art, culture and food that will run from June 17 until July 10.

Complete with regional art displays and performances, light shows, live music, dining experiences, multimedia events and more, the East Gippsland Winter Festival attracted close to 20,000 visitors last year alone.

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.

The key takeaways

  • There’s a massive three week festival happening in East Gippsland this winter
  • Discover the treasures of East Gippsland through art, wine, craft beer, local produce and live music
  • It takes place from June 17 until July 10 – coinciding with the Victorian school holidays and the winter solstice

Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here

Not to be missed is the F/LAMP Exhibition at Iceworks Studio in Lakes Entrance, where local artists exhibit their luminous lamp creations. On July 2 there’s a Medieval Bonfire Night in Bruthen, complete with sword fights, costumes and a huge feast. On June 18, explore a laneway in Bairnsdale for Beer, Beats and BBQ in Laneway3875 – an event featuring live musicians performing while you indulge in culinary delights and be dazzled by spectacular lighting projections.

A highlight of this year’s festival includes a three day ‘Deep in the Weeds’ long weekend held by the famous Orbost brewery, Sailors Grave Brewing. With a selection of live music, wonderful local craft beers and food provided by Meatsmith, this event takes place from July 8 until July 10 and is not to be missed by anyone who likes a good craft beer.

“The festival really brings the community together,” says Adam Bloem, the festival founder and director.

“The collaborative efforts of locals working together to organise spectacular events and displays for their own towns really is quite amazing. There’s a lot of creative talent in East Gippsland and really good food, wine and craft beer – we welcome everyone to come and discover it for themselves this winter!”

The 2022 East Gippsland Winter Festival runs from June 17 – July 10. For more information, including ongoing program updates, head here.