A quiet alleyway in Ocean Grove’s industrial estate is about to become one of the most unexpected cultural hotspots on the coast.
Grove Illuminated, a boutique after-dark festival of light, music and art, will ignite the night this June, transforming a tucked-away laneway in Ocean Grove into a glowing, immersive celebration of creativity, community and nature.
At the heart of this unique event is a collaborative installation by visual artist Chloe Holliday and music producer Rob Major. Their work brings together light projections, soundscapes, and field recordings from Tasmania’s ancient Takayna rainforest, offering visitors the chance to step into a dreamlike environment where shadow, sound, and the natural world merge.
Grove Illuminated
- Secret Laneway, Ocean Grove Industrial Estate
- Saturday, June 7 | 5:30pm – 9:30pm
- Tickets: here
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“Everything we’re creating is from the recordings and photos I’ve collected from Takayna,” says Holliday.
“We’re incredibly hopeful that this event will be something new and exciting — a new way to celebrate nature through art.
Our intention is to bring awareness about the Ancient Takayna Rainforest in Tassie, which is so crucial and important — yet under so much threat from native logging and mining.”
The installation sets the tone for an evening of discovery and connection, with a live debut performance from Rob Major’s electronic band, Firstlast. Expect high energy, ecstatic synths, infectious beats, and euphoric dance vibes as the festival moves into party mode.
Alongside the headliners, Grove Illuminated will feature a vibrant line-up of acoustic musicians, DJs, and electronic performers, as well as live art, local market stalls, and an extended special opening at The Hive Ocean Grove, showcasing new works from artist burgersfrank.
Visitors can also explore a mystical garden walk, complete with striking bronze sculptures by Wil Wilson of Willie Wildlife Sculptures, and warm up with hearty curries and mulled wine from local legends 2 Doors Down.
It’s a festival that favours intimacy over scale — a grassroots art-meets-nature experience that celebrates the power of creativity in unexpected spaces.
Whether you’re drawn in by the lights, the beats, the art or the mulled wine, Grove Illuminated promises a night that’s equal parts magical and meaningful.
