Things To Do

Melbourne’s Festival Of Fire And Light Is Back To Warm Up Your Winter

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Fire performer at Firelight Festival

If you're planning on cosying up and leaving home only for the most impressive events this winter you're in luck, because Firelight Festival is set to return bigger and brighter than ever. 

Sprawling across Docklands from Friday 4 to Sunday 6 July, the free-to-attend, flame-filled festival is promising to add some heat to your winter plans this season with fiery installations, exhilarating performances, live music, and pop-up feasts. 

Here are the deets on the things you don't want to miss at this year's Firelight. 

Explore The Sights And Sounds Of The Festival

Firelight Festival will be stacked with fire performers, blazing installations and live music. Wander through archways of fire while illuminated sculptures, drums and flame jets guide your way, and catch live performances from African drummers and live storytellers. 

This year's festival will host an exciting installation by Australian artist Amanda Parer, whose work has been seen in cities across the globe. In a Melbourne-first, four large-scale (some as tall as 13 metres) illuminated 'humanoids' will take over Docklands. The installation includes three giants from Parer's Fantastic Planet work—Poke, Over and What's That?—as well the renowned Man, inspired by Auguste Rodin's famous bronze sculpture, The Thinker.

When describing the installation, Parer shares, "scale is a very important factor in this work, in that the artist is allowing the audience to hopefully experience a moment of humility and reflection amongst these large but peaceful giants. A sense that we as a species rarely get to feel."

Try The Tempting Tastes Of Docklands

The festival will host a range of wintery food and drink pop-ups, ready for you to dig into an array of gourmet bites and drinks that will warm your belly. From sizzling street food like dumplings, paella, pretzels and meatball subs, to waffles, hot choccies and s'mores, there’s something for the whole family to feast on.

Attending the festival also provides prime opportunity to explore the surrounding restaurants and bars of Docklands. Before heading in—or once you wrap up at Firelight—keep your night going at An Di for some fresh Vietnamese food, Heartling for fine-dining dumplings, or Urban Alley for a couple of laid back bevs. 

The Details

What: Firelight Festival
When: Friday 4–Saturday 5 July, 5pm–10:30pm, and Sunday 6 July, 5pm–10:30pm
Where: New Quay Promenade, Victoria Promenade, Harbour Esplanade, Docklands Central Park and Buluk Park

Tickets: No bookings, free to attend
For more information, click here

Editor’s note: this article was produced in partnership with City of Melbourne. Thank you for supporting the partners who make Urban List possible. To read our editorial policy, click here.

Images: Supplied, Heartling on Instagram

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