These Are The Regional Events Worth A Weekend Getaway This Winter
Winter is no time to stay indoors. In the darker months, regional Victoria comes alive with festivals and events across the state. From solstice swims to winery crawls, Celtic culture to Christmassy light shows, Australian-exclusive Modernist pieces to creative tea cosies, there’s a festival that will draw you towards coast and country this season.
To help you get out of hibernation mode, we’ve teamed up with Visit Victoria to shine a spotlight on the regional events you can’t miss this winter—and the best spots to eat, drink, rest and explore. Your state awaits.
National Celtic Folk Festival
Portarlington, Geelong & the Bellarine | 5–8 June
Gentlemen, start your bagpipes. The National Celtic Folk Festival is a celebration of Celtic arts and diaspora, drawing in international acts from Scotland and Ireland as well as local artists carrying traditions on. Headliners include Scotland’s Astro Bloc, Celtic-Country musos Saltaire and award-winning uilleann piper Colm Broderick. Learn to cook Celtic cuisine, tell stories by the fire, try the bagpipes, learn a little Gaelic, some dancing and even row a traditional Scottish skiff. For an old-world appropriate stay, Portarlington Grand Hotel echoes a vintage elegance with sage green and timber features, light-filled rooms, sea views and a pub restaurant. If you’re trying the famous Portarlington mussels while you’re here, Pier Street is an excellent choice for moules mariniere.
Roam Rutherglen Winery Walkabout
Rutherglen, High Country | 6–7 June
Explore one of Australia’s premier wine regions on foot. Roam Rutherglen is Australia’s longest-running wine festival, leading walkers through vino adventures for over 50 years. 17 wineries serve their finest wine and wine-adjacent drinks, like spritzes, mulled wine and even muscat cocktails. It’s tradition to suit up in costume or festival attire for your chance to win prizes. Or just enjoy live music, dance parties, trivia, street eats and hot woodfired pizzas or ‘bubbles and brunch’. Meander between renowned producers, from De Bortoli and Morris to Scion wines. Stay in town at Olive Cottage Rutherglen, or fully immerse yourself by sleeping in the vines. Fuel up at The Pickled Sisters and stop into Grace. bar + eatery for seasonal plates.
Mansfield Lantern Festival
Mansfield, High Country 19–21 June
Since 2015, Mansfield Lantern Festival has filled the night with artistic illuminations as revellers gather for fire, song and performance. Friday begins with Welcome to Country, a firelight ceremony and lantern-making workshop, with a lantern parade Saturday night before Sunday’s solstice celebration of dawn yoga and brunch. The whole town whips out special winter solstice menus. Bring the family for a hideaway at BullerRoo Luxury Chalet, a working farm set on 24 acres with stunning views of the Barwite Valley. Or, cosy up with a self-contained stay at Burnt Creek Cottages. By day, Mansfield Coffee Merchants is your go-to for a brew, then experience Delatite Winery’s cellar door, head into nature at the Mansfield Wetlands or lookouts or take the kids to see lions at Mansfield Zoo.
East Gippsland Winter Festival
East Gippsland | 19 June–19 July
East Gippsland Winter Festival is a massive, month-long regional celebration of arts and culture, food and fire and the incredible landscape and producers. Expect winter feasting, light sculptures, workshops, events drawing you back to nature, parties taking over streets, sauna treatments, hot springs and a freezing solstice dip. Taste the renowned local Gippsland produce, wine and all things delicious. A festival like this demands accommodation out of the ordinary, so mix wellness treatments with a glamping getaway at Metung Hot Springs. Sailor’s Grave Brewing in Dunetown has more than beer and tacos, with The Little Drift tiny house stays and RV spots for adventurers. Find your base, get festive and explore wineries, bike trails, walking tracks and scenic drives.
Ballarat Winter Wonderlights
Ballarat | 26 June–19 July
Victoria’s favourite outdoor museum transforms by night into a canvas for illumination, with food, fire and family fun. Artistic projections cover the facades of Sovereign Hill’s streets for Ballarat Winter Wonderlights, a nighttime festival bringing a touch of Christmas to the coldest months. Faux snow flies as bands play Christmas songs and you sip hot chocolate, wandering through fairy lights. Plus, your ticket covers day entry, too. If you’re bringing the family, stay overnight in the cheerful NRMA Ballarat Holiday Park. Then again, Big 4 Kryal Castle Holiday Park includes free entrance to the castle. When you wake, Johnny Alloo has you covered for all-day brunch, and Aunty Jacks brewery is your cosy retreat with pub eats.
Island Whale Festival
Phillip Island | 3–5 July
Experience the awe of humpback and southern right whales during their seasonal visitation. Island Whale Festival is a gathering of celebration and education along the captivating coastline of Phillip Island. Discover secrets of whales from local researchers, take a guided whale-spotting cruise, join craft workshops and see the best sea-focused films at the Ocean Film Festival. Kids can also explore interactive learning and play zones at the Festival Experience Hub. Choose Genesta House in Cowes for a charming getaway, or go rural at Bimbadeen and stay on a working farm. Grab gourmet supplies at The Store in Ventnor and vino at Phillip Island Winery before a walk and a picnic, or head to Saltwater in Newhaven for woodfired pizza.
Winter Sounds
Daylesford, Central Victoria | 27–30 August
Hear music in truly unexpected places. Winter Sounds takes over a plethora of Daylesford venues, from churches to halls to a train, complete with light shows for an electric atmosphere. Keep an eye out for the lineup, last year saw big names like Cash Savage, Tim Rogers, Quality Used Cars and Sarah Blasko. Between gigs, gather at the firepit for good drinks and company. Daylesford stays are a cut above, from Lake House (with a hatted restaurant) to Royal Daylesford and Daylesford Art Motel. Same for cuisine, from lauded Bar Merenda to produce-driven dishes at Daylesford’s oldest pub, The Farmers Arms. Rejuvenate at Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa, feed your artistic soul at the Convent Gallery or just reconnect with nature.
Always Live
Victoria (April–June)
One to keep an eye on. Victoria’s free regional live music series, Always Live, is back for 2026, kicking off in April and carrying on til June across Ballarat, Gippsland, the Goldfields, the Bellarine, the Murray and the Great Ocean Road. Acts haven’t been announced yet, but get ready to hit the road and catch some of the best contemporary music at this state-wide event.
Ready to hit the road? Check out more of what’s going down in our regions here.
Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by Visit Victoria and proudly endorsed by The Urban List. To find out more about who we work with and why read our editorial policy here.
Image credit: Supplied