Embrace the chill at Docklands in a month-long celebration of food and fire, music pop-ups and eclectic entertainment. Building on the success of last year's event, the Docklands Firelight Festival will return for a second year from 29 June - 1 July in 2018. The 2017 season saw over 30,000 people visit the Docklands over three nights, with an even larger crowd expected to attend this year. Last year's festival in the New Quay section of Docklands was a dazzling combination of burning sculptures on the water, hot food trucks, live music, roving entertainment and fireworks. This winter, the festival is expanding to include Victoria Harbour to accommodate the larger crowds expected to attend to allow for more events and activations. City of Melbourne has now confirmed the event will be an annual affair. This is a free event

Firelight Festival

Experience the exhilarating Firelight Festival. The opening weekend explodes in a vivid display of fire and light, before a month-long series of fiery feasts and entertainment unfolds. Discover Docklands like you've never experienced it before.​​ Opening Weekend 29 Jun 2018 to 1 Jul 2018 Come feel the warmth and see Docklands in a new light - firelight! It's Melbourne's winter festival celebrating the solstice. Long Table Dinners 3 Jul 2018 to 31 Jul 2018 Experience the entertainment, culture and community of food enthusiasts at the ultimate dining experience hosted by Chiara at Collins Square. Storytelling at Buluk Park 5 Jul 2018, 5pm - 6:30pm, 7pm - 8:30pm Sit fireside at Buluk Park this winter as you listen to stories told by special guest Jo Stanley from her literary series, Play like a Girl. Speakeasy Series 10 Jul 2018 to 26 Jul 2018 Experience the best in entertainment this winter with Docklands' Firelight Festival's Speakeasy Series. Dining at Docklands 12 Jul 2018 to 24 Jul 2018 Docklands presents a series of menus and food experiences bursting with flavours for Dining at Docklands this Firelight Festival. Getting there You can get to Docklands Firelight Festival by tram, train, bike, foot, water or car.

Guide

There'll be endless entertainment throughout July, with a range of gourmet activities to warm up your winter nights. It's time to fire up! Opening weekend The fiery wonder of the Docklands Firelight Festival ignites with a bang at New Quay Promenade for the Opening Weekend. Experience a spectacular nightly pyrotechnic display, flame jets, fire drums, roving performers and eclectic music. Things fire up from 5pm to 10pm each night from 29 June to 1 July. A giant wooden sculpture will be cast adrift in Victoria Harbour and set ablaze to create an amazing visual for festival goers. Fabulous food and family fun will help ease the chill of the winter solstice. Fire breathers and fire twirlers will provide roving entertainment, alongside live music from a punked-out New Orleans brass band, jazz performers, Gypsy beats and a one-man band. The Long Dinners Inspired by long-table dining experiences around the world, Docklands presents an exquisite culinary event at Collins Square. The Firelight Festival Long Dinners will be held at Chiara on 3 July and 31 July, in celebration of extravagant winter merriment. The indulgent three-course event will introduce you to the rich flavours of Italy, while the night comes alive with fire performances. Fireside Storytelling Gather the family around the fire for stories told by special guest Jo Stanley from her literary series Play like a Girl. This special Fireside Storytelling event at Buluk Park on 5 July will ignite the night, while you dine on delicious dishes from your own customised Docklands dining hamper. There's soul-warming chocolate from Kep Whitley and Italian delights courtesy of Saluministi. Speakeasy Series If you love a good show as much as a fine cocktail, embrace an evening of 1930s-style revelry with the Speakeasy Series. Warm your soul, as well as your body, with tapas, cocktails and performances from local musicians, at renowned late-night haunts like Hightail Bar, Oscars Table, Tap831 and Watermark Docklands. Perfect for a solstice-inspired late-night rendezvous and a wonderfully-warming way to wind down after a long work day. From 10 to 26 July. Dining at Docklands To celebrate the faithful Melbourne foodie, the Dining and Docklands workshops and progressive dinners are designed for feasting and delivering decadent indulgence of epic proportions. It all kicks off on 12 July at Bar Nacional for a progressive dinner taking in 90 Secondi and The Hof Downtown from 6-9pm. On 18 July, sail around Docklands from 6-7pm enjoying canapés from local eateries and taking in the city lights from the water with City River Cruises and Cargo. Then to round out a month of foodie fun on 24 July, Saluministi will ignite your inner Italian spirit with hands-on, fire-inspired cheese-smoking workshops.

Firelight Festival Opening Weekend

29/06/2018 to 01/07/2018 Fri: 5pm - 10pm Sat: 5pm - 10pm Sun: 5pm - 10pm The Firelight Festival is back to deliver its fiery wonder! Drawing on the traditions of the winter solstice, experience spectacular nightly pyrotechnics, flame jets and fire drums, roving performers and eclectic music in bespoke settings. With over 40 performances a night from all corners of the globe, including gypsy tunes, New Orleans brass, jazz, mariachi, bluegrass and a one-man band, crowds wandering the three precinct promenades will be dazzled with scorching entertainment. Each night, watch the thrilling burn of one of three handmade, giant wooden sculptures created by Melbourne-based artist Christian Patton. The burns will be accompanied by spectacular pyrotechnics in a combination of new and timeless winter solstice traditions, inviting good fortune and warding off evil spirits for the coming year. Fire drums, flaming jets and fire performances will keep you warm on the outside while blazing BBQ, sizzling paellas, soups, sweets, mulled wine and toasty hot chocolate will warm you from the inside. | melbourne.vic.gov.au