Must-see Winter Festivals in Melbourne 2024

With the days getting colder, the kids may already be feeling the winter blues! Worry not, the city has a magical line-up of exciting winter festivals in Melbourne full of entertainment, music, yummy foods, mulled wines, snow, and snow-filled adventures.

Make your winter extra festive with our list of the best festivals to catch to keep your spirits hot in some of the coldest months of the year - enjoy!

Must-see Winter Festivals in Melbourne 2024

1. RISING Melbourne

Imagine this: 105 jaw-dropping events spread across sixteen unforgettable nights. Yes, Melbourne, it's happening! RISING is taking over, transforming everything from Fed Square to Melbourne Town Hall, not to mention our beloved historic arcades and those mysterious back alleys, into a glittering canvas of winter and creativity.

Gear up to be completely swept off your feet with an eclectic brew of massive installations, spellbinding art exhibitions, cutting-edge theatre, and hypnotic music performances. We're talking a stellar lineup of over 480 artists lighting up the city from 1-16 June 2024. And here's the kicker—it's not all about the ticketed spectacles; there are tons of free events to dive into as well! 

Where:   Various locations around central Melbourne
When:    1-16 June 2024
Cost:      FREE and ticketed events

2. Lightscape at Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

One of our favourite winter festivals in Melbourne is back in 2024!

Get ready to light up your winter nights with the return of Lightscape, Melbourne’s mesmerising after-dark experience! The Botanic Gardens are set to transform once again, with a reimagined trail and fresh, awe-inspiring installations that promise to dazzle.

Step into the immersive world of Submergence, wander through the enchanting Winter Cathedral, and get lost in the magic of the Laser Garden at Fern Gully. It's not just about the lights; treat your tastebuds too with delicious bites at the welcome zone and indulge in more tasty offerings at The Terrace Food Hall.

Lightscape is gearing up to be this season's must-see festival. Gather your family and friends and make this glowing spectacle a new winter tradition.

Where:    Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne
When:     14 June to 4 August 2024
Cost:       General admission from $32; Family Tickets from $144.

3. Mansfield Lantern Festival

Mark your calendars for the darkest night of the year because the Mansfield Lantern Festival is lighting up Victoria's High Country once again!

Nestled at the frosty foot of Mt Buller, this sparkling Winter Solstice celebration has been a crowd-pleaser since 2015 and is gearing up for another unforgettable weekend in June 2024.

The festivities kick off with the Bendigo Bank lantern parade, where glowing lanterns and open fires will pierce the mid-winter darkness, warming up the chilly air in spectacular style. Expect a lineup packed with dazzling light displays, live music, performance artists, and dynamic exhibitions. Get ready for a weekend that promises to light up your senses and chase away the winter blues!

Where:   Erril St, Mansfield
When:    22 June 2024
Cost:      FREE entry

4. Electric Wonderland

Electric Wonderland is back to zap some colour into your winter!

Returning to Bendigo's Rosalind Park by popular demand, this after-dark extravaganza is one of the best winter festivals in Melbourne for 2024.

Last year's spectacle set the bar high with its lineup of massive illuminated sculptures, a dazzling laser light show, musical stepping stones, and other immersive installations. This year, expect to step into a glowing playground in the historic surrounds of Rosalind Park, where night-time magic brings the dark to life. Get ready to light up your nights with a whole new adventure that's just as electrifying as it sounds!

Where:   Rosalind Park, 30 Gaol Rd, Bendigo
When:    28 June - 14 July 2024
Cost:      TBD

5. Firelight Festival

The Docklands Firelight Festival is a must-experience celebration of the Winter Solstice. Held annually in the unique and urban Docklands precinct, this festival lights up the darkest night of the year with a free, vibrant spectacle.

Embracing themes of family, community, feasting, music, and renewal, the Firelight Festival transforms NewQuay Promenade, Harbour Esplanade, Victoria Harbour Promenade, Buluk Park, and Docklands Central Park into a blazing wonderland. From 5 pm over three electric nights, these spaces will sparkle with fiery installations that are sure to ignite your spirit. Make your way down to the Docklands and bask in the warm glow of community and celebration at this unmissable winter event.

Where:    Docklands
When:     28-30 June
Cost:       FREE entry

6. Winter Wonderlights 

 

Celebrate Christmas in July by indulging in all things Yule at the Winter Wonderlights at SovereignHill.

During the day, Sovereign Hill will be filled with Christmas trees and colourful decorations lining Main Street with plenty of activities for children, a full theatre program, make-believe snowfalls and delicious treats, bringing the Christmas cheer to all. 

And by night, Sovereign Hill's Victorian-style buildings will come alive with large-scale light projections dancing along the building façades. It's a magical winter experience for the entire family wandering through the brightly-lit streets under the gentle snowfalls.

Where:    Sovereign Hill, Bradshaw St, Ballarat
When:     28 June to 21 July 2024 | 10 am to 7 pm
Cost:       From $19

7. Echuca Moama Lights Festival

Get ready to light up the night along the mighty Murray River as the historic twin towns of Echuca in Victoria and Moama in NSW kick off the spectacular Moama Lights Festival 2024.

One of the most hotly-anticipated winter festivals in Melbourne is a dazzling three-week extravaganza centred around an illuminated trail that weaves through the stories and scenes of the Echuca Moama region. Start your journey beneath the iconic Echuca Moama bridge, wander through the stunning natural backdrop of Horseshoe Lagoon, and conclude your light-filled adventure along the banks of the Murray, Australia's longest river.

Prepare for an evening of captivating installations that promise to transform the riverfront into a glowing canvas of light and colour. 

Where:   Horseshoe Lagoon, Moama 
When:    5-28 July 2024 | 6 pm - 9 pm
Cost:      Adults $22, Children (3-16) $11, Family Tickets (2 adults + 2 children) $55, kids under three go FREE. 

8. Springvale Snow Fest 

One of our favourite winter festivals in Melbourne returns this July with Springvale Snow Fest.

The streets will be filled with fun, snow (real and simulated!), moving rides, free kids' activities, family entertainment, market and food stalls, and a grand finale of spectacular fireworks. 

The highlight of the festival will be the real snow straight off the mountain from Mt Buller! 

Where:    Buckingham Avenue, Springvale
When:     28 July 2024
Cost:       FREE entry

More Cool Things to do in Melbourne

Melbourne's Best Ice Skating Rinks
The Best Spots to See Snow Near Melbourne
Where to go Skiing in Melbourne in 2024

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