East Gippsland will come alive this winter with the first-ever East Gippsland Winter Festival which celebrates all things art, food, music, beer and wine.
The festival kicked off from Saturday, 19th June and is on till Sunday, 11th July and showcases the region’s villages through a series of pop-up events, cultural activities, workshops, exhibitions, winter feasts, tours and family activities. There’ll be night time activities too so be sure to pack your winter woollies.
The festival commenced on Friday, 19th June in Bairnsdale where the laneways sprung to life with an art and light projection at the Laneway Launch illuminating the town and creating a merry-festival-vibe with live music, roaming performers along with food and wine offerings.
There are some great collaborations between some of the region’s food and wine heavyweights. Lightfoot & Sons Wines and SARDINE eatery + bar paired up for the Pinot Picnic in Calulu near Bairnsdale to celebrate all things Pinot Noir. You can also snuggle into Lightfoot’s barrel room for a masterclass, then bask under the wintry skies on the deck or lawns with a picnic box.
26th June left viewers spellbound by the Lakes Light Festival in Lakes Entrance with a parade of lanterns, weaving around lit-up sculptures that pay homage to the region’s flora and fauna along with laneway light projections and a jetty-side virtual reality installation.
Lantern Making Workshop at the Great Alpine Gallery on Tuesday, 29th June in Swifts Creek was a hit with participants creating a beautiful star lantern to hang in the street and lighting up the charming village along the iconic Great Alpine Road.
Over the past weekend (3rd & 4th July) there was a deep winter event at Sailors Grave and the Bruthen Fringe Cafe. In Lakes Entrance, guests enjoyed a night of hearty winter foods, sourced locally and served with Gippsland wines and beers at the Slow Movement Community Dinner. There was also live music, performances, woodfire pits and spectacular light displays.
Over the last weekend, Friday, 9th to Sunday, 11 July there is a Laneway pop up event in Bairnsdale. On Sunday, local chef Rob Turner of Northern Ground will host a long table style event at Kings Cove, Metung to celebrate local food, wine and cooking. Ticket holders can tour the Metung Hot Springs site and have the opportunity to try the pop-up bathing tubs. Also, on Sunday there will be a Quasitrad Music Concert at the Marlo Hotel.
