East Gippsland Winter Festival - Set to kick off with a bang!

East Gippsland has something for everyone this coming week. There are markets, music and adventure on offer. 

To check out everything that is on in the region this week click here

East Gippsland Winter Festival - Set to kick off with a bang!

There’s less than a week to go until East Gippsland comes alive in a month-long festival of winter wonder.

There’s only one more sleep until East Gippsland comes alive in a month-long festival of winter wonder!

This year’s East Gippsland Winter Festival launches its month-long program on the Winter Solstice (Friday 21 June) with an opening night party at Slipway in Lakes Entrance, kicking off a huge opening weekend full of not-to-be missed events.

Commencing at 5pm on Friday, the opening celebration will offer a sneak-peak showcase of the festivals most popular events and offerings. Graze on food and beverage from Slipway Shacks (Gippsland Jersey, Sailors Grave Brewing and The Minotaur) and pop-ups by Wyanga Park Winery and The Local, all while enjoying musical performances and perusing the local wares at the FLOAT shop. Keep an eye out for some weird and wacky characters lurking about and some spectacular lanterns and projections.

The Opening week offers something for everyone, including Medieval festival fun, winter solstice swims, full moon floating sauna experiences, lantern making workshops and more.

Visitors of all ages are catered for with a variety of free and ticketed offerings, so grab your people and experience ‘HOW WE WINTER’ in East Gippsland. We’re excited to have a public launch event this year so everyone can come along and celebrate the opening of the festival along with festival sponsors and partners.

Highlights of this year’s Opening Week events include:

• 21 June: Festival Opening Party - Join us for a fun-filled night of sneak-peak showcase installations, entertainment, local food and drink, live music and a DJ at the Slipway in Lakes Entrance to kick off the 2024 East Gippsland Winter Festival. Learn more
• 21 + 22 June: Koho Sauna Full Moon Night Sessions - The full moon is a truly spectacular time to experience the shimmering water of the lake while basking in the Scandinavian styled wood-fired sauna before taking the plunge in the Gippsland Lakes. Learn more
• 22 June: Gippsland Jersey Winter Solstice Sunrise Swim - Immerse yourself in the magic of the Winter Solstice Sunrise Swim at the stunning Gippsland Lakes, providing an invigorating experience that not only boosts physical health but also promotes better mental well-being. Learn more
• 22 June: World Bathing Day Sunrise Bathe & Picnic Breakfast - Watch the sunrise from the Hilltop Escarpment of Metung Hot Springs as you bathe and picnic perched above Lake King. Learn more
• 22 June: Medieval Winter Fire Festival, Bruthen - Be transported back in time at the Medieval Winter Fire Festival, featuring thrilling sword fights, bonfires, lively music, medieval costumes, and fireside feasting. Fun for all ages and ragers! Learn more
• 22 June: Karise Eden LIVE - Arguably one of Australia’s most distinctive voices, with two ARIA Awards, gold and platinum records and multiple Top 5 positions in the ARIA and AIR charts. See Karise LIVE at the Cow and Fish Pub in Bairnsdale and support live music.Learn more
• 23 June: Nourishing Traditions Sourdough Workshop - Join Kirsten as she shares her own unique sourdough recipe together with the equipment and skills required to start baking at home. Learn more
• 23 June: Fun, Food, & Golf at Tambo Valley Golf Course - Come and visit this hidden gem and join in a fun day for the whole family! Enjoy a free Round of Party Golf, Paint & Sip Art Classes, the Junction Creek “Duck Cup”, Putting Competitions and Family Games. Learn more
• 24 - 26 June: High Country Lunch at Moscow Villa Hut - An ‘off-grid’ lunch series hosted by well-regarded local chef, Stuart Derham, located in an iconic high country hut at Nunniong amongst the peaks of East Gippslands alpine range. Learn more

The winter fun certainly doesn’t end there! Running for over a whole month from 21 June - 21 July and encompassing the Victorian winter school holidays, there are plenty of opportunities to experience what the East Gippsland Winter Festival has to offer.

To learn more about the festival program visit East Gippsland Winter Festival.