Firelight Festival set to warm your winter blues

The annual Firelight Festival is coming to Docklands once again for three nights between June 30 and July 2, bringing the best of Melbourne’s visual and live entertainment to warm up the winter weekend.

Following last year’s record-breaking festival, the 2023 Firelight is part of the City of Melbourne’s $28.2 million investment for events, festivals and experiences. 

This year’s instalment will see a jam-packed program of free entertainment featuring light installations, live music, and roaming performers.

The festival is expected to attract more than 105,000 people to the area, with Lord Mayor Sally Capp saying it would be Docklands’ “biggest and brightest Firelight Festival” to date.

“We’re bringing together some of Melbourne’s top performers to showcase their talent and flair, providing a dazzling line-up of fiery eats and free entertainment across three nights,” Cr Capp said.

The event will feature more than 125 different artists and performers and more than 30 food vendors to satisfy winter cravings, from wood-fired pizzas to spiced mulled wine and hot chocolate. 

The festival is expected to inject $8.3 million into the economy and support more than 400 jobs throughout the weekend.

The council’s city activation portfolio lead Cr Roshena Campbell said that attendance had increased by almost 40 per cent since the festival’s launch in 2017, “showing events continue to be a strong drawcard for visitors”.

“We’re proud to deliver Firelight once again – driving waves of visitors to Docklands and supporting hundreds of local business owners,” Cr Campbell said.

Activities and performances will be spread out across Docklands with the main events located around NewQuay Promenade, Harbour Esplanade and Victoria Harbour Promenade.

The Docklands’ waterfront will also be lined with 40 fire pits and drums, 35 flame jets, two fire sculptures and Firelight arches.

For the second year in a row, the festival will also be a carbon neutral certified event.

“Winter is a magical and marvellous time in Melbourne,” Cr Capp said. “Our free events calendar is one of the many ways we’re encouraging people to join in on the fun.”

Visitors can expect to see a diverse range of live performances from DJs and hip-hop dancers to roving circus performers and fire twirlers. There will also be laser and light shows illuminating the winter night sky over Victoria Harbour.

The festival will be open from 5pm until 10.30pm on Friday and Saturday, and 5pm until 10pm on Sunday. Bookings are not required, and all entertainment and attractions are free, excluding food and beverage. •

For more information: firelight.melbourne.vic.gov.au