Record-breaking Firelight Festival lights up Docklands

Docklands was ablaze with energy earlier this month as the Firelight Festival returned for its most spectacular showing yet – drawing a record 115,000 visitors across three nights from July 4 to 6.

Now a staple of the city’s winter calendar, our waterfront precinct was transformed into a glowing playground of fire, light and live performance, with this year’s festival marking a 44 per cent jump in attendance from 2024.

“Firelight Festival burned brighter than ever this year,” City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece said. “It was the biggest weekend of the year for Docklands businesses, delivering a huge mid-winter trading boost.”

The festival featured around 50 fire artists, dancers, musicians and roving performers, alongside 40 food trucks serving everything from sizzling skewers to hot chocolate and s’mores.

For the first time, the glow extended onto Victoria Harbour with the debut of the Light the Night Boat Display, where five illuminated vessels competed for crowd votes. A Melbourne-first appearance by Tasmanian artist Amanda Parer’s giant inflatables also stole the show, with four monumental sculptures lighting up the waterfront.

“Crowds came out in force to soak up the fiery spectacle and support local hospitality,” Cr Mark Scott said. “Once again, Melbourne proved it’s the events capital of Australia, year-round.” •