Winter in Docklands

The winter events calendar in Docklands is heating up with Firelight Festival returning from June 30 to July 2. 

Backed by the record-breaking success of last year’s event, this year is sure to lift the bar yet again. The festival will transform the area into a captivating wonderland of fire and light, featuring fire pits and flame jets across Docklands streets.

Expect to see African drumming, roving performers, brilliant light installations, and an array of warming food options.

We are encouraging all local hospitality businesses to embrace the festivities and show the public what Docklands has to offer with special offerings to celebrate. 

It’s events like these that lure crowds to the city, resulting in increased spending that is showing exciting prospects for businesses, as highlighted in the city’s recent economic snapshot.

The data shows significant spikes in spending, ranging from 24 to 44 per cent above the 2019 benchmark on nights featuring performances by renowned artists like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Harry Styles, both of whom performed at our very own Marvel Stadium.

These impressive results highlight the question: are we supporting businesses in Docklands that can continue the spend in our mixed-use precinct? And with the understanding that the makeup of our local economy is ever evolving post-COVID, should we? 

With recent trends revealing changing commuter patterns, which suggest Tuesday to Thursday are emerging as the busiest mornings and afternoons, while Thursday evenings have become the new Friday night for city workers seeking dining and socialising opportunities, these changes will have a major impact on what was once a precinct heavily influenced by the traditional Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 corporate routine.

The question is, how are we in Docklands responding to these changes? Are we thinking big enough about what Docklands can and should be?

In the recent Future Melbourne Committee meeting in May, the focus was on some clear short- to mid-term actions to pursue. There certainly was some good to come out of it – revamping our surroundings should always be a priority – however, I think it’s time we embraced the data-driven new dynamics we are seeing in Docklands. There’s so much more to offer if we can band together as a community and align our visions.

Let’s hope our bustling events calendar continues to spark important conversations among Docklanders about what that long-term vision looks like. •