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 official opening event is on Friday, 18th June, with the festival kicking off from Saturday, 19th June to Sunday, 11th July and will showcase 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 commences on Friday, 19th June in Bairnsdale where the laneways will come 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 will be collaborations between some of the region’s food and wine heavyweights. Lightfoot & Sons Wines and SARDINE eatery + bar pair up for the Pinot Picnic on Sunday, 20th June in Calulu near Bairnsdale to celebrate all things Pinot Noir. And you can snuggle into Lightfoot’s barrel room for a masterclass, then bask under the wintry skies on the deck or lawns with a picnic box.

On Saturday, 26th June be spellbound by the Lakes Light Festivalin 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.

Attend a Lantern Making Workshop at the Great Alpine Gallery on Tuesday, 29th June in Swifts Creek and create a beautiful star lantern to hang in the street and help light up the charming village along the iconic Great Alpine Road. 

Over the weekend (3rd & 4th July) there is a deep winter event at Sailors Grave and the Bruthen Fringe Cafe. In Lakes Entrance, guests can enjoy a night of hearty winter foods, sourced locally and served with Gippsland wines and beers at the Slow Movement Community Dinner. There will also be 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. 

To make your plans check out the full program of events (available early May).