The annual South Side Festival is coming back to Frankston, and this year is set to be the biggest one yet. Look forward to ten thrilling nights of art and culture, with dazzling light installations, live performances, a cold water swim, hands-on workshops and more! It’s all happening from Friday, May 8 to Sunday, May 17.
South Side Festival in Frankston
The festival will kick off with the transformation of Beauty Park into an illuminated wonderland. Neon Fields will take over the park for the third consecutive year, bringing neon structures like a Unicorn Garden and Cosmic Playground, as well as a new Stargate monolith. Neon Fields will light up the park from May 8 to 10, and on Friday and Saturday night, there will also be food trucks and a bar zone.
There will also be large-scale puppets wandering around on Friday and Saturday. Developed in collaboration with the community, and created by Golden Scissor Puppets, these Cryptids are inspired by Frankston’s stories and legends. The park is free to attend, and bookings aren’t required.
The refreshing South Side Sea Soak will also make a return. Take the plunge and dip into the water. Afterwards, warm up with a breakfast barbeque from the Frankston Life Saving Club.
For something a bit different, head to Cube 27 for Live Cinema. Watch as a cast and crew of local Frankston youth shoot, edit, score and project a feature film in real time.
If you like fashion, check out the exhibition, A Wearable Canvas, where you’ll see wearable artworks up close. Take part in a big clothing swap, or have a cosy day in at a crochet session, where you’ll help make a massive blanket.
The whole family will have fun with You Are Me, an interactive space for all ages that brings text-based video games to life with puppets and a range of tech. Meanwhile, grown ups will have a laugh with the comedy dating show, Human Love Quest.
Take part in workshops and talks, where you’ll make posies, sample bush foods, learn mending skills and more. There will also be tours, like a street art walking tour and a brewery tour.
Some of these events are free, and some are ticketed and will need a booking. To see the full program, click here.