We’ve almost reached the winter solstice — the shortest day of the year. Embrace the darkness and the winter chill with celebrations and festivities around Melbourne. Warm up by roaring fires, feast on hearty winter meals and welcome new beginnings with the promise of sunlight and springtime. This year, the winter solstice will take place on Saturday June 21. We’ve found some lovely winter solstice festivities happening around Melbourne, as well as further out in Victoria.
The best things to do in Melbourne and Victoria for the winter solstice
Scienceworks After Dark
Scienceworks is throwing open their doors after hours to celebrate the winter solstice. Open to adults only, you’ll explore exhibitions, see a Planetarium show, enjoy live entertainment and more. Scienceworks After Dark will run from 6pm to 10pm on Saturday June 21. Learn more here.
📍2 Booker St, Spotswood VIC 3015
The Sinner’s Roast at Prahran Market
A three-day roast festival will take over Prahran Market over the winter solstice weekend. Warm up with plenty of smoking meat from fiery stations, brûléed treats and plenty of limited-edition winter food. While you feast, stay entertained with live music, circus performances and fire artists. The Sinner’s Roast Festival will run from Friday June 20 to Sunday June 22. Learn more here.
📍163 Commercial Rd, South Yarra VIC 3141
Winter Solstice Party at Good Heavens
Celebrate the season with a Winter Solstice Party at Good Heavens rooftop bar. Try out their curling rink, sip on cocktails and check out their luxe oyster bar. There will be live DJ sets to take you through the night, and you can also enter to win a spa giveaway. It’s all happening on Saturday June 21 at 6pm.
📍Level 2/79 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Tea and Tarot Workshop by Crafternoon Tea
Have fun over the winter solstice by taking part in a tea and tarot workshop. Learn the history of tea and tarot, and take part in a tea tasting. Then, make your own blend to take home. You’ll also get to read your own tarot or your friend’s. This class will take place in Brunswick Aces from 4pm to 5:30pm. Learn more here.
📍124 Weston St, Brunswick East VIC 3057
Winter Solstice at CERES
Celebrate the Winter Solstice at CERES in Brunswick. There will be a family-friendly night on June 20, and an adults-only celebration on Saturday June 21. Both events will end in a fire sculpture finale. Look forward to UV face painting, light installations, mulled wine, music and more. See more here.
📍Roberts St & Stewart St, Brunswick East VIC 3057
Belgrave Lantern Festival
Embrace the longest night of the year at the Belgrave Lantern Festival. Take part in a dazzling lantern parade on Saturday June 21, and journey around the community. Along with the lanterns, there will be plenty of entertainment, food, firepits and more to discover. There will also be lantern-making workshops at Belgrave Library in the lead-up to the festival, but you’re welcome to bring your own on the night. Festivities will run from 5pm to 8pm. See more here.
📍Belgrave VIC 3160
Winter Solstice Sip & Stroll
If you love wine, this is the thing for you. Wander over to the Healesville Makers Quarter for the Winter Solstice Sip & Stroll. Make your way on foot to Jayden Ong Wines, Payten & Jones Wine, Four Pillars Gin Distillery, Watts River Brewing and Giammarino Wines. Each venue will also have small bites available for purchase. Tickets are $50 and you can enjoy tastings at all five venues from 12pm to 5pm. See more here.
📍Healesville VIC 3777
Winter Solstice Dawn Swim
Start the winter solstice nice and early with a sunrise swim in Sorrento. All abilities are welcome. After the Winter Solstice Dawn Swim, there will be hot breakfast and coffee. You’ll find it at the Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club from 7am to 8:30am. You will need to register online to participate. Learn more here.
📍3154 Point Nepean Rd, Sorrento VIC 3943
Sorrento Fire Festival
Celebrate the winter solstice and wander down the Peninsula to check out Sorrento Fire Festival. Watch a 6-metre human sculpture get set alight after a dramatic countdown, and feel the heat with fire cannons, fire pits and roaming fire twirlers. You can also look forward to illuminated sculptures, food trucks, mulled wine, market stalls and more. Check it out on Saturday June 21 from 3:30pm along the Sorrento Foreshore. Learn more here.
📍Sorrento VIC 3943
The Shortest Lunch
Source: Supplied
Treat yourself to a day sipping wine around the Yarra Valley at The Shortest Lunch. Visit 13 small-batch wine producers, meet the makers, and pair your wine with delicious food. Take in sweeping views and heat up by roaring fires. The Shortest Lunch will take place on Saturday June 21 and Sunday June 22, in celebration of the winter solstice.
📍Yarra Valley
Mansfield Lantern Festival
Celebrate the longest night of the year at Mansfield Lantern Festival. Head to the High Country and stay warm against the winter chill with a lantern parade, market stalls, roving performers, open fires and more. Check it out on Saturday June 21 from 4pm to 8:30pm. Learn more here.
📍Mansfield
Darker Days Festival
Embrace the darkness of winter with live music, dark beer and smoky food at Darker Days Festival in Bright. If you’re not a fan of beer, you’ll also find plenty of spirits, wine and cider. There’s also a dedicated kids zone, so the little ones can have fun too. Find the festival at Bright Brewery from 12pm to 11pm. Learn more here.
📍121 Great Alpine Rd, Bright VIC 3741
Solstice Search Party
Warrnambool is celebrating the winter solstice with a free event by Lake Pertobe. Feel dazzled by neon light sculptures, a ‘Glow Wall’, projections and a fire effigy. There will also be live music and an assortment of food vans. Solstice Search Party will take place on Saturday June 21 from 3pm to 8:30pm. Learn more here.
📍Pertobe Rd, Warrnambool VIC 3280
Bruthen Medieval Winter Fire Festival
Go back in time and spend the solstice by roaring fires at the Bruthen Medieval Winter Fire Festival. Get dressed up and see flaming sword fights, medieval skills demonstrations, a costume parade, medieval dancers and more. Play outdoor ancient family games, and witness the slaying of the dragon and the lighting of the bonfire. This exciting festival will start at 3pm and run into the night, but you’re welcome to come early and check out the Bruthen Medieval Market, which will have plenty of themed stalls from 9am to 3pm. Learn more here.
📍Bruthen VIC 3885
East Gippsland Winter Festival
The festival in Bruthen is just one of the many events happening as part of the East Gippsland Winter Festival. This annual event will kick off on June 20, and run until July 20, and with over 100 events to look forward to, you can bet that some of them will be celebrating the winter solstice. Go for a sunrise swim, take part in a masquerade gala, go for a winter bike ride and more. Explore the full program here.
📍East Gippsland