An entire month of winter-friendly activities is set to take over East Gippsland in June, when the fifth annual Winter Festival comes around. Whether you head to the shores of Gippsland Lakes for a day trip, or drive all the way to the High Country for a night, you'll find tasty bites, mulled wine, surprising art and live music. A bunch of festival favourites are making a return. Swing by Bruthen on Saturday, June 21, for the Medieval Winter Fire Festival, which will transport you back in time with sword fights, bonfires, medieval costumes and fireside feasting. Then, on Saturday, July 5, visit Metung for Fire & Ice, a spectacular of live ice sculpting and fire displays on Bancroft Bay. You can also look forward to a host of brand-new events. Cann River is inviting you to don your best-ever op shop outfit for the Op Shop Ball, an evening of food, music and dancing in the mud-brick Monaro Centre. Meanwhile, Lakes Entrance will host an epic après-ski party, featuring mulled wine, hot toddies, loads of comfort food, a roaring fire and DJs — all brought to you by Eight Acres in collaboration with Albert & Co. The East Winter Gippsland Festival will take place all over the region between Friday, June 20–Sunday, July 20. Check out the rest of the program over here.
