Since 2014, White Night has brightened up Melbourne with an all-night arts festival each February. When summer comes to an end in 2019, however, the city won't be sparkling with light and culture. Instead, the popular evening is shifting to a new winter berth.
While the exact dates and program won't be revealed until closer to the event, White Night will make the move to August as part a huge new winter festival, the Victorian Government has announced. The after-dark spectacle itself will still only run over a single evening, but the broader fest will be a three-day affair, complete with music, design, film, food, performance and street art events.
Part of the move is inspired by Melbourne's long mid-year nights, with the lengthier stint of darkness allowing White Night's luminous activities to kick off earlier — meaning that artists have more hours to play with, and families can enjoy an earlier start time.
Aiming to become one of Victoria's signature events, the overarching multi-day festival will build upon 2018's bigger White Night program. "This reimagined event will create unique and exciting opportunities for artists, performers, cultural practitioners and institutions with a broader program and more nights to experience it," said White Night artistic director David Atkins.