Winterfest
Warragul’s annual celebration of winter with the Winterfest and Lantern Parade will be held on June 24. (WWLP) is a celebration of Warragul in Winter.
Warragul Winterfest and Lantern Parade will hold its second annual event at Eastern Park, Warragul between 4.30pm and 9pm.
The parkland and Eastern Park Community Garden will be lit up with lanterns, serenaded by music, mesmerised by fire-twirlers and warmed by a magical bonfire.
Winterfest is a free family event with lots of free kids’ activities, the opportunity to take part in a huge lantern parade around the park, a chance to showcase beautiful lanterns made at the various workshops held throughout the shire, listen to local live music, eat local foods and enjoy the display of lanterns.
The idea of a winter celebration was formed by a group of locals who wanted to develop a festival similar to the lantern parade held in Belgrave every year.
They wanted to see Warragul come alive during the cold quiet months of winter and for families and locals to come together with lanterns for a celebration, - to excite and inspire and bring people together not only on the night, but in the lead up to the event with lots of lantern making workshops on offer throughout the Shire.
The planning committee always felt that a free/low cost family friendly event was something that locals craved and given the huge popularity of Belgrave Lantern festival they wanted to see something similar that local families could be part of and look forward to every year here in Baw Baw Shire.
The first Warragul Winterfest in 2016 exceeded expectations with more than 1300 people attending, more than 1000 lanterns made throughout the community and a fantastic wellreceived and loved festival.
Many lantern making workshops have already been held this year, while workshops will be held at schools, kindergartens, playgroups, the Warragul Farmers Market, Warragul Girl Guide Hall, local libraries and at Warragul Community House.
Organisers hope the lantern making sessions held throughout the Shire will inspire everyone to be involved with Winterfest, with everyone part-taking in the excitement of Winterfest night, taking part in the lantern parade and the magic of lighting a public space with lanterns and celebrating the longest night of the year with music.