Celebrate the Winter Season and Night-Time Events in Melbourne and Victoria during 2025
**Winter 2025: A Festival of Lights and Culture in Melbourne and Regional Victoria**
Prepare for an enchanting winter season as Melbourne and regional Victoria unfold a rich calendar of festivals and nocturnal activities that blend light, culture, and winter warmth. From captivating light installations to ice skating under the stars, these events promise a magical winter experience for locals and visitors alike.
In the heart of Melbourne CBD, the **Queen Victoria Winter Night Market** continues its midweek tradition, offering an open-air market filled with street food, shopping, live music, and hot drinks like mulled wine. Fire pits dot the area to keep visitors warm and cosy.
Rising Festival & The Rink at RISING, another city highlight, includes a pop-up ice rink at Birrarung Marr for skating under the stars. Visitors can indulge in treats such as boozy hot chocolates, crepes, and cocktails at the Melbourne IceBar.
Magic enthusiasts will be delighted by the **Melbourne Magic Festival** (July 7–19), featuring over 140 magic shows across 40 venues. This magical winter entertainment experience caters to all ages.
Melbourne's winter nights are beautifully lit by various light festivals, such as the Banyule Lantern Festival, which showcases lantern installations of native animals with live performers and workshops, as well as illuminated First Nations dance performances. Another event, Lightfall at the Royal Botanic Gardens, adds to the city's illuminated winter landscape.
Venture into regional Victoria, and discover the **Eynesbury Winter Festival**, a free family event featuring a pop-up ice rink, kids' activities like cookie decorating and animal encounters, markets, live entertainment, and fireworks celebrating the winter solstice.
Historic Sovereign Hill in Ballarat transforms into a winter wonderland during the **Winter Wonderlights festival** (July 4–27), where light installations, extended evening hours, and pantomimes create a magical atmosphere. St Nicholas' Grotto is a delightful addition to this festive experience.
The **Ballarat Winter Festival** (July 5-27) offers a pop-up ice skating rink, vaudeville performances, workshops, talks, and performances. Kids can enjoy face painting, cookie decorating, and meeting an ice princess, while adults can immerse themselves in the Kryal Castle's Knights of Fire series.
The **Banyule Lantern Festival** (Heidelberg West) offers interactive lantern displays, fire breathers, roving entertainers, neon face painting, neon mini golf, food trucks, and vibrant First Nations performances.
In Bowral near Victoria, **Bowral Winterfest** showcases light art installations like Borealis, a Northern Lights-inspired display, combined with winter warmers and mulled wine from local stalls.
Snowfest Gippsland takes place on July 25, 2025, in Warragul, featuring live entertainment, marshmallow toasting, meet-and-greets with huskies, snow play, food and drink, and a fireworks display.
In Geelong, **Winter Glow** (June 28 to August 9) at Adventure Park offers art installations, light shows, fire twirling, ice sculpting, and snow play areas. Kids can enjoy face painting and cookie decorating, while adults can appreciate the vibrant atmosphere.
The **East Gippsland Winter Festival** (June 20 to July 20) features over 100 events such as tours, workshops, tastings, art installations, classes, markets, and activities.
Lightscape, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne will take place from June 20 to August 10, featuring 20 new light installations for visitors to discover.
Finally, theatre lovers can catch **BEETLEJUICE the Musical** until August 31, 2025, with Eddie Perfect starring as the titular character.
These festivals and activities emphasize outdoor nocturnal experiences with light art, cultural performances, ice skating, markets, and warm food and drinks, making winter in Melbourne and Victoria vibrant and festive.
- At Lightscape, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, visitors can explore 20 new light installations from June 20 to August 10, complementing the city's illuminated winter landscape.
- Fashion and beauty enthusiasts can indulge in shopping and live music at the Queen Victoria Winter Night Market in Melbourne CBD, while food and drink lovers can warm up with hot drinks like mulled wine and street food.
- During the Eynesbury Winter Festival, families can enjoy a free event featuring a pop-up ice rink, kids' activities, markets, live entertainment, and fireworks celebrating the winter solstice, in addition to entertainment like the Melbourne Magic Festival and balloon twisting performers.
