The longest night of the year will soon descend upon us, and the township of Queenscliff will celebrate with a mid-winter festival that unites fire and ice.
Nightide returns to the Bellarine Peninsula on Saturday, June 22, with an event that's sure to spark intrigue. At this free festival located at the Queenscliff Ferry Terminal, you can expect the usual wintery trappings of mulled wine, roaring bonfires and live music – but revellers will also have the opportunity to take a plunge in ice baths under the stars, before warming up in seaside mobile saunas. That sounds like a very special way to mark the winter solstice, if you ask us.
Once you've thawed out from an icy dip, enjoy bevs and bites from pop-up bars and food trucks, as well as entertaining performances by local acts. Plus, there'll be a dramatic fireworks display at the end of the evening, soundtracked by live opera.
The festival also has ticketed events, including a VIP party inside the ferry terminal's lounge, complete with endless canapes, cocktails, DJs and mystery entertainment. Plus, you can indulge in four decadent dessert courses crafted by chef Michael Demagistris from Tarra restaurant.
Or if you're looking to really test your limits, at 3.30pm the inaugural Frostbite solstice swim invites attendees to dive into freezing waters, either for a 500-metre swim or a fancy dress float in the ocean.
To find out more about the festival, register for a free ticket or purchase a pass to one of the ticketed events, head to the Nightide website.