East Gippsland is set to come alive again this winter for the fifth annual East Gippsland Winter Festival, featuring a jam-packed program of wintery fun and frivolity across the region.
Running from June 20 to July 20 2025, visitors and locals alike will experience another epic month-long festival showcasing East Gippsland’s unique offerings of art, culture, food, nature and wellness.
From Paynesville on the Gippsland Lakes, all the way to Omeo in the High Country and out to Cape Conran in the far east, this year’s festival will be five times the fun as the community showcases it’s creativity, recovery and resilience five years on from the devastating black summer bushfires.
“In year one we were just amazed at the response, with so many people and local businesses getting involved,” explained Adam Bloem, festival director.
“As the Black Summer Bushfires rolled straight into COVID lockdowns, the region was hit hard – but the Winter Festival provided some joy and an opportunity to help bring the community together with lots of free outdoor events.
“It has grown each year and we now employ four part time staff and work with dozens of local artists, musicians and volunteers to help pull the festival together. It’s been wonderful to showcase local talent and see the region’s creativity with some really unique events and showcases.”
To celebrate the milestone, here are
five festival favourites returning in 2025, along with five unique new additions to the 2025 program:
Five festival favourites:
– June 21: Medieval Winter Fire Festival, Bruthen – be transported back in time at the Medieval Winter Fire Festival, featuring thrilling sword fights, bonfires, lively music, medieval costumes, and fireside feasting. Fun for all ages.
– June 27: The Nicholson River Trestle Bridge Long Lunch, Nicholson – take in the glorious views up and down the Nicholson River while dining on the historic Railway Bridge. Enjoy a delicious collaboration lunch showcasing Gippsland’s best produce, beers and wine. Live music and desserts by the legendary Long Paddock top off one the most unique and delicious dining experiences in Victoria.
– July 5: Fire and Ice, Metung – Live ice sculpting and a spectacular fire show on the Metung Village Green overlooking the tranquil waters of Bancroft Bay.
– July 12: Lakes Lights, Lakes Entrance Foreshore – a mesmerising spectacular of artist-made lantern sculptures, roaming performers, and lighting projections will create a whimsical world on the Lakes Entrance Foreshore, with food trucks and live music.
– July 19: Deep In The Weeds at Sailors Grave’s Dunetown, Marlo – Sailor’s Grave Brewing’s infamous ‘Deep in the Weeds’ festival is back, taking place at ‘Dunetown’, for the first time – their epic new home base. Expect great music, weird and wonderful beers, delicious food and one hell of a night.
Five new noteworthy events in 2025
– Après Ski Party, Eight Acres, Lakes Entrance – A collaboration between Eight Acres x Albert & Co, this winter party will include a DJ, mulled wine, hot toddies, mouthwatering winter classic food options, a roaring fire and an après ski dress code.
– Op Shop Ball, The Monaro Centre, Cann River – Dress in your best Op Shop
finds and enjoy a night of dancing, food, music and more in the stunning mud-brick Monaro Centre.
– The Great Alpine Scarecrow Competition, Swifts Creek – grab the straw, get creative and display your scarecrow in the Swifts Creek area. If you need some inspiration the Great Alpine Gallery will be running a scarecrow making workshop at the
start of the festival. Prizes for the most creative scarecrow.
– Karen Martini x Sodafish, Lakes Entrance – after the unsurprising success of last year’s Sodafish x Guy Grossi collab, they are outdoing themselves this year with renowned chef, author & TV presenter Karen Martini. This one is not to be missed. (And don’t worry if you missed last year’s Guy Grossi event, whispers are he’s back this year too)
– Bottomless cocktail brunch – Join Bancroft Bay Distillery for a Bottomless Cocktail Brunch at Pier 70 on the waterfront in Paynesville. The food will be as impressive as the view and Bancroft Bay Distillery will bring their signature spirits including gin, vodka, and agave.
To discover more of this year’ s festival
program visit the East Gippsland Winter Festival website.
