The free Firelight Festival will return to Docklands this month thanks to a record investment from the City of Melbourne and the Victorian Government.
The five-day event will transform Docklands with flame jets, fire twirlers and flaming sculptures from Wednesday 21 July to Sunday 25 July.
The family-friendly festival will provide a major boost for Docklands businesses, with tens of thousands of visitors expected to celebrate winter in Melbourne.
The 2019 festival attracted more than 75,000 visitors and generated $4 million in economic impact.
Highlights for the 2021 Firelight Festival include:
- Nightly liquid, light and laser shows presented by Development Victoria
- Fire performers, twirlers and a flaming blunderbuss to warm up the crowd
- Giant flame sculptures in the shape of a Phoenix and a Deer
- Flame jets and fire cauldrons running the length of New Quay Promenade and Victoria Promenade
- Live musical performances and entertainment including Cope Street Parade, Vardos, Lola Lovina, The Whiskey Drifters and many more.
The 2021 Firelight Festival is free however, visitors will require tickets to attend. The festival will follow strict COVID-safe guidelines, with QR code check-ins, COVID marshals, site cleaning and capacity limits of 3,500 people at New Quay Promenade and 4,500 at Victoria Promenade.
The City of Melbourne is investing $1.85 million in the 2021 festival, including $850,000 from the Victorian Government to extend the event from three to five nights, after the event was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19.
The joint $200 million Melbourne City Revitalisation Fund in partnership with the Victorian government will contribute to boosting our events and cultural sectors over the next two years.
Originally scheduled for the end of June, the 2021 Firelight Festival was postponed due to Melbourne's most recent COVID-19 lockdown.
The City of Melbourne is continuing discussions with the State Government regarding approval for the event and is working through the implications of any future state border closures on interstate suppliers.
The festival will run from 5:30pm to 10pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and from 5:30pm to 10:30pm on Friday and Saturday.
