Greater Shepparton City Council is excited to announce a new major event to join the Shepparton Festival program this year.
This March, the SAM Precinct and Victoria Park Lake will come to life for Illuminate, a two-day celebration of the new SAM and the region's creativity, innovation and perseverance.
The festival will feature mesmerising lighting installations and experiences along Victoria Park Lake, a glowing line-up of music performers and flavour punching food trucks, roving and illuminated performances as well as a striking laser, light and sound show to finish the evening on Saturday.
Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor, Councillor Kim O'Keeffe said 2022 was shaping up to be a landmark year.
"Council is proud to make today's announcement of a whole new festival coming to town, showing the growth and development we have achieved to become a regional creative hub," she said.
"The Shepparton Festival is about connecting our community to the thriving arts and culture scene in the region and Illuminate will be a wonderful addition to create a full sensory experience, incorporating lights, music and food in a new way celebrating our new SAM and the Victoria Park Lake.
"It is with impeccable timing that we launch Illuminate this year, as we welcome the first anniversary of the new Shepparton Art Museum building, home to leading cultural offerings SAM and Kaiela Arts. It will also complement the upcoming White Night celebration which we were recently awarded with, positioning Greater Shepparton as a leading regional Victorian city.
"We are hoping to deliver an event and creative experience never seen before in the region. We anticipate over 10,000 people will attend the festivities over the two days creating an economic boost to our local businesses and visitor economy, along with building our brand as a vibrant and attractive destination."
Federal Member for Nicholls, Damian Drum, said the Illuminate festival had received $176,500 of Federal Government funding via the Building Better Regions Fund.
"The new Shepparton Art Museum will be a tourist drawcard for years and decades to come, and this Illuminate event will be a wonderful way to celebrate what it has to offer, while seamlessly slipping into the Shepparton Festival's line-up," Mr Drum said.
"Illuminate, and the Shepparton Festival more broadly, will bring tourists to the Goulburn Valley, resulting in an economic boost as we emerge from COVID-19 restrictions.
"In addition to the Building Better Regions funding, I'm thrilled the Federal Government has committed an additional $110,000 for this year's Shepparton Festival."
Illuminate will come to life on Friday 25 March at 6pm and conclude on Saturday night with an immersive laser, light and sound show. For more details on the festival head to https://bit.ly/IlluminateSheppartonFacebook
