The first ever Illuminate festival brought music, food and art to life at the SAM Precinct on the weekend, with exhilarating light displays and more.
The two-day festival hosted a glowing line-up of music including headline acts Clare Bowditch and Christine Anu with supporting artists Grim Fawkner, Adalita, Drew Walker, Deans of Soul, Eliott and Walumbarra and Minyerra.
The festival hosted more than 20 food vendors along with mesmerising light experiences across the SAM Precinct and Victoria Park Lake shore which saw approximately 5,000 people attend on Friday night and an incredible 15,000 on Saturday, which was double the amount of visitors expected to attend the event.
Illuminate was a celebration of the new SAM Precinct with a stunning laser, light and sound display across the building closing the festival on Saturday night to acknowledge the region's creativity, innovation and perseverance.
Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor, Councillor Kim O'Keeffe said the festival was a shining success.
"It was amazing to have the inaugural festival take place within the Shepparton Festival calendar. Illuminate was a show stopping event which put a spotlight on our region's creativity," she said.
"Thank you to the estimated 20,000 people who attended the event across the weekend coming from right around Victoria and interstate, celebrating the new SAM Precinct and being part of the art and cultural developments of our region.
"We hope to see you again later in the year for the upcoming White Night event which was awarded to our city for the first time this year, and will also shine a bright light on Greater Shepparton."
This year is shaping up to be a landmark year as the region has seen the beginning of an impressive major events calendar with new and returning events, as well as the establishment of some of the region's biggest new visitor attraction drawcards in full operation such as the Shepparton Art Museum and Museum of Vehicle Evolution helping transform the region into a real standout destination.
Each of these activities are further creating vital social and economic support to our creative, entertainment, hospitality and visitor economy industries helping create and support local jobs and growth.
If you attended Illuminate, Council would love to know how your experience was. Please fill out the post event survey via this link www.surveymonkey.com/r/illuminatefestival
For more of what to expect in our region go to visitshepparton.com.au for the latest event details.
