Our city's premier destination winter event, Festival of W, officially kicks off on Saturday, 5 July 2025, transforming the Wollundry Lagoon and Victory Memorial Garden precinct into a wonderland of immersive experiences for all.
The 16-day curated festival runs from Saturday 5 July to Sunday 20 July, and features stunning new installations and exciting events, along with the return of some crowd favourites.
From 10am this Saturday, festival folk can enjoy the return of ice skating on the Skate Wagga Wagga ice rink, with sessions from 10am to 10pm, while the first of three Saturday night FoW Sessions, showcasing local and regional musicians, will take to the main stage at the Victory Memorial Gardens from 5pm.
Council's Destination & Events Coordinator Kimberly Parker is encouraging locals and visitors to rug up, embrace the winter chill and head to our City Centre to enjoy all that will be on offer over the two-week festival.
"We have 'Lightvision: A Wagga Wagga light journey' returning for its third year, in partnership with Council and leading Australian multi-disciplinary design and production experts, Mandylights," Ms Parker said.
"This year, festival-goers will step into a world of shifting light and shifting perceptions on a light journey, titled REFLECT.
"It includes a series of installations themed around reflection, seeing yourself – and familiar places – in a different light and refractions that stretch around and across the Wollundry Lagoon precinct.
"Visitors can wander through the four immersive and inspiring installations: The Laser Garden, Field of Reflection, The Spheres, and Nura, an outdoor gallery of illuminated First Nations art, featuring original artworks by Wiradjuri and First Nations artists Amy Kilby, Ashleigh Pengelly and Bindi Bindi Art.
"Over in Victory Memorial Gardens, you can gather around Ignite, a towering light installation inspired by the communal bonfire, and stop in at House of FoW for snacks, night caps and fire-side chats."
The light shows are from dusk to late each evening throughout the festival. House of FoW will open Monday to Thursday for dinner from 5pm to 10pm and Friday to Sunday for lunch and dinner from 12 noon to 10pm.

As part of the Festival of W offering this year, the Civic Theatre will be hosting a NAIDOC Week showcase event, Balgarra, shining a light on the creativity and strength of the next generation of First Nations people.
Featuring performances by Philly, Beacho2700 and rising First Nations talent, Balgarra – which means 'emitting sparks' – will be held on Saturday 12 July, starting with a community barbecue from 4.30pm and the show at 5.30pm.
Festival goers and residents are reminded there will be additional road closures in the precinct during the festival to increase the festival area and for pedestrian safety.
The on-street activations on Morrow Street, Baylis Street and Burns Way, have been proudly funded by the NSW Government under the Permit/Plug/Play Pilot Program.
You can book your Skate Wagga Wagga tickets and download the full Festival of Wagga program on the Visit Wagga Wagga webiste.