Family fun caps Nightide weekend

FAMILIES will have their own opportunity to celebrate the winter solstice when Nightide wraps up with a free family day on the Queenscliff foreshore.

Running from 10am to 1pm on Sunday 21 June, the event will feature circus performances, Disney singalongs, face painting, bubble artists, amusement rides and roaming entertainment designed for younger audiences.

Searoad Ferries’ Peter Wallace said the family day was designed to ensure there was something for everyone across the festival weekend.

“While Nightide is the main event, it’s a tricky one for young families, being large crowds and a dark environment,” he said. “But we wanted to have something [young families] could be part of.

“Something for everyone across the whole weekend was our main goal.”

A pirate ship installation and many of the festival’s food vendors will also remain on site following the previous evening’s celebrations.

Children aged 15 and under will travel free as foot passengers aboard Searoad Ferries on the day, allowing families to combine the event with a visit to Queenscliff or a trip across the bay.

“It’s another good opportunity to do something different when there’s not a lot on offer this time of year,” Wallace said.

“It’s a good excuse to get out of the house and get out there.”

While Sunday brings the festival to a close, there is plenty happening across the weekend.

Beyond the family activities and Saturday night’s foreshore celebration, Nightide’s expanded program also includes the Solstice Feast at TARRA Queenscliff.

Running on 20 June, the event brings together TARRA executive chef Mike Jaques and Wildfire Craft BBQ owner Casey Hildebrand for a menu inspired by the festival’s Creatures of the Deep theme.

The feast includes oysters, smoked mussels, charred octopus, smoked bone marrow and whole pig head, before concluding with smoked chocolate cake, caramel and ice cream.

Entry to the feast includes admission to the Saturday night festival.

And for those interested in the avant-garde, this year’s festival will enjoy its official start a little earlier on Friday 19 June with Nightide Fringe: Between the Devil.

Produced by a committee of local creatives led by Salt Gallery’s David Beaumont, the adults-only event embraces a darker and more theatrical atmosphere than the main festival.

This year the Fringe event will be held aboard the Peninsula Princess, with guests treated to live music, burlesque, performance art, food and drinks in a floating celebration on the bay.

For more information, including the full program, head to nightide.com.au

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