Geelong to light up during its first White Night

THE program for Geelong’s first ever White Night has been launched and will see the city brought to life in a spectacular display of installations, music, dance and performance.

Next month’s family-friendly event will run down Gheringhap Street from Ryrie Street to the bay, and extend into streets on either side.

It will showcase Geelong’s arts and culture precinct, Johnstone Park and the waterfront, with more than 50 different displays and performances.

More than 60,000 people flocked to both the Ballarat and Bendigo events this year, and it is expected White Night Geelong will be just as popular.

With artistic director David Atkins at the helm, the night will pay tribute to Geelong’s maritime and Indigenous heritage.

As well as 19 new works, White Night Geelong will feature some of the best displays from White Night events in Melbourne, Ballarat and Bendigo.

These include The Armistice – Victoria Remembers, a projection that pays tribute to the fallen service men and women of World War I and builds on the year of the Centenary Celebration of the Armistice.

In The Sleep Keepers, event-goers will be encouraged to close their eyes and drift away on a roving, lit-up bed, while local artists Jasmine Grace and Anne Wilson will be recognised via their works Horizons (a light art installation) and Groundplane Opera (a live performance piece that delves into the cross-cultural trends of Geelong).

City of Greater Geelong councillor Ron Nelson and Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren launched the program outside City Hall on Monday morning.

“This will be a fantastic night for Geelong,” Cr Nelson said.

“It will attract thousands of visitors to our city, giving us another chance to showcase ourselves as a major events destination.

“It’s an incredible program with so much free fun, including plenty for children and families.”

Mr Eren said White Night provided enormous benefits and the state government wanted all of Victoria to reap the rewards.

“Geelong is known as a cultural and creative hub in Victoria and White Night will allow our local artists to show their stuff on a national stage.”

The event will take place on October from 7pm until 2am. To view the full program, head to whitenight.com.au/geelong.