ROAM if you want to, ROAM around Geelong

VICTORIA’S most ambitious new cultural event will transform our city’s creative heart for one unforgettable evening tomorrow with ROAM Geelong.

This destination event will be a celebration of multidisciplinary arts – spanning performance, music and storytelling – with hundreds of artists taking over central Geelong.

We’re thrilled to bring acclaimed performers and local voices together, showcasing the incredible depth of talent in Greater Geelong for all the world to see.

The festival, proudly presented by the City of Greater Geelong, will transform the arts and cultural precinct into a vibrant creative playground, combining everything our award-winning venues and talented artists have to offer. You won’t want to miss this night of exciting, immersive activities and displays.

The action begins on Little Malop Street, which acts as a pathway leading toward the cultural precinct. The street itself will be a spectacle featuring engaging projections, while music acts at Eureka Hotel and Piano Bar promise a lively atmosphere.

Crossing Gheringhap Street, guests are spoiled for choice with a blend of free and ticketed events to keep them busy long into the evening.

Geelong’s leading contemporary multi-arts hub, Platform Arts invites audiences into a whirlwind of creativity with the After Walter Hopps exhibition.

Inspired by the legendary curator, the exhibit explores what can exist beyond the traditional boundaries of a gallery space with a striking combination of mixed mediums and experimentation.

While you’re there, head upstairs to witness the new installation, Gathering Place, led by Dr Paola Bella. This project brings together local First Nations artists in a striking new installation made from rich bush-dyed fabrics.

Further along Little Malop Street, Geelong Arts Centre is hosting the renowned Bangarra Dance Theatre for an evening of contemporary dance in an exciting first from the company.

The Light Inside is Bangarra’s first mainstage cross-cultural collaboration, with Māori choreographer Moss Te Ururangi Patterson teaming up with Bangarra alumna Deborah Brown for a compelling story about First Peoples’ resilience.

This is a ticketed event, so be sure to book!

Also housed within the Arts Centre, Global ROAM offers a vibrant, non-stop celebration of Geelong’s rich multicultural tapestry.

Presented by Cultura, this event will feature energetic dance, dazzling live music and a spectacular celebration of cultural diversity – like a mini Pako Festa in October!

Over at the historic former Police Station, Back to Back Theatre presents SCREENSHOT, a collection of short screen-based works filmed in and around Geelong over the company’s 30-year history.

Driven by an ensemble of actors who identify as having an intellectual disability or as neurodivergent, this Geelong-based company is celebrated as one of Australia’s most innovative and dynamic cultural exports.

For outdoor fun for the whole family, head to Johnstone Park for an immersive digital botanical experience. ‘Tomorrow Blooms’ fuses art, nature and technology with stunning lightshows, soundscapes and a giant falcon who will soar across the gardens throughout the evening.

This inaugural festival, presented with support from the Victorian Government, Visit Victoria and the Regional Events Fund, is anticipated to drive significant tourism while providing valuable exposure for local artists and businesses.

We hope that this is the beginning of an exciting future for our city’s newest cultural event.

So, ROAM if you want to, and head to roamgeelong.com.au to view the full program and plan your evening!