Geelong to host its own White Night

IT WILL be all white on the night in even more Victorian cities next year, with the popular White Night festival expanding to include Geelong and Bendigo.

Last week, the state government announced that Geelong’s first White Night would be held on October 13.

White Night producer David Atkins will oversee the event but little is known about what Geelong’s version of the Melbourne all-night festival will feature, although site inspections have begun.

The launch in the Geelong Botanic Gardens featured an early preview of one of White Night Geelong’s attractions – the Utility Kinetic Insect (UKI).

Made in Melbourne and recently returned from the 2017 Burning Man festival, the UKI is a mechanical wasp-like creature mounted on a 4WD chassis with eyes and wings that light up, a DJ booth and a sound system.

Mr Atkins said Geelong’s maritime heritage was likely to be a major influence in the same way that Ballarat’s mining history informed that city’s festival, and a key distinction from the other White Nights.

“I don’t think anyone expected the level of success Ballarat generated, both economically but from a cultural point of view and an arts practice point of view, and what I think we’re going to see in Geelong is an even greater response from the arts community.

“What you have in Geelong is a quarter of a million people, a big catchment area, and a history of great events that we can stand on the shoulders of.”

Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren said White Night Geelong, like Melbourne, would run from dusk until dawn.

“It’s fantastic when we can share these events with regional Victoria.

“I’d almost suggest there’s more value in the regional events for White Night than in Melbourne.”

There will now be four White Night events in 2018 – in Melbourne on February 17, Ballarat on March 17, in Bendigo on September 1 and in Geelong on October 13.