Firelight Festival Night at Docklands

Join me for a night of fire, light and winter warmth at Firelight Festival, Melbourne's free winter festival taking over Docklands for three fiery nights. Think fire performers, a laser and light show, cultural dance, live music and pop-up food trucks all along Harbour Esplanade.

We'll meet at the Cow Up a Tree sculpture at 6:00pm, say hello, then wander into the festival together to soak up the lights, grab some food and see where the night takes us. It's a relaxed, roam-around evening rather than a fixed itinerary — easy to dip in and out of as a group.

This is a casual social meetup arranged so we can head along together. It isn't run by, affiliated with, or endorsed by the City of Melbourne or Firelight Festival. The good news: entry is free and no booking is required, so an RSVP here is just to let me know you're coming — it isn't a ticket and doesn't guarantee anything beyond a friendly group to meet up with.

Solo attendees are very welcome — this is a great one to come along to on your own and meet a few new people.

Links

• Meetup start point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/WZhcK8yYd7HqgEev9
• Festival program: https://firelight.melbourne.vic.gov.au/program/
• Event map: https://firelight.melbourne.vic.gov.au/map/
• Visitor info: https://firelight.melbourne.vic.gov.au/visitor-info/

Timeline

• 6:00pm – Meet at the Cow Up a Tree sculpture and say hello
  6:15pm – Start exploring the festival together
• 9:00pm – Meetup ends (stay on longer if you wish — the festival runs until 10pm)

Cost
Firelight Festival is free and doesn't require bookings. The only thing you'll need money for is food and drinks, so bring some cash or a card if you'd like to eat and drink along the way.

Transport
The festival is at Docklands on Harbour Esplanade. The City of Melbourne notes trams on routes 11, 30, 35, 48 and 86 service the area, and that due to road closures some trams along Harbour Esplanade will stop at Flinders West from 3.30pm. Southern Cross Station is a short walk away across the Spencer Street/Bourke Street footbridge.

Heads up: there's an AFL game at Marvel Stadium on Sunday 5 July, so the festival site warns of increased traffic and limited parking. Public transport is the easy option — allow extra travel time and plan ahead.

Bring

• Warm layers — it's a winter night outdoors
• An umbrella, just in case (the festival runs rain, hail or shine)
• Cash or card for food and drinks
• Comfy shoes for plenty of walking

Expect

• Vibe: festive, lively and atmospheric
• Pace: easy wandering, lots of stopping to look
• Group style: relaxed and social, dip in and out as you like

Important notes

• Firelight goes ahead rain, hail or shine, so rug up.
• The festival site can get busy and noisy, so please keep an eye on the group and look after yourself in the crowds.
• If your plans change, please update your RSVP so the numbers stay clear for everyone meeting up.