Queenscliff Victoria

Sat 22 June, 2024

The cool, dark, edge of winter is coming!

 

Venture into the heart of winter’s darkness at Nightide, Queenscliff’s most enigmatic, FREE solstice celebration. This June 22, from 5 PM to 9 PM, the Searoad Ferries terminal transforms into a realm where fire dances with ice and the night air vibrates with the pulse of primal beats.

Tempt fate with saunas and ice baths, revel under the burst of fireworks, and gather round the bonfire. Indulge in the night’s offerings with unexpected treats and drinks, and let the eclectic sounds of live music from local performers envelop you.

Upgrade your Nightide experience with a few of the available, ticketed events including; “AFTERDARK”  an exclusive VIP party inside the Queenslciff Ferry Terminal, taste the unexpected at “DECADENCE” where TARRA Queenscliff is transformed into a dessert restaurant, or finally, challenge the cold in the “FROSTBITE” Solstice Swim designed for both serious and silly swimmers.

Nightide is your portal to the extraordinary—embrace the darkness.

Nightide ProgramDownload Schedule & Map
Free Event

Nightide Solstice Festival

- Live Music
- Fireworks
- Pop Up Bars
- Food Trucks
- Roving entertainers
FREE EVENT

Upgrade your nightide with these ticketed events!

$89 Per Person

Afterdark

Exclusive VIP Party
SOLD OUT

DECADENCE

DESSERT RESTAURANT
SOLD OUT

FROSTBITE

A Solstice Swim

NIGHTIDE PROGRAM

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Entertainment
Food & Drink
Activations
  • Sammy on Percussion
    Feel the pulse with Sammy’s electrifying percussion, from thunderous drum solos to hypnotic rhythms, beating the heart of Nightide’s soundscape.
    Entertainment
  • The Sunbears
    Watch The SunBears set Nightide ablaze with their scorching mix of blues, rock, and soul, transforming each show into a volcanic affair.
    Entertainment
  • Sunday Lemonade
    Dive into the quirky love story of indie folk's rom-com darlings, Sunday Lemonade, as they stitch narratives and camaraderie into every captivating performance
    Entertainment
  • Lee Abrahamsen
    Opera star Lee Abrahamsen bewitches the evening with her ethereal voice, weaving through classics and contemporary opera gems alike.
    Entertainment
  • Uptown Brown
    Singing gentleman-adventurer performing a roving program of primitive 1920s-30s jazz and blues. This roving one man band is sure to keep the masses entertained.
    Entertainment
  • Snow Queen
    Gliding through festival grounds, the Snow Queens cast a frosty spell, their dazzling presence sprinkling magic and mystery amongst the crowd.
    Entertainment
  • Winter Hula Hoopers
    Nightide’s Hula Hoopers spin a hypnotic dance, their vibrant hoops swirling in mesmerizing patterns that enchant and capture the eyes of beholders.
    Entertainment
  • Fire Twirlers
    Light up your solstice with Fire Twirlers, whose fiery dances cast a warm, entrancing glow across the night's canvas.
    Entertainment
  • El Barquero
    El Barquero dishes out zesty Mexican street fare and frosty margaritas, injecting a lively, festive pulse into Nightide.
    Food & Drink
  • Pop up bars
    Pop Up Bars, where the local brews, wines, and spirits mingle perfectly with the spirited vibe of the night.
    Food & Drink
  • Mulled Wine & Cider Bar
    Cozy up at our Mulled Wine & Cider Bar, where sweetly spiced concoctions warm the soul and embody the winter’s essence.
    Food & Drink
  • Fugazi Pizza
    Fugazi Pizza slings ambitious, wood-fired wonders, their pizzas bursting with flavour, showcasing artisanal prowess under the evening starry sky.
    Food & Drink
  • Workers BBQ
    Bask in the smoky delights of Workers BBQ, where every bite promises a deep dive into indulgence, smoked to perfection.
    Food & Drink
  • Gypsy's Lunchbox
    Gypsy's Lunchbox flips gourmet burgers and American-style BBQ, delivering a farm-to-festival thrill that's as fresh as the night air.
    Food & Drink
  • Rockin' Donuts
    Step back in time with our 50’s themed van at Nightide, serving irresistible donuts alongside nostalgic shakes and icy sips.
    Food & Drink
  • Rockin' Twisties
    Nothing better on a cool night then a warm, crispy, delicious twisted potato. Always a fan favourite at an event!
    Food & Drink
  • Timboon Ice Cream
    What's cooler than being cool? Ice Cold! Timboon Ice cream delivering the frosty treats all night, embracing the cole bite of the solstice.
    Food & Drink
  • Sausage Sizzle
    Feast on a true Aussie staple at the Sausage Sizzle, where community groups serve up sizzling sausages in bread, amplifying Nightide’s communal charm.
    Food & Drink
  • Peninsula Hot Springs Barrels
    The award winning Peninsula Hot Springs is bringing their Barrel Bathing experience to Nightide, with water straight from the springs on the Mornington Peninsula!
  • Cold + Conscious
    Delve into the chill with Cold + Conscious’s portable ice baths, fostering well-being and a splash of awakening at Nightide.
    Activation
  • Hello Sauna
    Melt away the evening in Hello Sauna’s mobile wood-fired sanctuaries, offering a steamy reprieve with views that soothe the soul.
    Activation
  • Fireworks
    Behold as Nightide’s sky ignites in a spectacle of fireworks, painting the solstice night in bursts of awe-inspiring colour.
    Activation
  • Tarot Reader
    Peer into the mystical at our Tarot Reader Gypsy Wagon, where visions of your solstice journey are revealed amidst flickering candlelight.
    Activation
  • Bonfires
    Converge around the bonfire, where tales and warmth intermingle with the crisp air, knitting together the spirit of community under the stars.
    Activation

I would absolutely recommend it and am very grateful to the organisers for making it a free event. It was a lovely night.

Nightide review, 2023

Please bring this back next year! Would love to see more of this on the Bellarine!

NIghtide review 2023

Holding an event during this time is a great way to break up the year, reset the mind and bring the community together to acknowledge the significance of the winter solstice.

Nightide review 2023

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I Park?

There is free parking at the Queenscliff Harbour, Queenscliff Foreshore Reserve and many side streets near the event.

What time is the event?

Nightide commences at 5pm and finishes at 9pm.

What time and where are the fireworks?

The fireworks are at 7.30pm and will be launched off the top of the ferry which will be positioned just off the beach near the ferry terminal.  The fireworks can be viewed around the Queenscliff foreshore and South Pier.

If I use the ice baths and saunas where can I change?

There will be portable showers and toilets near the sauna and ice baths.

Can I go into the ferry terminal?

The ferry terminal entry is for ticket holders only to the following ticketed events –  Decadence Dessert Bar click here and the “Official” VIP, Nightide Party – Afterdark  click here

Is the event BYO?

We do not allow BYO alcohol on the premises, however there will be plenty of options to purchase drinks at the many bars.

What activities are free?

Live music, roving entertainers, ice baths, sauna, fireworks, bonfires.

What can i eat?

There will be a variety of food trucks, stands and a community BBQ

What paid activations should you expect?

Food trucks & stalls, pop up bars, mulled wine, tarot readings, flash tattooist and  other stalls will be selling items and services on the night.  Most stalls will accept card payments.  There are no ATM facilities available.

What if the weather is inclement?

The show will go on in a tru “Winter Solstice” fashion. The large marquee for the live music acts and the canopy of the ferry terminal will offer shelter.  For those who wish to embrace the rain there will surely be a rain dance should heavy rain occur.

Is it accessible?

Yes, we have full accessibility with ramps throughout the festival. Please be aware that accessible bathrooms are located within the main Searoad Ferries terminal

Nightide Shuttle Bus

Cottage by the Sea will be operating a shuttle bus back and forth between Pt Lonsdale and the Queenscliff Harbour from 5pm – 9pm.

First departure is from Pt Lonsdale Roundabout/BIG4 Ingenia Queenscliff at 5pm and last departure from the Queenscliff Harbour at 9pm. The shuttle bus will run at least every 30 minutes with pickup and drop off at the bus stops along the B110. Gold coin donation.

Your donation will help Cottage by the Sea offer inspiration, fun and opportunity to more children on their life-changing programs.

have more questions? contact us!

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