White Night will return to Geelong in October this year, with tens of thousands of locals and visitors expected to attend the event and provide a significant boost to tourism businesses.
After being cancelled in 2021 due to lockdowns, the state government announced Friday the popular event would return on October 8.
The event, organised by the state government through Visit Victoria, was first held in Geelong in 2018.
It attracted 70,000 visitors to Geelong and injected $6.1 million into the region.
Supported by funding from Major Events Fund, the state government is planning an “extra special” event following its cancellation last year.
The program, directed by Joseph O’Farrell, will feature artists from the categories of installation, visual art, lighting, audio-visual, projection, film, music and performance.
The theme will be ‘everything on the land is reflected in the sky’.
Geelong MP Christine Couzens said the event’s return would bring enormous benefit to Geelong businesses.
“We’re excited to stage White Night in Geelong again and proud of the energy it brings to the community and the major benefits it provides to hospitality businesses, hotels and retailers in the city,” she said.
This year it is expected thousands of visitors will once again visit Geelong to see the city transformed through illumination with a program that celebrates the city’s reputation for design and its rich music scene.
South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman said the event would complement the return of the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach in 2022.
“Regional major events are back in a big way with Geelong and the Surf Coast welcoming White Night and the Rip Curl Pro back to the calendar this year, which will draw thousands of visitors into the region,” he said.
