Solstice Celebration

Celebrate the winter solstice with a night of free festivities with Fed Square's annual program, The Light in Winter.

Held on the Saturday night closest to the true winter solstice, the Solstice Celebration brings together more than twenty of Melbourne’s culturally diverse communities with a night of music, performance and food. Participate in a procession of a thousand handheld lights, and marvel at the lanterns made by school children, as the Square gives off the warm winter smells of fire and hot chocolate, and music from around the world takes the edge off the cold.

Watch a cross-cultural dance performance by a new project bringing together artist and community performers, Square of Light.

Enjoy an en-masse choir spectacle as they sing a new Anthem for Australia that will bring the Bruce Ramus' Helix Tree to life with a unique and vivid light display.

Enjoy a new musical-fusion ensemble, The Gift of Light Orchestra which will be playing throughout the evening. You will also have the opportunity to and interact with light installations from City of Greater Dandenong’s Nocturnal.

Where: The Square
When: Saturday 22 June, 5pm - 8pm
Price: Free

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Square of Light

As part of a three year project, emerging from The Light in Winter, Square of Light brings together artists and community performers from more than twenty cultures on the subject of race and power.

Responding to the question: ‘When does the light turn on?’ participants explore moments of cultural understanding and awareness through music, performance and film. Change Media have created a series of screen moments that capture the voices, faces and gestures of contemporary Australians, while a team of choreographers and directors are developing a series of new multi-layered performances for the Solstice Celebration. 

Anthem

Melbourne singer and composer, Lou Bennett, currently seen around Australia and the world as she performs with the sensational Black Arm Band, has been commissioned to write an Anthem for Singing up the Helix Tree.

Over the last three months, Lou has worked with The Light in Winter family to discuss ideas of voice, power and the things that connect us to this country. The end result will be an Anthem to be sung by choirs throughout the month. Hear the Anthem performed by Lou Bennett and a massed choir of participating communities on the night of the Solstice Celebration.