Attracting tourists with local light-up

Melbourne and Ballarat will shine more brightly than ever next year, with new projections, more live music and some old crowd favourites expected to draw higher numbers to the cities.

“This program will recapture the imagination of Ballarat and deliver a real boost to local tourism,” said member for Buninyong, Geoff Howard.

Almost 600,000 people took to the streets of Melbourne for this year’s event and more than 40,000 flocked to Ballarat to witness the historic event in regional Victoria, boosting local businesses and creating jobs.

Minister for tourism and major events John Eren launched the programs for White Night 2018 in Melbourne and Ballarat, which will deliver a ‘feast for the senses’ right through the night.

Celebrated producer David Atkins OAM has worked with some of the best creative minds to curate the programs.

Melbourne’s theme is designed to make people question and dream. The Serpent Mother, fresh from Burning Man, will create a world of magic and chaos, while Little Bourke street will become a snowy wonderland to the backdrop of a 12-hour music marathon.

In Ballarat, the beauty and character of the Australian bush will take centre stage with the Ghosts of Eureka street art, Dreamscape, Techtonic Grounds, the Magic Lantern Tree and Post-Colonial Women in the Landscape.

Overhead skyline drone imaging will be used to create Ballarat from Above, while the Town Hall and Craig’s Royal Hotel projections will bathe the city in colourful lights.

White Night Melbourne will take place on Saturday February 17 2018, before returning to Ballarat on Saturday March 17 2018.