Community

Get your skates on: Festival of W details announced

Published: 01 Jun 2022 10:57am

Council today announced details for the city’s new-look winter festival, the Festival of W, which will run for two weeks over the winter school holidays.

The 2022 Festival of W program will be held from 2–17 July in the city centre and feature a host of exciting installations, musicians, pop-up food and drink vendors and the return of the popular ice rink.

People skating on an outdoor ice rink during the evening. — **SAVE THE DATE:** The hugely popular ice rink will be returning for the Festival of W; Wagga Wagga’s new, two-week winter festival, running from 2–17 July in the city centre.

Events Officer Emma Corbett said she was excited to expand the winter festival from a one-night event into a two-week festival for the community and visitors to the city.

“We’re really looking forward to bringing the community together and supporting the local creative, hospitality and event industries during what is typically a quieter time of year,” Ms Corbett said.

“We have a host of offerings running continuously over the two weeks, such as the ice rink, creative lighting installations, and pop-up food and drink vendors.

“The ice rink is returning in a larger format, and will be the only ticketed part of the festival, operating every day over the two week period.”

Celebrations for the Festival of W will launch on Saturday 2 July from 4pm – 9pm with an evening of live music, a sumptuous range of food and drink offerings, roving performers and entertainment in the Victory Memorial Gardens and Civic Centre Precinct.

“There will be lots to see and do, delicious food and drinks to enjoy, and plenty of memorable moments,” Ms Corbett said.

A pink and black striped large scale lighting and sound installation — **OTHER-WORLDLY:** *Airship Orchestra* is described by its creators, multi-award-winning art and technology studio ENESS, as 'a mystical tribe of other-worldly characters beamed from the night stars, skin streaked with galaxy and voices like stardust.'

A new offering in this year’s festival will be Airship Orchestra, an immersive, large scale lighting and sound installation, which will extend over a 500 square metre area within the Civic Centre forecourt.

Mia Wray, a Triple J favourite who will be touring with Vance Joy’s The Long Way Home Tour, will be stopping off in the city to perform on the main stage, along with homegrown talents Sweet Citrus and Parklands. Talented DJ Brittany De Marco, will light up the steps of the Historic Council Chambers.

A woman ordering from a food van — **VENDORS NEEDED:** If you're in the food or drink business, and would like to trade at the Festival of W, please get in touch with Council.

Council is still keen to hear from food and drink vendors and local businesses interested in trading at the festival over the two week period.

“Festival of W is an ideal opportunity for local vendors and businesses to get involved and come up with an offering that festival goers will enjoy,” Ms Corbett said.

“Whether you want to participate on a single day, or over the entire festival period, we’d love to hear from you.”

Food vendors and local businesses interested in being part of Festival of W can find more details at visitwagga.com/eoi

For more information and festival updates, go to visitwagga.com/fow