Firelight Festival about to warm up winter

Officially launching the festival today, City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp said this year's event promises to be bigger and better than 2017, with a range of incredibly fiery performances, roving entertainment and some of the best food Melbourne has to offer.

"What better way to start this weekend than at the 2018 Firelight Festival which will see Docklands transformed into an amazing fiery playground from 5pm on Friday," the Lord Mayor said.

"After the hugely successful 2017 festival, this year's event will be bigger than ever, with something on offer to keep everyone entertained.

"Not only do we have more than 40 amazing performers and musicians, there will also be nightly pyrotechnics, a huge assortment of food trucks and delicious dishes as well as fire jets, flame drums, fire breathers and more."

Alongside nightly fireworks, three giant wooden sculptures will be cast adrift on Victoria Harbour and set ablaze, with each representing a different fiery theme. Created by Melbourne-based artist Christian Patton, the sculptures will represent a sun dial, hand and sun god.

Fire breathers and fire twirlers will provide roving entertainment, alongside live music from a punked-out New Orleans brass band, jazz performers, Gypsy beats and one-man band Uptown Brown.

Chair of the Prosperous City portfolio, Councillor Kevin Louey said the festival was part of the City of Melbourne's annual Winter Campaign to bring more people into the city.

"We know that foot traffic during the winter months drops by 15 per cent in the city. The 2018 Firelight Festival is all about encouraging people to get out and enjoy just some of what our great city offers and help support some of Docklands diverse traders," Cr Louey said. 

Firelight Festival Creative Director Gill Minervini said nobody does winter like Melbourne, with no two nights of this year's festival to be the same.

"Firelight Festival celebrates Melbourne's winter and is a chance to rug up and get amongst a brilliantly eclectic range of musicians, performers and art," Ms Minervini said.

"You don't want to miss this, with bespoke performances, fireworks and the burning of giant sculptures on the water."

To find out more about the 2018 Docklands Firelight Festival, or the Winter Campaign, visit City of Melbourne What's On website.