White Night 2016: C&G’s Top Picks

Local Community

White Night is one of Melbourne’s biggest cultural events of the year, celebrating the city’s history and character through light, film, music and art. The idea stemmed from ‘Nuit Blanche’, originally conceived in Paris in 2002. Since then, more than 20 cities have adopted the one-night festival as an opportunity to support local artists and bring contemporary entertainment to the masses. The spectacles will draw large crowds, with over 500,000 people expected to attend from 7pm on Sat Feb 20 to 7am on Sun Feb 21. And while this free festival has something for everyone, C&G recommends reading up on the highlights to make the most of your night. 


‘The Greatest Show on Earth’

VicHealth presents the Circus Circus Program, a 12-hour line up of circus fun at the Melbourne Museum Plaza. Circus Oz and the Women’s Circus join forces with youth talent and artists from the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA), to deliver an epic show featuring acrobatics, performance arts and physically demanding feats of daring.

‘Aqua Vitae’

Melbourne Water presents a laser, light and water show brought to life by the sounds of composer Russel Goldsmith. The show is best observed from the south bank of the Yarra, where the festival organisers recommend congregating between Boathouse Drive and Capital City Trail.

Federation²’

Last year Flinders Street Station acted as the central attraction for White Night, but this year the focus has shifted to Federation Square. Internationally acclaimed indigenous artist Reko Rennie turns Melbourne’s meeting place into an ‘electric canvas,’ using build-mapping and light projection technologies to document a narrative onto Fed Square’s multitude of geometric surfaces.

‘White Wash’

Filmmaker Chase Burns grew up in the ‘burbs before moving to Phillip Island to indulge his love of nature, in particularly, a love of all things oceanic. Experience realistic renders of waves crashing against the buildings, near the corner of Little Bourke and Swanston. White Wash will pose questions about rising sea levels and nature’s ability to bring devastation to the civilised world. 

‘Neon Laneway’

Melbourne’s top urban aerosol artists collaborate with six performance artists to fuse street art and contemporary dance, lighting up the iconic Rutledge Lane. Contemporary Australian hip-hop will provide a soundtrack for the vibrant performances - Neon Laneway is not to be missed!

Other highlights include ACMI’s screening of Tracey Moffatt’s ‘Night Cries’, a live performance from singer/songwriter Thelma Plumm, and ‘The Making of Midnight Oil’ exhibition at the Arts Centre Melbourne. In addition, there will be 59 food trucks stationed across the city, so White Night is set to be a foodie’s dream.

There are over 100 events scheduled for Saturday night, so view the full program to plan your festival, or choose from one of eight trails for a curated experience.