Ok, so it’s fairly cold at the moment, and although there is the tendency to hibernate, stay indoors and binge on the next Netflix series on demand, there is actually a heap Perth has on the boiler in the colder months. We’re talking about a full-blown winter festival, ice skating rink and even a winter beach festival. We’re not saying you get rid of your Netflix account, but it’s just all about balance. So we’ve put together a list of winter festivals in Perth this year which will certainly entice you outside the house!
Winter Village Festival
- Dates: 28 May – 15 September
- Location: Ice Cream Factory, Northbridge.
Starting off strong, this brand new winter village has got you covered and is a perfect option for the entire family this winter. The City of Perth has really put on a show with a dine-in igloo experience complete with armchairs and mood lighting, a full-blown ice rink and a ‘snow shower’ daily at 12 pm, 3 pm, 6 pm and 9 pm. The igloos have been the star of the show so far and start from $49 per person and are available for groups of 2-5 people.
Scarbrough Sunset Market – Winter Edition
- Dates: every Saturday until October
- Location: Scarborough Beach
You heard right. Scarborough summer markets were so popular, they’ve continued the festivities into the winter months, too. Every Saturday until 30 October, over 50 food trucks will line the coast and DJ’s will also be on hand to keep you warm. Honestly, with our mild winters, a night on the coast is totally doable, especially thanks to the lack of sea breeze in the winter. Bring the kids or your date and stroll along the boulevard (it’s a great people-watching location and just remember to bring a jumper).
Perth By Light Festival
- Dates: July 3rd – July 24th
- Location: City of Perth
Lighting up the Perth CBD, the Perth by Light Festival will be showcasing some pretty mind-bending designs. Our top picks include: heading down to the Supreme Court Garden to look up to marvel at the incredible hanging installations by Janet Echelman or, visiting the Light Labyrinth at James Street Amphitheatre to try and escape a vibrant kaleidoscope of colour.
The Scandinavian Film Festival
- Dates: July 14th – August 4th
- Location: Luna Leederville, Luna on SX
So we know so far we’ve suggested outdoor activities, although here is your answer if you want to remain indoors, but still get your dose of culture. Screening at Palace and Luna Cinemas this July, the best in Nordic cinema will be up for grabs and will feature short films from a variety of countries such as Denmark, Finland, Norway and even the Faroe Islands. Our pick here is Wildland, a film set in Denmark’s underbelly crime syndicate.
Perth Observatory Winter Night Tours
- Dates: June – August
- Location: Perth Observatory
If you have ever wanted to know more about the stars above, the team at the Perth Observatory are passionate volunteers willing to show you the ropes. Winter presents the perfect chance for cold nights to gaze into the southern skies. $20 will give you the chance to try your hand at astrology, use a telescope and secure that vital hot chocolate to keep you warm.
Fremantle Festival: 10 Nights in Port
- Dates: 15th July – 25th July
- Location: various locations in Fremantle
Culture overload hits Fremantle this July with a heap of events, music, dance and rituals to keep you entertained (and warm). Soak and steam is an outdoor elemental experience where you’ll be invited to get into a hot tub, and you guessed it, soak. Another highlight of this festival is the Off Chops performance. What is Off Chops? It’s actually a West Aussie production company where you’ll be greeted with heaps of comedy, high flying acrobatics and ridiculous group dancing routines!
S&J Cocktail Trail
- Dates: rest of the winter months
- Location: various locations in Perth CBD
For those that appreciate the finer things in life, this one is for you. Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Perth, the team at Sneaker & Jeans have your night sorted. You’ll bar hop 4 bars that start at Hadiqa before moving onto The Flour Factory, Varnish on King and finishing at Caballitos. Setting you back $70, this will include 4 paired cocktails at each venue and food to match (not bad if you ask us).
Maali Festival
- Dates: 9th – 10th July
- Location: Perth State Theatre
Bringing it home strong is the Maali Festival situated right in the middle of NAIDOC week and celebrating our first nations people. In the act of gathering with a huge focus on community, this arts festival incorporates traditional dance, a play titled Bindjareb Pinjarra and music performances by Electric Fields.
And there we have it. Although it’s cold and sometimes hard to stop Netflix from playing the next episode automatically, there really is a heap you can get involved in outside the house. As always, if some of the events above are ones you want to visit as a larger group, we can help you with the transport. Our mini-vans are perfect for this sort of thing and allow you to ditch the designated driver!