Melville Midwinter

Welcome to the most enchanting arts celebration of the winter solstice and an opportunity to mark the change of seasons. Featuring live performances of song, dance, visual art, spoken word and puppetry at the famous Dyoondalup Point Walter, this annual celebration asks you to pause, stop and begin again; reflect on the year that’s been and the year to come.

5.00pm: Arrive and be welcomed to the grounds of Dyoondalup Point Walter with a personal Acknowledgement of Country by the fire, before exploring the foreshore at your own pace, embracing the atmosphere of roving performers, enjoying the delicious winter spread food and hot drinks as the sun goes down and you await the lanterns of the night.

6.00pm: Make your way up to the hill and find performances that will capture the imagination of children and adults alike. With a musical line-up featuring Jet Kye Chong and fellow percussionist Euphina Yap, an installation sound work by Jake Webb and Lyndon Blue, the compositions of Julia Wallace, as well as performances from Brooke Leeder and Dancers, and first time performers, recent graduates from the Stories under the Stars workshops, facilitated especially for the event by City Libraries and the Storytellers Guild of WA.

Warm yourself by a fire, toast marshmallows, and be mesmerised by story and shadow puppetry by Rickeeta Walley as well as up-close puppet work from Tessa Laing.

7.00pm: Toward the end of the night, witness a grand finale from atmospheric band and jazz ensemble, Vanishing Island Group, with their never-before-heard music composed for the event, alongside poet and Elder Gerrard Shaw.

7.30pm: As a final coming together of community, you’re invited to plunge into the icy waters of the Swan River to renew your energy and inspire a lively year to come.