Winterheat Festival Newcastle is back, and this year it's set to be hotter than ever! Mark your calendars for a spectacular celebration as Winterheat returns to light up Pacific Park, Newcastle, in its grand 20th year.
A Festival with History and Heart
Winterheat began in 2004 as a small, community-focused event aimed at bringing warmth to an outdoor winter happening. The event was held at Civic Park, Newcastle, produced by Newcastle L!vesites.
L!vesites was a joint initiative of Newcastle Council & then HDC; their aim was to bring people into the heart of Newcastle by coordinating an annual calendar of events around key locations in the city.
One of these events - & definitely the most enduringly successful - is the Winterheat Festival. This event was held almost every year from 2004 up until its most recent iteration in 2018 & has grown each year in size and spectacle.
After a brief hiatus due to a number of factors including COVID-19, the event’s return in 2024 makes Winterheat one of Newcastle's longest-running festivals, Winterheat 2024 promises to honour its rich history while embracing new and exciting elements that will captivate attendees of all ages.
The ethos behind the event when it was first established, which can be summarised in this statement by its inaugural Director, Michael Cohen, still rings abundantly true today;
‘Temporary public arts projects can invoke a shift in the popular memory of public places and so create a presence that lasts well beyond its actual occupation of the site.’
The transformative power that you can get by engaging people in this kind of experience creates other benefits, not only developing the cultural sector but also boosting local businesses by increased visitation to the city and improving community safety by creating the sense of a peopled city.’
This Year’s Theme: Flames, Fire, and Neon Delight
Winterheat over the years has become a beloved fixture in the city's event calendar, drawing crowds of up to 27,000 people at its peak!
The event is a large scale curated spectacle built around fires & fire displays alongside 100% local food & beverage, amazing creative displays & immersive installations, free lantern workshops & huge community lantern parade, a free kids area & sideshow, community participation activations & workshops, roving & pop up performances plus a diverse program of 100% local music & performances across numerous stages & performance areas inc. 2 stages, silent disco zone, fire performance area & more.
This year to celebrate the event’s long history in our city, we are bringing the event into the modern day with the addition of neon lights, LED panel displays, projections & more as a vivid accompaniment to the traditional element of fire.
Get ready to immerse yourself in a world of vibrant neon lights, mesmerising fire sculptures, and spectacular performances.
We're also partnering with Curious Legends to bring their awe-inspiring "Luminous Creatures" show to Winterheat, complete with community lantern workshops and a dazzling parade featuring giant puppets.
We're thrilled to rekindle the magic with an event that's bursting with excitement - bolder, brighter, and bigger than ever!
What to Expect at Winterheat 2024
Winterheat 2024 is packed with thrilling activities and attractions, ensuring there's something for everyone. Here are just a few highlights:
Fires! Fire sculptures, fire barrels, fire pits, fire tables, fire performances & more ! Winter warmth across the whole event!
Two Performance Stages: Enjoy live music, DJs, opera, cabaret, comedy, and more.
WinterBeats Silent Disco: Dance the night away in our unique silent disco experience.
Fun Zone: Fun and entertainment for the little & big ones alike, vintage side shows, bouncy stuff, games & play, face painting, texta tatts - all 100% free!.
“H’Eat Street”: A neon themed vibey pop-up food alley with outdoor dining & style! Featuring a range of delicious options from a selection of all local vendors & a few little fun bits such as a portable sushi train and a toasted marshmallow cart.
Immersive Installations & Activations: Explore interactive art installations and enjoy roving performers and fire artists.
Free Drum & Dance Workshops: Get that body moving with free workshops for all ages. From an African drumming experience with over 100 drums to quirky line dancing lessons, all are welcome.
Bicycle Karaoke: Sing your heart out with this quirky, fun activity.
Lantern Workshops & Giant Puppet Parade: Join the community in creating beautiful lanterns and participating in a magical parade & show featuring the GIGANTIC puppets of local creators Curious Legends.
The Festival’s Legacy and Future
The team behind the 2024 re-kindling of Winterheat (pun intended) involves two of the main driving forces behind the event's continuous success who have in one way or another been involved in the organisation of every single iteration of the festival since 2004. Event Director Zackari Watt from Fingers Crossed Creative Ltd and the person behind the fire curation at every event since the beginning, Gererd Wilson of Wiltech PA Systems. Their involvement over the years has been instrumental in transforming Winterheat into the spectacular event it is today.
Into the Future - A City-wide Annual Winter Awakening!
This year the goal is to activate the expansion of the event into a city wide program of pop-up activations & installations throughout Newcastle to spread the vibes & winter warmth of Winterheat across the city.
The 2024 winter calendar includes a number of pop-up “Streets Alive” activation events & pop up installations around the city throughout the month of July.
Looking forward, the aim is to ultimately grow & transform the festival into an electrifying city-wide fire & light themed extravaganza & establish Winterheat as not only the major single evening fire event that has been so popular over the years, but into a large-scale annual winter event that radiates joy and warmth across every corner of the city.
A Celebration for the Whole Community
Winterheat is more than just an event; it's a celebration of our vibrant community. This family-friendly festival is all about bringing people together to enjoy the best sights, sounds, and tastes Newcastle has to offer. Whether you're a long-time resident or a visitor, you'll find something to love at Winterheat.
Local, Local, Local!
Winterheat prides itself on being produced by & for the people of Newcastle & the Hunter. A major commitment of the producing team is to engage 100% local vendors, artists, service providers & businesses! We also engage local area schools & kids groups with free workshops in the lead up to each event AND the whole event is FREE! A truly accessible Newcastle community event by & for the local community.
Join Us at Pacific Park
This year, Pacific Park is the perfect venue, providing ample space for all the exciting features without the need to cross any roads. It's easily accessible, ensuring everyone can join in the fun safely.
Stay Tuned for More Announcements
We're just getting started! Keep an eye out for more updates and announcements as we count down to the hottest Winterheat yet.
Proudly presented by City of Newcastle SBR Program, Newcastle BIA, Curious Legends, & Fingers Crossed Creative Ltd.
Don't miss out on this incredible celebration of 20 years of Winterheat. Share the excitement with your friends and family, and let's make Winterheat 2024 an unforgettable experience for everyone!
See you at Winterheat 2024 – where we light up Newcastle like never before!
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