Immersive experiences, live music and ice skating among Wagga Wagga’s Festival of W offerings

Festival of W has dialled up winter in Wagga Wagga with thousands of festival-goers embracing the cooler weather to take part in the 2023 event.

More than 5000 locals and visitors have experienced Wagga Wagga’s Festival of W offerings since it launched last Saturday 1st July with the 16-day festival continuing today and delivering more programmed events, including a stage on Baylis Street with live music from local and national artists, additional street food vendors, an illuminated roving performance, ice skating and live ice carving.

Destination and Events Coordinator Kimberly Parker encourages everyone who might not have experienced the festival, or who want to come back for a repeat visit, to come down to the Wollundry Lagoon precinct to take in the festival atmosphere.

Parker enthused "It has been amazing to see so many people out and about on a chilly winter's day and night in Wagga Wagga enjoying the festival.

"To date, we have had thousands of festival-goers come through to experience the event, with 30% of attendees coming from out of region or extending their stay to go to the festival.

"You have until 16th July to experience Festival of W, so if you haven't been down yet - there's still time."

Today will see live music by national artists Sycco, Hatchie and Tom Snowdon, plus a local lineup of DJ Vino and Vinyl and Social Afterparty. There are also more tasty winter food offerings, an impressive, illuminated roving performance and live ice carving.

The festival's dining hub, House of FoW, offers visitors a place to sit inside with heaters enjoying live music by local artists, or outside by fire buckets.

House of FoW is open from Wednesday to Sunday during the festival, with lunch sessions available between Friday to Sundays and dinner offerings from Wednesday to Saturday.

'Lightvision', the large-scale light and sound show in the Wollundry Lagoon precinct, and Skate Wagga Wagga, a pop-up ice rink in the Victory Memorial Gardens, have both proven very popular, and a not-to-be-missed part of the festival.

Parker adds "'Lightvision' illuminates the festival from 5.30pm each evening, and you can ice skate between 9am and 9pm each day of the festival too.

"There's also a great projection by local artist Alice Peacock on the façade of the Museum's Historic Council Chambers, and a soundscape piece inspired by our Wiradjuri culture on the boardwalk over Wollundry Lagoon – both are on each day as well.

"There's so much to experience and we encourage people to visit our Visit Wagga Wagga website or check our socials to keep up-to-date with what's happening across the festival."

8th July Additional Programming

• The FoW Show from 4pm to 9pm - a live music event in Baylis Street, overlooking the Wollundry Lagoon - headlined by Australian artists Sycco, Hatchie and Tom Snowdon, with Wagga Wagga band Social Afterparty opening the main stage and DJ Vino and Vinyl playing between sets.

• Menagerie from 5.30pm in the Victory Memorial Gardens - a large-scale roving performance where kids dress up in colourful costumes and follow a six-metre-tall illuminated giant puppet.

• Live ice carving from 6pm in the grassed area at Burns Way (near House of FoW) - watch the amazing ice carving take shape, then snap a photo of the creation before it melts.

• Street food vendors from 4pm to 9pm in Burns Way - offering smoked meats, dumplings, loaded fries, desserts, mulled wine, gin cocktails. These offerings are in addition to food and drinks being served in House of FoW.

For Skate Wagga Wagga ice skating tickets and the full Festival of W lineup go to visitwagga.com/festival-of-w