Frankston will host 10 days of arts, culture, sustainability events and night-time installations when South Side Festival returns in May.
The festival will run from 8 to 17 May, with events planned across the city, including exhibitions, workshops, comedy, visual arts, performances and free public installations.
Frankston City Council says the festival forms part of the city’s major events calendar and is intended to draw visitors into Frankston while supporting its creative arts and cultural sectors.
Neon Fields Back At Beauty Park
One of the main public attractions will be the return of Neon Fields at Beauty Park.
The free immersive installation will run from Friday 8 May to Sunday 10 May, starting at 5pm each night.
This year’s display will include the new Stargate monolith, along with existing features from previous Neon Fields installations.
Volter International will also use the Frankston event to debut two new collections, The Unicorn Playground and Australian Animals.
Food trucks and a Soundlounge bar zone will also operate as part of the evening program.
Frankston City Mayor Sue Baker said the festival was aimed at encouraging people to try something new.
South Side Festival is a wonderful opportunity to try something for the first time, learn something new or discover a field of interest that you may not have previously encountered.
Cr Baker said events such as South Side Festival contributed to Frankston’s arts profile.
Events like South Side Festival strengthen our reputation as a vibrant creative arts destination, highlighted by our open-air street art gallery, sculpture portfolio and our incredible Frankston Arts Centre.
Volter International Creative Director Carla O’Brien said this year’s Beauty Park display would include the group’s largest number of neon works at the site.
Volter International is thrilled to be lighting up Beauty Park again this year with our largest number of neons yet to interact and take photos with.
Sustainability And Fashion Events Included
Sustainability will be part of this year’s program, with several events focused on clothing, reuse and wearable art.
The festival will include The Great South Side Women’s Clothing Exchange, giving attendees the opportunity to trade or find clothing rather than buying new items.
Stylist Jenna Flood will also present a talk on slow fashion, a movement focused on reducing waste and extending the life of clothing.
The program will also feature A Wearable Canvas, an exhibition presented by the Australian Wearable Art Festival.
The exhibition, travelling from the Sunshine Coast, will showcase pieces from previous runway shows in a gallery setting.
Comedy, Cold Water And Creeklines
Other events in the program include South Side Sea Soak, where participants will take part in a cold-water plunge.
The festival will also feature Creeklines, an immersive experience focused on Sweetwater Creek and its local significance.
At Cube 37 at the Frankston Arts Centre, Human Love Quest will bring a live comedy dating-show format to the festival.
The concept began at the Brunswick Ballroom and is described as a live alternative to online dating, using in-person interaction as part of the performance.
Final Days For Street Art Studio
South Side Festival will also coincide with the closing days of the Street Art Studio at Bayside Shopping Centre.
The studio was created as part of this year’s Street Art Festival, with members of the public able to place final bids on artworks through a silent auction.
The space will close on Saturday 16 May, the second-last day of South Side Festival.
The full South Side Festival program, including event bookings and ticket information, is available through the festival website.
