White Night

Coral Drouyn’s take on Melbourne’s White Night Festival, being held on Friday February 20th 2015 - tomorrow.

Wow… modelled on Paris’s famous “Nuit Blanche”, Melbourne’s White Night Arts festival is twelve hours of Fabulous entertainment and artistic presentation – most of it free, starting at 7pm on Friday night 20^th February, and ending at 7am on Saturday morning. With an eclectic mix of music, art, performance, visual displays and even food, it’s a night of  “If Onlys”… If only I was in Melbourne this coming Friday. If only I knew what was on and how to find it. If Only I was old enough to stay up all night, If Only I was YOUNG enough to stay up all night.

I fit into the latter category, I might last until midnight, but then my glass slippers would fall off and I’d turn into a pumpkin. But for those with the stamina and the passion, this year’s presentation promises a visual feast of dancing in the streets; Bollywood and Martial Arts movies; incredible light projections on major buildings and bridges; graphic art and 3D projection installations; buskers and street performers; the best of world music; exhibitions; and even an Indian food market in Sita’s Garden on the banks of the Yarra to complement the Bollywood dancing..

The city will be divided into 9 precincts, each precinct featuring it’s own specialised theme. Participating restaurants in those precincts will be open all night….far beyond their normal trading hours, and  trains, trams and buses will run all night. Some roads will be closed for special events, but that’s only to make the festival more user-friendly than ever before.

Melbourne is one of the most ethnically diverse cities on the planet and White Night celebrates that with offerings from all of our nationalities. But don’t take my word for it. Head to the White Night Website at http://whitenightmelbourne.com.au/

Not only will you get to map out all nine precincts, but you can even plan your own night – with suggested itineraries for things you may be interested in.

AS for me, well….I’ll start in the Northern Lights Precinct for “I Could Have Danced All Night”. There’s Samba at 7.10; B-Boy Break dancing at 8.55; music theatre with the cast of Strictly Ballroom at 11.40 and even some Scottish Highland Fling at midnight…..somewhere in there I’ll grab some dinner in Lygon Street maybe and then to Wonderland for the fantastic light installations and maybe into the Forum for some Jazz – I can’t miss Sydney band Mingus Among Us, whose set is at 10.45.

Between the Dancing and the Jazz and the lights and the food….I have to get to Sita’s Garden at Birrarung Marr. There will be a Lotus Pond and special lighting on the river itself, dancing, Bollywood movies, and the Dragon with her fire garden in the trees and flames piercing the sky. By that time I will need Dhal and Naan from the street vendors. If I have any energy left  I want to find the secret spot Soffles creates a blend of  3D video mapping, Graffiti and street art.

Don’t take my word for it….hop over to http://whitenightmelbourne.com.au/

And make sure you don’t miss out on this fantastic night….after all, you can sleep all day Saturday.