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The Warrnambool City Council’s Solstice Search Party has been named as a national finalist in the Australian Event Awards.
The event, which attracted more than 6000 attendees in June this year, is one of just five national finalists in the Best Small Regional Event category.
Held in the Warrnambool Botanic Gardens, Solstice Search Party featured custom-built neon sculptures, projections and other light-themed installations, attracting visitors to the city during the off-peak period while providing locals with a captivating winter activity.
“Solstice Searching is an excellent example of taking something that is usually seen as a negative – the cold and dark days of winter – and turning it into a positive,” Warrnambool Mayor Cr Debbie Arnott said.
“After the success of the first Solstice Search Party in 2022, it was great to be able to build on this and showcase the incredibly talented local creatives in our region while working with over 20 businesses to deliver the event.
“The Council-managed botanic gardens are such a versatile place for events, and it was great to see creative use of the garden’s features, such as the light projections onto the stone bridge and onto the rotunda.
“About 20 per cent of people who attended were from postcodes outside of Warrnambool, which was very encouraging to see too as June is traditionally our off-peak season.
“While the feedback locally for the event was overwhelmingly positive, I think being named a finalist for a national award reinforces just how excellent this year’s Solstice Search Party was.
“Congratulation to our events team on developing and delivering the event, and a big thank you to the community for supporting it.”
The winner will be determined by a panel of expert judges, with the announcement to be made in September.