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Over 2300 people have pre-registered their free tickets for Solstice Search Party on Saturday June 24 in the Warrnambool Botanic Gardens, with everyone planning on attending encouraged to do the same.
To celebrate winter solstice and the darkest time of the year, the event will feature all-new neon sculptures from artist Carla O’Brien as well as light installations and activities from local creatives Karen Thompson, One Day Studios and Nurture in Nature.
There will also be live music and food trucks on-site, with everyone encouraged to rug up and embrace the benefits of an early sunset.
Everything you need to know about this weekend's Solstice events
“Bring your scarves, your beanies, your warm gloves, and your sense of adventure. You’ll need them all, and your boldness in the face of the cold weather will be rewarded with what will be an incredible celebration of light and colour,” Warrnambool Mayor Debbie Arnott said.
“The lights will be switched on from 3.15pm until 9pm, so youngsters can get in early, but the real magic starts after about 5.30pm when the sun goes down and the lights will look their best.”
“This event has been put together by our incredibly talented and dedicated events team, and the best way you can show them your appreciation is by pre-booking your free tickets if you are planning on coming, and cancelling them if you are no longer able to attend.
“This really helps them with their planning on the night, and goes a long way to making sure they have the infrastructure needed to help everyone have a good time.”
To help people get to and from the event safely, Botanic Road will be closed between Queens Road and St Joseph’s Primary School from 12pm until 10.30pm on Saturday.
The St Joseph’s carpark is still accessible via Bromfield Street.
Cr Arnott also reminded everyone that the award-winning Solstice Searching scavenger hunt is on Friday June 23, with a free face painter on the Civic Green, fully stocked with glow-in-the-dark paint, a new addition to the fun.
“Neon sculptures will be hidden throughout Warrnambool, with participants needing to solve a series of cryptic, but not too difficult, clues to find them all. Anyone who does can go in the draw to win a prize,” she said.
“What started as an ingenious response to COVID-19 restrictions is now a highlight of our events calendar.
“The clues will be posted on the Council website and social media pages at 4pm on Friday, with the lights to stay on until 9pm.”