FESTIVAL GUIDE Festivals to experience this July

WORDS BY BEN LAMB

Now Or Never

From multi-sensory dining experiences to interactive art trails, this dynamic Melbourne festival has so much to offer. More than 300 artists from across Melbourne and beyond will come together to transform the city with light, colour and sound.

MELBOURNE 17 AUG–2 SEP

Melbourne International Film Festival

The month-long celebration of all things film returns this August, now in its 71st year. There will be a variety of movies on display: local productions, big budget blockbusters, independent foreign films and much, much more. Events will also be taking place too, galas, live performances, and special screenings.

MELBOURNE 3–20 AUG

Drencher Festival

After kicking off for the first time last year, Drencher Festival is back. You’ll get to catch a selection of the best hardcore groups in the country - 2023’s incarnation will feature Nephalem, Smoke Witch, Automation, Detach Me, Womb to Tomb, Munitions, Goat Shaman, Barbarion and In Malice’s Wake.

BARWON CLUB HOTEL 26 AUG

Winterwild

Apollo Bay lights up with WinterWild Festival this August, a celebration of the darker arts. There’ll be performances from Jen Cloher and Nat’s What I Reckon, alongside performances ranging from breathwork to dancers to discos.

APOLLO BAY 25–27 AUG

Hot Chocolate Festival

No, you didn’t misread, there’s actually a festival dedicated to all things hot chocolate. Happening at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie, there will be 31 hot chocolate flavours on show, so why not try them all? On top of that, each are served with a fluffy marshmallow. Plus, the Hot Chocolate Festival will feature classes where you can learn how to make café quality hot chocolate from home.

YARRA VALLEY

CHOCOLATERIE THROUGHOUT AUG

Benalla Flamefest

Flamefest is a festival ideal for these freezing weekends, there will be fire shows, fire performers, and firejets, alongside bars stocked with alcohol, live music, kids games, food trucks, and plenty more.

BENALLA RACING CLUB 12 AUG

Indian Festival

The Indian Festival will bring exceptional food, warming chais, and a range of performances from Indian talent to the masses.

QUEEN VIC MARKET 12–13 AUG

Melbourne Psychic And Wellbeing Festival

This festival has quickly become a staple of the Melbourne social calendar. The Royal Exhibition Building is set to be filled to the brim with vendors staging workshops and slinging items from cosmetics to books to crystals. If you’re looking to see what your future holds, there’ll be plenty of psychics as well.

THE ROYAL EXHIBITION BUILDING 18–20 AUG

Ballarat Blues Festival

The regional Victorian town is set to welcome a killer lineup to their stages this month. Attendees can catch the likes of Phil Manning, Anna Scionti Trio, Brett Garsed, Lloyd Spiegel and Fiona Boyes, among many more.

BALLARAT 26–27 AUG