This year, Nightide takes its cue from the darkness below with Creatures of the Deep — a theme that channels the ancient pull of the sea, where myth, menace and mystery drift just beneath the surface. Set against the winter solstice, it is a world of black water, firelight and strange beauty, where on the longest night of the year Queenscliff becomes the stage for a dark ritual of spectacle and atmosphere, drawing the creatures of the deep to the surface before returning them to the darkness.

Spanning three days, Nightide unfolds through a series of distinct experiences across the weekend. From a unique and avant-garde fringe event on Friday night, to the Saturday where a themed Solstice Feast in the afternoon sets the scene for the festival’s main winter solstice celebration on Saturday night including activations, live music, fire burn, bars, food trucks and fireworks. On Sunday, Nightide shifts once again with a free family event that opens the festival to a lighter, more playful side.