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Need a reason to get out at night but want a free activity? We’ve got you. This month, Melbourne is getting a seriously pretty springtime glow-up. For 13 sparkling nights, the city’s streets and heritage landmarks are being transformed after sunset with a series of new light projections, giving us another reason (beyond the bars) to stay around the CBD after dark.
The displays are part of the City of Melbourne’s inaugural Light Up Melbourne program – a $2-million initiative designed to get more people into the city and give the nighttime economy a boost.
Melbourne is heading into one of its busiest six-month stretches for major events, with the NFL, AFL finals, Australian Open Golf, the Boxing Day Test, Australian Open and F1 Grand Prix all on the calendar.
So what should we expect from the light displays? First up, Melbourne’s floral emblem is taking centre stage, with the Swamp Everlasting being projected across the facade of Melbourne Town Hall September 1-5, 14-17 and 20, marking the return of spring and the city’s newly crowned official flower.
Then, from September 6-11, the city will get a taste of American football fever. In partnership with Visit Victoria, NFL Prime Time Lights will see Melbourne Town Hall and Flinders Street Station illuminated to celebrate the NFL’s first-ever regular-season game in Australia.
Ahead of the Cats v Blues clash, the underside of Princes Bridge will light up in Geelong colours, celebrating the completion of a major facelift of the historic landmark. The footy fever will continue with AFL Finals Series projections on Melbourne Town Hall on September 12-13, 18-19 and 25-26.
There’s something a little more serene on the cards, too. Water Stories, created in partnership with Arts Centre Melbourne and Creative Victoria, will transform Hamer Hall with water animals from the Birrarung, exploring the connection between people, animals, waterways and Country. The work will feature First Peoples' artworks by artists from the Torch Project, in collaboration with Creative Culture and NOVAK.
According to the City of Melbourne, Light Up Melbourne isn’t just about temporary projections. Over the next few years, the program will also bring new decorative lighting to CBD laneways including Hosier Lane, Hardware Lane and Collins Street, and existing lighting will be upgraded in nightlife and hospitality hotspots such as Flinders Lane, Little Bourke Street and Healey Lane.
By the sounds of things, Melbourne is about to start looking a lot more magical after dark. You can check out the full program here.
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