Get ready, Frankston – your autumn social calendar has got a glow-up. The South Side Festival is back from Friday, May 8 to Sunday, May 17 for ten dazzling nights of art, culture and community spirit by the bay.
Across the Frankston Arts Centre, Cube 37, Beauty Park, the foreshore and beyond, this festival blends free and ticketed events for locals and visitors alike. Think immersive light installations, live performances and hands-on workshops.
Everybody’s favourite, Neon Fields returns for its third year, transforming Beauty Park into a glowing playground of light from May 8-10 from 5pm onwards. It’s free, it’s magical and it’s guaranteed to draw thousands of after-dark adventurers.
The 2026 highlights include In Common by One Fell Swoop Circus, where six acrobats explore the limits of trust and tension in a breathtaking physical performance and Human Love Quest, a hilarious live dating show at Cube 37. Families will love the enchanting shadow puppetry of Kiki and Zuki, while Shan Gao Shui Chang blends contemporary dance and Chinese water painting in an exploration of migration and identity.
A unique event is Live Cinema by Michael Beets, where a feature film is created in real time on stage by the crew of talented local youth, guided by industry pros.
Get your Speedos ready to dive into the South Side Sea Soak on Saturday, May 9 at 7.45am. Yes, it will be freezing, but it will be fun and it’s taking place at the Frankston Foreshore outside the Frankston Life Saving Club.
Other must-see, must-dos include a sustainable clothes swap, a mass crochet session (get ready to make granny squares), a photography exhibition called Good Times of everyday Aussie life by Rennie Ellis, A Wearable Canvas, a bold wearable arts showcase featuring everything from sustainable fashion to avant-garde creations on May 9, plus walking tours to discover street art and live music.
Whether you’re after culture or creativity, South Side Festival in Frankston delivers it all. Get all the details on their website or follow @southsidefestivalfrankston on Facebook and Instagram.
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