East Gippsland Winter Festival to showcase best of region

The third iteration of the annual Victorian festival will run for an entire month, with events taking place all over the region from June 9-July 9.

Festivities will kick off on the King's Birthday long weekend, continuing through the winter solstice and Victorian school holidays.

Known for its mild coastal winters and stunning and diverse natural landscape of mountains, rivers, beaches and lakes, the region is the perfect place to enjoy a range of free and affordable events and family activities.

From displays of beautiful hand-made lanterns, to spectacular projection art, live music in unexpected places and wellness experiences in stunning surrounds, the festival offers a little bit of everything.

Highlights of this year's festival will include the Deep in the Weeds festival at Sailors Grave Brewing, Orbost on June 10. Held in a 130-year-old butter factory on the banks of the Snowy River, the festival will feature a headlining performance by C.W. Stoneking and His Primitive Horn Orchestra, with dinner catered by Meatsmiths Melbourne and dessert from The Lindenow Long Paddock.

The Bruthen Medieval Winter Fire Festival on June 24 will feature sword fights, bonfires, music, roving performers, costumes and feasting.

Taking place on July 1, Lakes Lights is a spectacular community lantern parade across the Lakes Entrance Footbridge, leading to a curated display of artist-made lanterns, installations and projection art spanning from Gippsland Lakes to 90 Mile Beach.

Spectacular laneway party Winter in Laneway3875 will take place in Bairnsdale on July 8. Visitors will be able to enjoy projection art, live music, street food from local eateries, local craft beer and wine, and the foundry artist collective.

Founder Adam Bloem said after being established to "celebrate the wonderful spirit and resilience" of East Gippsland's people, the festival had "taken on a life of its own".

For more information and full program details click here.