Winter festivals snowball onto our calendar this month

HOBART
Antarctic Midwinter Festival, 15–24 June
Put on your funkiest beanie, brush your dog and head down to the Beanie Fest or the Huskies’ Picnic on 24 June – or book a tour on the Antarctic expedition vessel Aurora Australis. The Antarctic Midwinter Festival celebrates Tasmania’s connection with the Antarctic along with the winter solstice (20–21 June – the shortest day and longest night of the year!). In the words of festival director Anne Kerr, “We want to provide the opportunity for visitors to experience something of the power, the beauty and the magic of the amazing place that is Antarctica.”
Tel: +61 (3) 6233 5589.

BYRON BAY
Lismore Lantern Parade, 23–24 June
Littlies and adults alike will fall under the spell of the colourful and spectacular lanterns at the lantern parade in Lismore, 40km from Byron Bay. The ceremonial gates open at 4.30pm; entry is by a gold-coin donation. Don’t miss the chance to see amazing pyrotechnics, and giant puppets too! Tel: +61 (2) 6622 6333.

SYDNEY
Darling Harbour Jazz & Blues Festival, 9–11 June
Three days of big-bands, cool blues and swinging jazz, and all absolutely free! Catch some big names from the Australian scene, including Kate Ceberano and jazz-fusion group Crossfire, plus US luminaries like diva Barbara Morrison and blues master Eugene “Hideaway” Bridges. And for the first time this year, you can sign up for jazz workshops and pick the brains of masters such as John Morrison and Jim Kelly. Be there or be square! Tel: + 61 (2) 9240 8500.

MELBOURNE
Little Big Shots – The International Film Festival for Kids, 6–11 June
If the films they’re showing here are anything to go by, the world can look forward to some amazing filmmakers growing up in a few years’ time! Little Big Shots is screening 90 films from 25 countries (including Uzbekistan!), and 25 were made by children. The festival caters to two- to 15-year-olds. Festival director Marcella Bidinost adds, “For the first time… we’re expanding our festival program to include films for kids aged two to five, offering many kids their first movie-going experience.” Tickets AU$6 from the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Federation Square, tel: +61 (3) 8663 2583.

NEW ZEALAND
Lindauer Queenstown Winter Festival, 22 June – 1 July
Grab your cold-weather gear and head on down to “The Southern Hemisphere’s Ultimate Winter Party”, now in its 33rd year – it’s the longest-running winter festival in New Zealand, and is packed with more than 60 fun and wacky events. This year, the festival is going big – Big Night Out on 24 June promises to be the biggest rock concert Queenstown’s ever seen, and the Big Air competition will see the best boarders and skiers show-off their tricks. And your two- to five-year-olds will love the Teddy Bears’ Picnic on the 25th. Tel: +64 (3) 441 2453.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
City of Perth Winter Arts Festival, until September

Michael Lewis (Rigoletto)
in Opera Australia’s
‘Rigoletto’
Photo: Jeff Busby We expect the third City of Perth Winter Arts Festival to be huge – they’re certainly aiming high with the theme Gods and Heroes! The festival’s invigorating program of dance, theatre, music and arts is certain to lighten anyone’s winter blues. Look out for the Black Swan Theatre’s hilarious The Messiah, and for activities for the kids put on by Yirra Yaakin Noongar Theatre.
Tel: +61 (8) 9461 3187.

GOLD COAST
GCBazaar, 1 – 30 June
The Gold Coast is where the party’s at this winter with the first GCBazaar set to add some heat to June. The Bazaar coincides with start of the winter fashion parades but it’s not all about the clothes. There’s a free food and wine event - A La Carte in the Park, and AU$100,000 is up for grabs at the Jupiter’s Casino Professional Bull Riders’ World Cup. For more details, tel: +61 (7) 5592 2699. Jetstar is a proud partner of this event. For all your travel choices, go to jetstar.com

VICTORIA
Fun4Kids Festival, 1-8 July
There’s only one and this is it: “Australia’s Best Children’s Festival” is on in Warrnambool over the winter school holidays and is so jam-packed with fun, your kids will think it’s Christmas! Dorothy the Dinosaur, Australia’s youngest all-girl pop band the Charmz, and Lucy Holmes – the Kylie look-a-like winner of 2005’s Starstruck – are just a few of the acts lined up. There are also 12 fun-filled zones featuring interactive workshops, exhibits and activities held in a safe, educational environment. It’s non-stop excitement for kids aged 2 to 14! Tel: +61 (3) 5562 4044.

SYDNEY
Sydney Film Festival, 8–24 June
“Transport yourself” with the Sydney Film Fest program this year. With three new sections – kids’ films (look out for U from France), Turkish films and films by or about people with disabilities – executive director Clare Stewart says, “we’re offering you an entry visa to a world without borders… you join both your local community and a global audience.” Talk about armchair travel! Book at Ticketmaster, 136 100 within Australia.