Sorrento Solstice Festival (Fire Night)
The Saturday night centrepiece of Sorrento Solstice: the 6-metre 'Bernie' effigy burns on the bay at 6:30pm, with fire performers, lantern path, music stages, food trucks, silent disco. Free ticketed, 2pm to 9pm.
The Saturday of Sorrento Solstice does the heavy lifting: 2pm to 9pm on the foreshore, two stages, fire and light installations, an illuminated path of Australian-animal lanterns, projection art on the historic buildings, food trucks, local producers pouring, silent disco, sound healing, roving performers, kids activities, artisan stalls, tarot, face painting, lantern making, storytelling. At 6:30pm the 6-metre handcrafted effigy ('Bernie') is set alight on the bay.
The practical move: free but ticketed, reserve in advance. Arrive by 4pm to walk the lantern path while you can still see your feet, get a position for the burn by 6, dinner in the village from 7:30 onwards (book ahead, the village fills).
Dress for a winter night on the bay: thermals, beanie, gloves, a coat that handles wind. Bring kids for the early afternoon and the lanterns, hand them off before the late music if you want a long night.