By Stephanie Holliday
SHEPPARTON’S SAM precinct was transformed into a scintillating epicentre of entertainment on Friday and Saturday evening for the second ever Illuminate Festival.
The festival hosted more than 25 food vendors along with mesmerising light experiences across the SAM Precinct and Victoria Park Lake shore which saw approximately 10,000 people attend on Friday night and a similar attendance Saturday. Despite the interruption of rain on Saturday night, organisers said that it was great to see the crowds return in droves once the rain had passed.
Illuminate presented an impressive music line up across the two evenings. Friday night saw artists from Shepparton and Goulburn Valley including Madi Coville Walker and Deans of Soul, with supporting act by Mama Mariachi. Saturday night featured G-Funk Band and multi-award-winning blues band Soul Reign, with supporting acts Fruity Pickers and Pit Crew.
The silent disco was a raging success again, with many taking the chance to quietly boogie away.
Proudly presented and funded by Greater Shepparton City Council, Shepparton and Goulburn Valley and the Victorian Government, Illuminate was an acknowledgment to the region’s creativity, innovation and perseverance over the past years, acknowledging improvements such as the new SAM Precinct with a stunning laser, light and sound display across the building during the closing the festival on Saturday night.
Mooroopna local Mathieu Ryan attended on the Friday evening with his children in tow, who were delighted by the sights and sounds.
“It was an awesome event, my children were enthralled with the roving illuminated performers, glowing sculptures and the Laser Light Show. We will be back next year for sure,” said Mr Ryan.
Council would love to know how your experience was at Illuminate. If you attended over the weekend, you can fill out a post-event survey online at shepp.city/illuminate-survey
