Bruce Ramus’ Helix Tree in Federation Square (Image: Zulaikha Hussain Shihab)

It’s more than halfway through the first month of winter in Melbourne, and Federation Square is coming alive each night with this year’s Light in Winter festival.

The Light in Winter is an annual festival of light, sound and warmth in the heart of Melbourne’s city centre. Held at the start of Melbourne’s bitterly cold winter, it comprises artworks, musical performances and regular features such as the indigenous campfire in the centre of the square. Called Leempeeyt Weeyn’, the campfire burns throughout June and draws a steady stream of visitors seeking warmth in the cold evenings.

This year, the star of the show is without doubt Bruce Ramus’ Helix Tree, which allows voices to feed its electrical current and illuminate the central trunk. Nightly, from 5:30pm until 6pm, choirs will illuminate the tree, while from 6pm until 7:30pm the public are invited to join in the fun.

On the weekend of the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, a free celebration will offer

Bruce Ramus’ Helix Tree in Federation Square (Image: Zulaikha Hussain Shihab)

music, drama and food under the dappled light of handmade lanterns. On Saturday 22nd June from 5pm until 8pm, this festival will draw in curious onlookers and participants from the city streets around. Australian composer Lou Bennett has been commissioned to pen an anthem for the festival, which will be performed on the night of the solstice.

Bringing in some South Asian flavour will be the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin, as well as the Afghan Australian Developing Organisation who are lending their support to illuminate Melbourne’s premier public space.

The Light in Winter runs all month, and concludes with a closing ceremony on the evening of the 30th June. For details, go to The Light in Winter website.