Three-year partnership secures the future of Inverloch Equinox Festival

A NEW three-year partnership has been signed between the Inverloch Tourism Association and Bass Coast Shire Council to provide a strong foundation for the continued growth of the Inverloch Equinox Festival.

The three-year event partnership between the Inverloch Tourism Association (ITA) and Bass Coast Shire Council will extend from 2027 through to 2029.

According to the Inverloch Tourism Association the agreement provides greater stability and certainty for the volunteer-led event, while establishing a shared commitment with council to continue developing an event that brings visitors to Inverloch, supports local businesses and provides a much-loved community celebration.

Bass Coast Shire Mayor Brett Tessari said the partnership was an important investment in an event that had become a success story for the local community.

“The Equinox event is a fantastic success story brought to the community by the Inverloch Tourism Association. For Council to now support this event for the next three years makes me really proud. It's a great local event and we look forward to its continued success.”

The Inverloch Equinox Festival was created by ITA volunteers around the autumn equinox, a time traditionally associated with balance, change and renewal.

What began as an idea to celebrate Inverloch has developed into a multi-day festival showcasing the region's wellbeing, nature, food, wine and local experiences, while deliberately retaining a strong community focus and free elements accessible to everyone.

ITA President Glenn Morris the three-year agreement was an exciting milestone for a festival that had been built from the ground up by local volunteers.

“The Inverloch Equinox Festival is a genuinely home-grown event,” he said. “It was created by our volunteers because we wanted to celebrate Inverloch and share what makes this place special with both our community and visitors.

“The equinox gives us a wonderful foundation. It is a time of balance and renewal, and that idea has shaped the festival from the beginning. We wanted to create something that celebrates nature, wellbeing, local food and wine, while bringing people together and making sure there are experiences that everyone can enjoy.”

The three-year partnership will allow ITA and Bass Coast Shire Council to work with greater certainty to plan, promote and develop the festival, while continuing to build its role in the region's visitor economy.

The festival is designed to encourage visitors from outside the region to travel to Inverloch, stay overnight and explore further, creating opportunities for accommodation providers, hospitality, retail, tourism operators and other local businesses.

For the local community, maintaining free entertainment and accessible festival experiences remains an important part of the event's identity.

The partnership also recognised the value of bringing tourism, local business, community and council together around a shared event.

“For a volunteer organisation, having three years of certainty makes a huge difference,” said Mr Morris. “It gives our team the confidence to plan ahead, build stronger partnerships and keep developing the festival rather than starting from scratch every year.”

“It is also important to us that Equinox continues to belong to Inverloch. We want visitors to come and discover the region, but we want our local community to feel that this is their festival too.”

The 2027 Inverloch Equinox Festival will continue to focus on nature, wellbeing, harvest and connection, with a program featuring free live music, the Wellbeing Expo, local food and beverage experiences, workshops, creative activities and opportunities to explore the wider Inverloch region.

The event promises visitors and locals the opportunity to slow down, explore the region’s coastal landscapes, and immerse themselves in the magic of autumn.

The 2027 line-up will shine a spotlight on the region's top wellness practitioners, creative talents, and premium local produce. Attendees can look forward to inspiring hands-on experiences, creative art discoveries, and a series of free live music performances designed to bring the town to life by day and night.

A major anchor of the weekend will be the dedicated Wellbeing Expo, taking place on Saturday, March 20, from 10am to 4pm, offering a unique space to discover new health ideas and holistic practices.

"We’re encouraging visitors to book their overnight accommodation early, so they don’t miss out," Mr Morris said.

"Equinox is designed to be enjoyed over the whole weekend, we’d love visitors to slow down, stay a little longer and experience as much of the festival as they can."

The festival kicks off on Friday evening with local dining and unique night-time activities, including an Australian-first astronomical performance by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO), after-dark storytelling tours, and star gazing.

Saturday will have the Wellbeing Expo from 10am to 4pm, offering holistic therapies and children's activities like pony rides and dinosaur discoveries. As evening approaches, a free ‘Live at The Glade’ concert will take place from 4pm to 9.30pm, featuring the hypnotic didgeridoo rhythms of Ganga Giri alongside regional food trucks and locally brewed beverages.

Sunday will provide a gentle conclusion to the weekend with the Inverloch Lions Club farmers market, specialised wellness workshops, and a ‘Sunday Unwind’ relaxation experience tailored for all ages.

The festival is proudly supported by the Victorian Government through Visit Victoria’s Regional Events Fund and the local Event Partnership program.