These are the best festivals for summer

There’s no better time for a festival than summer.

Sure, food and wine festivals are extra cosy when the weather is cooler, but there’s something about being able to stay outdoors after the sun goes down that can’t be beaten.

Lucky for us, the Australian summer is packed with festivals – be it music, art, food, or other kinds of fun – and there are plenty to still look forward to in 2016.

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Revellers at Tropfest 2013. Photo: Getty

To help you make your choice, we’ve compiled a small list of festival favourites all over Australia, each with their own unique spin on a theme.

Whether it’s a Brazilian party atmosphere you’re after, or something more subdued, there’s something for everyone if you know where to look.

Return to Rio

When: March 18-20

Where: Del Rio Resort, NSW

What: If you’re after a left-of-centre weekend getaway filled with colour and fun, this boutique festival might be for you.

Now in its fifth year, Return to Rio’s offering can be summed up as electronic and house music with a Brazilian party theme.

Held at the Del Rio Riverside Resort on the Hawkesbury River, R2R is two nights of Brazilian hedonism without the price of a flight to Rio. Buy tickets here

Golden Plains

When: 7-9 March

Where: Meredith, VIC

What: Golden Plains started as a DIY bush bash in the stunning town of Meredith, Victoria, and has evolved into something much bigger while maintaining that original charm.

Return to Rio is not for holding back. Photo: Altmedia

The weekend festival has become a favourite for Victorians who want a mixture of folk music and bands during the day and dance music when the sun goes down.

Costumes are a must for this one, as is glitter. Buy tickets here

Tropfest

When: 14 February

Where: Centennial Park, Sydney

What: Saved at the last minute from bankruptcy, this year’s Tropfest almost didn’t happen.

The biggest short film festival in the world, Tropfest started as a 200-person screening inside Sydney’s Tropicana Cafe, before evolving to reach an audience of 150,000.

Thankfully officially going ahead, this year’s Tropfest will be held in Sydney’s gorgeous Centennial Park, with talent from all over the world.

All entries must be new material, and also must feature the year’s ‘Tropfest signature item’, which in the past has been a gherkin or a lightbulb. Buy tickets here

Port Fairy’s line-up always features a bit of quirk. Photo: Facebook

WOMAdelaide

When: 11-14 March

Where: Botanic Park, Adelaide

What: With a focus on bringing round-the-world talent to South Australia’s capital, WOMADelaide is in its 20th year.

The festival, held in Adelaide’s beautiful Botanic Gardens, makes full use of the stunning terrain with eight stages playing world music, funk, reggae and more.

This year’s event will feature everyone from Australia’s very own Sarah Blasko and the Cat Empire, to German techno talent, not to mention food, arts stalls and more. Buy tickets here

Port Fairy Folk Festival

What: 11-14 March

Where: Port Fairy, Victoria

One of this year’s more zany entries. Photo: Getty

What: Despite originally featuring just Irish music, the Port Fairy Folk Festival now embraces folk, blues, roots, world music and much more.

The semi-hippy, laid back festival is now in its 40th year and a stalwart of the world folk scene.

The small seaside town of Port Fairy plays a perfect host to folk fans of all ages and persuasions over four days in March. Buy tickets here

Sculptures By the Sea

When: 6-23 March

Where: Cottesloe

What: One of the more spectacular festivals Australia has to offer, Sculptures by the Sea brings big, quirky and sometimes crazy sculptures to Sydney and Perth’s beaches every year.

Perth will host its next event in March by the beautiful Cottesloe Beach. Over 70 local, interstate and international artists will transform the popular beach into a stunning sculpture park visited by hundreds of thousands. Find out more here

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