The inaugural Day @ The Port event is coming to Sale on Saturday 4 February 2023 – bringing with it a jam-packed program of free, family-friendly entertainment.

The festival-like event will welcome visitors of all ages and abilities for a huge day of entertainment culminating in a free performance from popular Melbourne band Vaudeville Smash, and The Middle of Everywhere fireworks display at 9.30pm.

Day @ The Port will be a massive drawcard for Wellington and is expected to bring thousands of visitors from all throughout Gippsland to the Port of Sale precinct.

The event will include free carnival rides, live music, theatre performances of the popular Wind in the Willows stage show, 15 food trucks and the popular Art Bar is making a comeback. There will also be interactive play spaces and games, a makers market, face painting, movie screenings, kids’ crafts and activities, and fireworks display over the spectacular Port of Sale to close out the evening.  

Day @ The Port will begin at 10.30am with the first free performance of Wind in the Willows and wrapping up at 9.30pm after 11 hours of wall-to-wall action. All activities and entertainment will take place at the Port of Sale precinct in Sale. Temporary road closures will be in place along Grand Canal Drive in Sale on the day before, and for the duration of the event.

Wellington Shire Council Mayor Ian Bye said he couldn’t be happier with the community support that has been received for Day @ The Port.

“Events like Day @ The Port offer a fantastic community atmosphere and it is also so wonderful to see people coming together to support our fantastic community facilities.

“This event is a great example of what can be achieved with the community at the forefront of the work we do. The Wedge, Sale library, Gippsland Art Gallery and The Middle of Everywhere have worked hard to plan and launch Day @ The Port. It is an event that I hope to see grow from year to year right in the heart of The Middle of Everywhere”, Cr Bye said.

Visitors will be spoilt for choice with live music from local artists Matt Peter Fry, Erin Billings and Cara Shaefer, Ryan Lestrange, The Soultanas, Danny Spencer and Melbourne funk band, Vaudeville Smash.

Festival highlights will include:

• Art Bar (10.30am to 9.30pm) - a pop-up licensed bar located on Grand Canal Drive.
• Amusement rides (midday to 9.30pm) – Dodgem cars, giant slide, flying wild chair and jumping castles.
• Sale Library (10.30am – 9.30pm) - Craft activities, tabletop games, wooden boat making and more.
• Lawn games and face painting (10.30am – 9.30pm) - Located on the Borun Tuk Walk between the Port of Sale and The Wedge Performing Arts Centre.
• Port of Sale (2.30pm – 9.30pm) – Indoor family and kids movie screenings on the bleachers.
• Free theatre production (10.30am and 3.00pm) – The Australian Shakespeare Company will perform their critically acclaimed theatre show ‘The Wind in the Willows’ – a show not to be missed.
• Gippsland Art Gallery (10.30am – 9.30pm) The Gippsland Art Gallery will be open all day featuring an artist talk, ‘Talking Kevin Lincoln: a conversation’ at 10.30am.
• Food Trucks (10.30am – 9.30pm) - Slinky Spuds, Duarts Catering, Dypsy Gypsy Ice Creams, Grab & Go, Rosedale Thai, Big Bear Donuts, Stay Grounded Coffee, Wun hung lo dumpling, Charlie’s Barbecue, Lalulalang Indonesian street food, 5ive Canarys, Gippsland Jersey, The Mystery Ice Cream Machine and much more.
• Makers Market (10.30am – 8.00pm) - Windsong Farm, Lotie McDonald Photography, Chris Guthleben, Float for Body & Soul, Soul Stories, Sticks & Stones, Kate Billingsley, CMH & Co Candles, Debbie May, Jordan Elliott – You and Your Bar, Love in a Jar – Rosalie, Sol Sisters – Aishah, Sue Towers, Night Babe – Elle and more still to be announced.

The Community is encouraged to come along and enjoy a great day out, there promises to be something for everyone!

Further information is available via The Wedge website at www.thewedge.com.au.

To stay up to date with all that’s happening at Day @ The Port, visit Wellington Shire Council’s Facebook page and view the event page.

Day @ The Port is proudly presented by The Wedge Performing Arts Centre, Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale library and The Middle of Everywhere.