The Illawarra escarpment (the scarp) creates a dramatic stage for the shortest day of the year, where the sun disappears behind the towering cliffs as early as 3 pm, casting a deep twilight over the coastal villages below. This early descent into darkness sets the perfect atmosphere for a festival that embraces fire, music, and the raw elements of winter. 

Dark Scarp is an immersive winter solstice festival that will take place at the Wombarra Bowlo and its surrounds in its inaugural year, with an ambitious vision to expand in subsequent years. Inspired by the atmospheric energy of pagan winter festivals, Dark Mofo (Tasmania) and winter magic festival (Katoomba) but on an intimate, community-driven scale, Dark Scarp will celebrate the winter solstice through live performance, music, fire rituals, oceanic connection, and communal experiences. Dark Scarp is about embracing the darkness and the elements—gathering around fires, immersing in sound and movement, plunging into the wild ocean, and celebrating the turning of the seasons with rituals old and new. This festival aims to establish itself as a must-attend event on the South Coast’s cultural calendar, blending art, music, performance, and community-led experiences into an unforgettable solstice event.

We will have a Sauna, ice baths, Yoga, Stilt walkers, lantern making, bands DJ’s, and burning the black duck effigy. AKA burning duck & More.