By event organiser Jamie Madden of Wombarra Bowlo
A new winter tradition has been born on the coast.
On Saturday, 21 June, the community-owned Wombarra Bowlo played host to Dark Scarp, a bold new Winter Solstice festival that sold out all 800 tickets in its very first year.
Dark Scarp brought together coastal locals, artists, families, musicians and mischief-makers for a full-day journey from stillness to spark – celebrating the death and rebirth of the sun through ritual, music, fire, and shared experience. The event was a fundraiser for Lifeline Australia, supporting those who live with inner darkness year-round.
From morning sauna sessions and ice baths to choirs, DJs and a spectacular Burning Duck Effigy, Dark Scarp lived up to its name: an immersive, elemental and deeply heartfelt day under the shadow of the Illawarra escarpment.
A festival for those who feel the turn of the seasons
The event opened with a rejuvenating morning session of yoga, guided by local instructors and backed by the warm ambient tunes of Monkfly. Participants were invited to test their courage in the ice baths or warm up inside a mobile Finnish wood-fired sauna, provided by the legends at Saunaus. A smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country by Clarence Slockee opened the fire circles and set the tone for a day of reflection and connection.
Musical highlights included sets from The Fibs, XÄÄD, Despicable Hombres, Autumn Sunset, and The Glider – with a special collaborative performance by Dan Mac (Art vs Science) and Alex Young on his PhD-invented skeletal slide piano. The night closed out with an ecstatic dancefloor session from Washing Machine DJs, Alobar, and a final appearance by Monkfly.
The Burning Duck and the Ritual of Release
At 5:20pm, with the sun slipping behind the escarpment, a hush fell over the crowd as the festival’s centrepiece – a giant black duck effigy – was set ablaze. Stuffed with hand-written notes and symbolic offerings from attendees, the duck burned for nearly 15 minutes before being safely extinguished, marking a communal moment of catharsis, grief and renewal. The crowd then circled the fire, symbolising a shared turning toward the light.
Earlier in the day, children and families crafted lanterns, which they paraded through the venue in a spontaneous moment of light and joy before sunset.
Community effort by volunteers
Dark Scarp was not the work of any single promoter or company – it was lovingly built by a crew of local volunteers, creatives, musicians and visionaries. It was the first major festival hosted by Wombarra Bowlo, a proud community-owned venue nestled between mountain and sea. From rigging lights to running cables, serving drinks, setting fires, and sweeping up at midnight – locals pulled together to make it magic.
This wasn’t just a festival, it was a prototype for something bigger. The vision is for a travelling solstice celebration that moves between venues up the coastal strip each winter – uniting our communities through fire, music, and renewal.
With a sold-out debut, a powerful cultural impact, and strong support from the Bowlo and sponsors including Saunaus, Wandering Saunas, and Young Henrys, Dark Scarp has sparked something special.
