SORRENTO WINTER SOLSTICE: LIGHT & FIRE IN AUSTRALIA

On Australia’s Mornington Peninsula, around 90 minutes south of Melbourne, the coastal town of Sorrento comes to life every June for the Sorrento Winter Solstice Festival. Held on the Sorrento Foreshore, the free festival combines live music, food, entertainment and large-scale visual productions. Thousands of visitors gather on the waterfront to celebrate the winter solstice together.

For the 2026 edition, Australian production company Outlook Communications, Australia’s largest beamZ Pro stockist, once again handled the technical production and Lighting design was by Ben Rawnsley. The main stage needed to make a strong visual impact both during the afternoon and after sunset, making flexibility and impact key considerations in the lighting design.

At the heart of the lighting production was a selection of beamZ Pro fixtures, including 16 Kratos LED Tubes and 16 Neutron Dots, complemented by Ignite300 Moving Heads and Ignite 740 Wash Moving Heads. The Kratos LED Tubes were positioned around the stage, creating movement, depth and animated visual layers around the performers. The Neutron Dots added further colour and texture to the design.

The Ignite300 Moving Heads provided movement and height from the stage floor, while the Ignite 740 delivered powerful washes, beams and dynamic effects. Positioned above and alongside the stage, the fixtures were used to create geometric looks and movement, while also adding additional width and coverage to the lighting show.

The lighting design evolved throughout the evening, with warm yellow and golden tones during the afternoon gradually giving way to cooler blues and whites after sunset. Working with beamZ Pro fixtures supplied through Australian distributor Audio Visual Engineering (AVE), Outlook Communications created a dynamic lighting environment that transitioned seamlessly from daylight into an impressive evening show.