Rising: Rinky Dink and The Wilds

Rising is the cultural reset Melburnians need. After two winters spent largely in insolation and at home in lockdown, the city is abuzz with a surge of futuristic art installations, music gigs, thought-provoking art and theatre. Tipped to be the acme of the winter calendar, Rising is an immersive and unique experience. Milk Bar visited Sidney Nolan Music Bowl to check out Rinky Dink and The Wilds night market. 

Resurrected after 20 years, ice skating is back at the Bowl with Rising’s Rinky Dink. Be part of the beloved wintertime tradition and strap into some ice skates and glide gracefully on the ice. The ice rink is decorated with breath-taking, illuminated installations, and there’s a choir performing classic pop bangers. Think ABBA’s ‘Dancing Queen’, Robyn’s ‘Dancing on My Own’ and Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’. The skating session lasts a strict 30 minutes, so make sure you leave enough time (preferably around 10 minutes) to sign your waiver, select your skates and put away your belongings. 

Become entranced by the spectacle of The Wilds and explore the moonlit forest of sensory delights. Sprawled across the grounds of Sidney Myer Music Bowl, The Wilds is a night market where punters can encounter fantastical, enormous and inflatable creatures, sustainable art installations, towering projections and ethereal music. The pop-up food vendors include the likes of Melbourne’s darlings, vegan Smith & Daughters, Thornbury’s 1800 Lasagne, Hoy Pinoy and Argentinian barbeque San Telmo. I beelined to Smith & Daughters and picked up a cheese, potato and leek pie floater. It did not disappoint! Also, on the grounds is bougie Up High Bar and The Lighthouse – the number one spot to take in the view of The Wilds from on high. 

Funded by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria and Visit Victoria, Rising Festival is unmissable. Take a look at the full program here. The festival is on until Sunday 12 June. 

Rising 
Until Sunday 12 June 2022
tickets.rising.melbourne

Images: Eugene Hyland