This will be the 11th year the event has been held, with this year’s theme being “Fire and Water”.

To begin on June 10-13 – the Queen’s Birthday long weekend – the program will run for seven consecutive weekends.  

The winter weekends are run by community volunteers with the aim to bring people to Port Fairy during the traditionally quiet winter period. 

The winter weekends target people from outside the region as well as encouraging those from surrounding towns to make day trips to Port Fairy.

The Port Fairy Winter Weekends official launch will take place on the Fiddler’s Green on Friday June 10 at 6pm.

A highlight of the program will again be the Dachshund Dash on the Sunday of the long weekend.

Last year, 200 people flocked to Southcombe Park to watched this popular event. An addition to the Sunday this year will be the staging of an all-abilities football match.

Other highlights over the seven-week program include a singer-songwriter concert lead by Shane Howard, a performance by the Melbourne Welsh Male Voice Choir, a producers’ long lunch, two productions from the Port Fairy Theatre Group, markets, and a solstice dawn swim.

Port Fairy Winter Weekends committee chairperson Meg Finnegan said the program will focus on the areas of community, arts, music, and food and wine.

“Winter is an exhilarating time of year in this part of the world,” Ms Finnegan said.

“It is a time to rug-up and embrace the fresh air, big seas and pristine coastal environment that make our region so special.

“We are very excited about this year’s program. Our theme of ‘fire and water’ pays tribute to the two elements that have shaped our landscape and community from geological times through to the present day.”

The full winter weekends program is expected to be available by the end of May, both on the website and with hard copies around the town. 

The committee is also on the lookout for new volunteers to help with events.

Anyone wishing to become involved can go to the website for contact details and more information.