Across East Gippsland, communities and visitors ushered in 2026 with a series of vibrant New Year’s Eve celebrations last Wednesday night, highlighted by spectacular fireworks displays along the Gippsland Lakes and bustling foreshore events.
Paynesville’s waterfront was a focal point for festivities, with families and holidaymakers gathering from early evening for live music on the popular Floating Tin Shed. The Damon Smith Trio and other local performers entertained crowds from around 7pm, setting the scene for the night’s main attraction. Bright bursts of colour lit up the sky at around 10pm in a fireworks display launched over the water, drawing applause from
spectators lining the Esplanade. The event, supported by volunteers and local sponsors, provided a relaxed and family-friendly atmosphere for all ages.
Elsewhere in the region, Lakes Entrance hosted its annual New Year’s Eve Festival along the foreshore, where live entertainment, food stalls and double fireworks displays — first at 9.30pm and again at midnight — created a lively celebration hub for locals and visitors alike.
Other communities
including Metung and Buchan also lit up the night with
fireworks and community gatherings, ensuring that East Gippsland’s New Year’s Eve was marked by shared celebration and spectacular skies across the region.
Overall, the festivities offered a memorable start to 2026 for residents and holiday makers, combining local music, community spirit and dazzling
pyrotechnics against the
backdrop of the Gippsland Lakes.
