THE City of Greater Bendigo is optimistic about the community's chances of hosting a second White Night, as the state government revamps the event's program.
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Ballarat will stage its third White Night this year, but the government has yet to announce whether Bendigo or Geelong will be offered a second opportunity to shine.
Bendigo tourism and major events manager Terry Karamaloudis said the city hoped to expand the precinct in which the nocturnal open-air arts spectacle, famed for its light-based installations, was staged if it was lucky enough to host a second event.
He identified Bull Street and the Dai Gum San Chinese precinct as areas he felt could be incorporated in a future program.
More than 60,000 people attended White Night in Bendigo last year, about 20,000 more than Ballarat's inaugural event in 2017.
The crowds in Bendigo were comparable to Ballarat's last year.
"In October last year, we announced that we’d be moving White Night to winter and committed to bringing the event back to regional Victoria in 2019," a government spokesperson said.
"We’re currently working on what the new program will look like and we’ll have more to say soon."
White Night Ballarat was announced in October as the lead for Victoria's White Night.
In addition to transitioning to winter, Melbourne's White Night will be incorporated into a three-day festival festival with a broader program in 2019.
Mr Karamaloudis said the anticipation of whether or not Bendigo would get a second White Night was not unlike the suspense ahead of the inaugural event's announcement.
"I'm ok with it," he said.
He believed the city had put its best case for another White Night forward, and was supported in its enthusiasm to host the event again.
A return of White Night would be another opportunity to showcase what a beautiful city Greater Bendigo was, Mr Karamaloudis said.
With it would come a positive economic impact and the foundations for repeat visitation.
Mr Karamaloudis said events such as White Night also helped to build civic pride.
White Night Bendigo was on September 1.
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Emma D'Agostino
Covering general news and Bendigo council.
Covering general news and Bendigo council.
