Another year, another sell-out—and what a party it was! Darker Days 2025 turned up the heat in Bright with the perfect combo of crisp alpine air, golden winter sunshine, roaring bonfires, and brews flowing faster than you could say “Bubblegum Hazy IPA.”
Locals and visitors rugged up and rolled in, ready to raise a glass to the solstice with top-notch drinks, killer tunes, and good vibes all around.
The taps were working overtime with dark beer bars, spirits, cider and wine. Craft beer fans were in heaven with pours from Urbanaut (NZ), Seeker Brewing (whose Honeycomb Pastry Stout flew out faster than we could pour it), Boatrocker, and Stomping Ground, dishing out everything from crisp pilsners to tangy sours and barrel-aged beauties.
Blanc Space Tattoos were inking non-stop, and the Hot Dawg Toss brought the laughs and some surprisingly competitive energy. DJ Zabi kept the beats flowing between epic live sets from Wild Gloriosa, Patrick Wilson, Liv Cartledge, Hassall, and headliners British India, who totally rocked with three encores and a crowd that didn’t want the night to end.
And of course, the bonfire—always a Darker Days highlight —blazed bright as the ultimate symbol of the solstice, marking the moment darkness descended in spectacular style.
A big thanks to our amazing sponsors: Liquex Logistics, Bintani, Alpine Shire, and East Coast Canning—you helped make the magic happen.
This year’s official festival beer? A cheeky collab with Urbanaut Brewing called “Tax Deductable Work Trip”—a smooth, sessionable NZ Low Carb IPA that’s as fun as it sounds. Keep an eye out—it’s available online and at the venue now.
Already counting down? Mark your calendars for the third weekend of June 2026—we’ll be back, bigger, bolder, and darker than ever.
