THE GREAT GUMMY BEAR ESCAPE
A Free, Immersive Festive Experience at The District Docklands
The Great Gummy Bear Escape is The District Docklands’ signature holiday installation for 2025 — a free, large-scale festive experience designed for families, visitors and city explorers. Spread across four immersive scenes, it blends vibrant design, festive lighting and custom scents into a playful walk-through journey, accessible day and night.
Follow the story of five tiny gummy bears as they journey through glowing gardens, swirling candy portals, towering castles and sparkling fountains.
Every corner of the precinct comes to life with enchanting lights, larger-than-life sculptures, festive aromas and a playful narrative that invites visitors of all ages to step into the story.
ON NOW UNTIL 6th JANUARY 2026
Open day and night • Free Tram Zone • No bookings required
Located at The District - The journey begins at the Magical Candy Tree on Star Crescent, then continues through the Candy Portal on Wharf Street, the Gummy Bear Castle near Bonds, and finishes at the Candy Fountain under the Melbourne Star.
LISTEN TO THE GREAT GUMMY BEAR ESCAPE STORY
THE MAGICAL CANDY TREE
Tucked inside the Candy Garden, beneath a canopy of twinkling lights, stands the heart of the story.
The journey begins beneath the twinkling lights of Star Crescent, where a towering Magical Candy Tree stands glowing with vibrant colour. This is the heart of the Candy Garden — a whimsical starting point where visitors first encounter the five gummy bears, each represented through colourful lighting, playful design moments and an immersive festive scent.
Designed for photos, discovery and family-friendly exploration, this installation invites guests to linger under its illuminated branches before following the trail to the next chapter of the experience.
Red for passion and courage. Blue for calm and wisdom. Green for kindness and nature. Purple for love and unity. Pink for joy and feminine magic.
Curious and wide-eyed, the bears begin exploring their new world. At the edge of the Candy Garden, they discover a swirling portal of candy-coloured light — fizzing, sparkling, and calling them forward.
Hand in hand, they leap together into the unknown… and the escape begins.
GRAND CENTRAL BEAR STATION
Where imagination takes flight and festive wonder unfolds.
From the Candy Garden, the trail leads to the Candy Portal, a bright, swirling installation designed to feel like a step into another world. Lit with vibrant colour and shaped like a festive gateway, the portal introduces visitors to Grand Central Bear Station, home to the giant fluffy teddy bear who symbolises warmth, welcome and the spirit of Christmas at The District.
GUMMY BEAR CASTLE
A festive celebration for every visitor.
Further along Star Crescent sits the Gummy Bear Castle, a joyful, larger-than-life scene celebrating the great gummy gathering.
Bright colours, glossy candy forms and playful oversized bears create a sense of celebration and movement, as though the gummy bears have gathered for a festive party.
This installation encourages photos, exploration and “finding the bears,” making it a favourite stop for families and visitors exploring the precinct by day or night.
THE CANDY FOUNTAIN
Where imagination takes flight and festive wonder unfolds.
The final chapter of the trail unfolds beneath the Melbourne Star, where visitors discover the spectacular Candy Fountain— a shimmering centrepiece surrounded by glowing candy forms and illuminated streams of “sugar light.”
This installation brings the story full circle, symbolising the source of sweetness that brings the entire precinct to life. It’s designed as a stunning finale and a must-see at night, when the lighting effects transform the space into a glowing festive landmark.
Where sweetness comes alive and every sparkle tells a story — Magic awaits at The District.
FAQs
Is The Great Gummy Bear Escape holiday experience free?
Yes! The Great Gummy Bear Escape experience is free for you to come and enjoy.
When is The Great Gummy Bear Escape open?
The full installation is accessible by walking through our laneways every day and night until 6 January.
Where can I find each scene of the experience?
The journey begins at the Magical Candy Tree on Star Crescent near Docklands Drive, then continues through the Candy Portal on Wharf Street, the Gummy Bear Castle again on Star Crescent near Bonds, and finishes at the Candy Fountain under the Melbourne Star.
Is The Great Gummy Bear Escape suitable for children and prams?
Absolutely — the entire experience is family-friendly, pram-friendly, and designed for visitors of all ages to explore comfortably.
Is parking available at The District while visiting the experience?
Yes. The District offers 90 minutes of free parking in our West and East Car Parks, plus easy access via the Free Tram Zone.
WIN A $500 GIFT CARD
The Great Gummy Bear Escape – Competition Summary
Share your best photo or video of The Great Gummy Bear Escape or your experience at The District Docklands for the chance to win a $500 The District Docklands Gift Card.
To enter, post your original content on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok between 1 December 2025 and 10pm on 6 January 2026, and tag @thedistrictdocklands so we can see it. You can enter more than once, as long as each entry is your own original content and you live in Australia and are 16+.
One winner will be selected based on creativity, originality and overall appeal. The winner will be contacted by DM within 14 days of the competition ending and must respond within 48 hours, or a new winner may be selected.
This is a summary only. Please read the full Terms and Conditions before entering.