Moomba is a free festival that is happening this year from 9th-12th of March 2012. This festival includes a range of events such as live music, skateboarding, water-skiing, and things for kids. Melbourne festival goers will also have a chance to partake in fireworks, carnival rides, and a trapeze set up (featuring workshops and displays).
Image by n.hewson
Opening night will usher in the festival with Victorian Opera performances such as
Carmen and
La Bohème,
Rigoletto as well as entertaining audiences with songs from well-loved musicals such as
Carousel and
A Little Night Music. These musical performances will be held at the festival's main stage on the 9th of March starting at 7pm.
To help get into the spirit of the festival, there will be a Moomba Parade that begins near the
Shrine of Remembrance and ending near the Moomba Festival site. The theme this year is 'Melbourne is Delicious' and will highlight culinary diversity and culture. Come and check out the music, dance moves, and costumes.
Children can come along on Saturday (10 March), Sunday (11 March) or Monday (12 March) for free face painting from 11am to 6pm or dress up in costume using the Moomba Dress Up Chest (both are found in the 'Kids Area', refer to visitor map). There are many other activities, workshops, and stage performances for kids to enjoy.
Image by Melburnian
There will be lots of bands and talent performing for adults and their families on the main music stage area, but with over 100 acts, 40 hours of music, 7 performance spaces, and 4 stages, it may be a little hard to decide what to go and listen to. If you feel like getting a little groovy, maybe check out 8 Bit Love on Saturday, 10th of March from 9pm to 9.40pm. Or, if your ear turns more to the pop music scene you can try out the vocals of Eagle and the Worm at 4pm to 4.45pm on Monday, 12 March.
If you are not so into music, then come see the impressive athletic feats of those participating in the Moomba BMX Competition (Sunday, 11th March). These performers will be whipping out tricks and flips that are sure to impress. Water-skiing competitions will have just as much height, if not more, as competitors duke it out to see who can hold on and flip around at high speeds along the Yarra. These competitions will actually begin on the 8th March and run throughout the day and night during the festival.
Not to be left out is the infamous 'Birdman' competition. Every day Melburnians dress up and use creatively designed contraptions to fly across (or sometimes dive straight into) the water. Money raised goes to charity and prizes are awarded based on costumes and the distance covered by their contraptions. It is a not-so-serious sport and good fun to watch, so do come along and check it out.
All events and performances take place along the Yarra River and St Kilda Road (click here to see
visitor map). Volunteers will also be handing out visitor information and maps on each day of the festival.
Image links:
n.hewson (trapeze)
n.hewson (water flying contraption)
Melburnian (festival scene)
