With its busy, year-round events calendar, Melbourne stakes its claim as Australia’s events capital. Appreciative audiences flock to the historic theatres, state-of-the-art stadiums and venues for international sporting championships, regular Australian football league games, international entertainment and festivals throughout the year.
AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE (AFL) 2011 Toyota AFL Premiership Season
Where: Across Australia
When: 24 March – 1 October 2011
Every autumn Australian Football League (AFL) fans don their team colours for the opening bounce of the AFL Premiership Season, which extends to the beginning of October. Grab yourself a seat and soak up the atmosphere amid the passionate fans and colourful team mascots. Matches are held each weekend at the undercover state-of-the-art Etihad Stadium at Docklands or at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Cheer the mascots from the ranks of the noisy capacity crowds at matches played each weekend of the 22-week season. The top eight teams line up for the September finals, which culminate in the parades, parties and ultimate contest of the 1 October Toyota AFL Grand Final. As Australia’s most popular sport, the AFL continues to surpass attendance records each year.
www.afl.com.au
MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL
Where: Venues around the city
When: 26 August – 4 September 2011
Hear your favourite author speak at the annual celebration of the written word. The Melbourne Writers Festival brings together over 300 of the world’s best wordsmiths to share their stories with avid audiences. Find out what’s on at The Wheeler Centre for books, writing and ideas, or head to Federation Square and other venues throughout Australia’s only UNESCO City of Literature to listen to acclaimed writers, reviewers, commentators, and avid readers speak. You can also attend a master class, a reading or a debate.
www.mwf.com.au/
SPRING RACING CARNIVAL INCORPORATING THE MELBOURNE CUP CARNIVAL
Where: Metropolitan courses at Flemington, Moonee Valley, Caulfield and Sandown and country race courses all over Victoria
When: 17 September – 20 November 2011
Victoria’s Spring Racing Carnival is renowned for its world-class thoroughbred racing, elegant fashion, entertainment, events and celebrity appearances at metropolitan and country race meetings across the state. The pinnacle event is the world’s most famous two-mile handicap, the Melbourne Cup, popularly known as ‘The Race That Stops the Nation™'.
www.springracingcarnival.com.au
MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL
Where: Various Venues
When: 6 – 22 October 2011
The city's flagship cultural event, Melbourne International Arts Festival (MIAF) is regarded as one of Australia's premier festivals, celebrating performing and visual arts from around the world. Held each October, MIAF hosts exclusive performances by some of the finest national and international artists and companies. Almost half a million people attend over 500 performances, including free and ticketed dance, theatre, music, visual arts, multimedia and outdoor events. The 2011 event coincides with the 5th World Summit on Arts & Culture. Festival Artistic Director Brett Sheehy is programming the summit’s cultural events (scheduled for 3-6 October).
www.melbournefestival.com.au
BOXING DAY TEST MATCH
Where: Melbourne Cricket Ground
When: 26 – 30 December 2011
The Boxing Day Test cricket match is played each year beginning on 26 December at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It pitches the Australian cricket team against the opposition national team touring Australia that summer. Having been defeated by England in 2010, Australia will be keen to regain the title in 2011 when they face the Indian team. For information about tickets to the Boxing Day Test see the Cricket Australia website.
www.cricket.com.au
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
Where: Melbourne Park
When: 16 – 29 January 2012
Every year in January, Melbourne Park comes alive for the Australian Open Tennis Championships, a festival of on and off-court entertainment that is enjoyed by the players and fans alike. See the biggest names in international tennis battle it out for a total prize pool that totalled $25 million in 2011. Over 500 of the world’s best players vie for the glory of winning the first Grand Slam event of the year. More than 45 nations are represented in the main singles draws alone. Grab a centre court ticket and take in all the atmosphere of this exciting event. The Australian Open gets bigger and better every year so don't miss your chance to see the world's best tennis players compete for the honour of a Grand Slam title.
www.australianopen.com
For a full list of events, see www.visitvictoria.com.au.
THE MELBOURNE FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL
Where: Various Venues
When: 2 – 12 March, 2012
Join the feast that is the annual Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. Since its launch in 1993, it has grown to be the largest food and wine festival in the Southern Hemisphere. It attracts hundreds of thousands of lovers of food and wine to participate in a busy program of over 250 events including classes, demonstrations, forums, and plenty of opportunities to sample the best of local food and wine. Book to hear celebrity chefs talk about their food philosophies, or attend a culinary master class. Learn how to grow your own at edible gardens in the city, pull up a deck chair for food-flavoured alfresco cinema, or find a seat at the World’s Longest Lunch, hosted at surprising settings in Melbourne and around the State.
www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au
2012 FORMULA 1™ AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX
Where: Albert Park Lake, Melbourne
When: 15 – 18 March, 2012
The fastest men on four wheels come to Melbourne’s purpose-built 5.3-kilometre track in Albert Park in March to contest the FORMULA 1™ Australian Grand Prix. This four-day carnival of speed, glamour and excitement features the world’s best drivers, V8s, great music, food, festivities and performances by leading DJs and musicians.
www.grandprix.com.au
MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL
Where: Various Venues
When: 28 March – 22 April 2012
Melbourne’s annual festival of mirth has the whole city laughing out loud each autumn. One of the three largest comedy festivals in the world, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival attracts more than 500,000 comedy fans who attend over 300 hilarious events at venues around the city. The program includes stand-up comedy, cabaret, theatre, street performance, film, television, radio and visual arts. See performances by the international greats of comedy, local favourites, and hopeful newcomers who brave open mic competitions or launch shows of their own. Don’t miss annual events Raw Comedy, Class Clowns Teenage Gala, and the Deadly Funny indigenous comedy competition.
www.comedyfestival.com.au
MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FLOWER AND GARDEN SHOW
Where: Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens
When: 28 March – 1 April 2012
Every autumn the largest horticultural event in the Southern Hemisphere blooms on the edge of the Melbourne central business district. Ranked in the top five flower shows in the world, the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show showcases the work of Australia’s best landscape and floral designers as well as garden retail products, great food and entertainment for all ages.
www.melbflowershow.com.au