04 Mar March 6-9: Birdman Rally, MFWF top picks and Spartan Race
Moomba Festival
DATE: Fri 6 – Mon 9 Mar
TIME: Fri 11am – 10pm, Sat and Sun 10am – 10pm, Mon 9:30am – 10pm
LOCATION: Birrarung Marr and Alexandra Gardens, Melbourne
COST: Free
WEBSITE: www.thatsmelbourne.com.au/Moomba
What’s going on: Since 1955, Moomba has been growing into the iconic Melbourne festival which we know and love today. As Australia’s largest community festival, it has a great deal to offer. There are rides, watersports on the Yarra, food, live performances, parades and fireworks. You name it, Moomba’s got you covered!
Beer Garden Banquet (MFWF)
DATE: Fri 6 Mar
TIME: 6pm – 9pm
LOCATION: Jardin Tan, Royal Botanic Gardens, Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra
COST: $120
WEBSITE: www.jardintan.com.au
What’s going on: Step into French Vietnam for the evening that is Jardin Tan Beer Garden. The outdoor venue will be made that little bit more magical with colourful lanterns and a fitting soundtrack! There is a special menu planned and an even more impressive beverage line up – Boutique cocktails, wine on tap, craft beers and to top it all off Vietnamese coffee Affogatos.
Tip: Reservations are essential – get in before someone else takes your place!
Port Phillip Mussel Festival (MFWF)
DATE: Sat 7 – Sun 8 Mar
TIME: Sat 11am – 10pm, Sun 11am – 8pm
LOCATION: South Melbourne Markets, Cecil Street, South Melbourne
COST: Free
WEBSITE: www.southmelbournemarket.com.au
What’s going on: Get ready for bucketloads of Mussels! Local iconic restaurants are set to dish up some delightful street food and there will be plenty of live entertainment too. Fun for the kids and even something for people who rock up expecting a “muscle” fest – the Australiasian Natural Bodybuilding Association will be there representing and strutting their stuff.
Tip: Bring a picnic blanket – it will come in handy!
Luminosity
DATE: Sat 7 Mar
TIME: 5pm – 10pm
LOCATION: Park Room, Melbourne Olympic Park, Function Centre, Olympic Boulevard, Melbourne
COST: $40 adult, $20 Child, $85 family pass
WEBSITE: www.luminosity.org.au
What’s going on: Luminosity is a very special event which raises awareness for Endometriosis. It involves yoga and movement sessions in a vibrant, glowing, neon environment. Look forward to yoga demos from the likes of hip hop Yoga 213 and Rise Yoga, Brazillian drumming and dance, and a hula hoop workshop.
Tip: BYO yoga mat and wear as much white as possible so you shine bright under the UV lights.
Progressive Degustation (MFWF)
DATE: Sat 7 Mar
TIME: Staggered start times between 5pm and 6:30pm
LOCATION: Akachochin, 33 South Wharf Promenade, South Wharf
COST: $90 (includes six courses with beverages)
WEBSITE: www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au
What’s going on: The South Wharf precinct aka ‘SoWa’ is your foodie destination for the evening. Via 6 unique venues, experience 6 delicious courses matched with wine, sake or spirits – finishing off with cocktails by the river. SoWa-mazing!
Day Tripping (MFWF)
DATE: Sat 7 Mar
TIME: 12pm – 5pm
LOCATION: St Hotel, 54 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
COST: $40 (includes 5 hawker dishes)
WEBSITE: www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au
What’s going on: Doing South East Asian like a boss – St Hotel invite the likes of Hannoi Hannah, Saigon Sally, Tokyo Tina and Ba Noi into their abode to host a day festival of Hawker stalls, tunes and asian market atmosphere on the Southside. Get amongst it!
Birdman Rally at Moomba Festival
DATE: Sun 8 Mar
TIME: 12pm – 2pm
LOCATION: Alexandra Gardens, St Kilda Road, Melbourne
COST: Free
WEBSITE: www.thatsmelbourne.com.au/Moomba
What’s going on: If you have never seen a Birdman Rally before you need to get your butt down to the banks of the river, find a good perch and JUST WATCH. If you have been before, you will know just how entertaining it is to see people attempt to soar with the help of their flying devices, inevitably ending up in the Yarra – it’s just a funny, random thing to do with your afternoon!
Melbourne Japanese Summer Festival
DATE: Sun 8 Mar
TIME: 12pm – 6pm
LOCATION: Federation Square, Melbourne
COST: Free
WEBSITE: www.jcci-jsm.org.au
What’s going on: Come and get cultural at the Japanese Summer Festival. Delight in all this beautiful country has to offer – from Calligraphy to kimonos, sushi to origami and tea ceremony to anime – this festival will really immerse you in a different world.
MARCS Laneway Festival (MFWF)
DATE: Sun 8 Mar
TIME: 12pm – 7pm
LOCATION: ACDC Lane and Duckboard Place (off Flinders Lane), Melbourne
COST: Free
WEBSITE: www.marcslanewayfestival.com.au
What’s going on: I bet you would like to know what MARCS stands for – well it’s pretty much all your favourite things – Melbourne Art Restaurant Cocktail Sound. Sound like your jam? Hell yes! You’ve gotta check this sweet laneway festival out – expect local restaurants and bars to be providing the eats and drinks, live music and artists performing live in conjuction with Authority Clothing. Honestly, could this be any cooler?
‘U Mercatu’ Sicilian Market (MFWF)
DATE: Sun 8 Mar
TIME: 12pm – 5pm
LOCATION: Bar Idda, 132 Lygon Street, Brunswick East
COST: $90 (includes 7 ‘euros’ to be traded at the food and drink stands)
WEBSITE: www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au
What’s going on: For one day only, Bar Idda will metamorph into a traditional Sicilian marketplace, with stalls serving typical Sicilian food, vibrant entertainment and a feast of colour and culture. Fucularu, Arancini, Panelle, Gelato and Cannoli really set the scene and you even get to pay in ‘Euros’ – so you really might be transported to another time and place momentarily. Belissimo!
Meat Feud
DATE: Mon 9 Mar
TIME: 12pm – 6pm
LOCATION: The Deck at The Prince, 2 Acland Street, St Kilda
COST: $49 (includes 1 dish from each of the 6 vendors)
WEBSITE: www.melbournepubgroup.com.au
What’s going on: Meat Feud is a carnivorous carnival of all things meaty and good. Set up on The Deck at The Prince will be master meat vendors, such as Meatball and Wine Bar, Fancy Hanks BBQ and Newmarket Hotel, plus more. You meat-munchers can score each dish to see which vendor is worthy of the “Top Cut” Trophy at the end of the day. ‘Meat’ you there?
Moomba Parade
DATE: Mon 9 Mar
TIME: 11am
LOCATION: St Kilda Road, Melbourne
COST: Free
WEBSITE: www.thatsmelbourne.com.au/Moomba
What’s going on: The Moomba Parade is a mainstay of the Labor Day long weekend in Melbourne. Take your place on the sidelines and watch as all the spirit, energy, vibrancy, colour and movement of the festival waltzes down St Kilda Road. The parade involves over 2000 participants, community-designed floats, performance troupes and dance groups. Keep an eye out for Warnie and Pallavi Sharda, our Moomba ambassadors!