Moomba Festival is Melbourne’s largest free community festival and one of the longest running of its kind in the country.
Each year in autumn, Melbourne comes alive with festivities that unfold in city streets, parks, and along the banks of the Yarra River. The family-friendly festival is run by the City of Melbourne and takes place over the Labour Day long weekend in March.
The history of the Moomba Festival dates back well over 50 years to 1955; today, the keenly-anticipated event attracts upwards of 800,000 locals and visitors from all over the world. Moomba features a program of music, performance, dance, art, theatre and sports – all for free, and for all ages.
The centrepiece of the four-day event is the Moomba Parade, which winds through the heart of the CBD in a stunning collage of music and colour. The parade features dazzling floats, community groups, local celebrities and professional entertainers, as well as the newly-crowned Moomba Monarchs.
Famous past Moomba Monarchs include Kate Ceberano, Ruby Rose, Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum, The Oarsome Foursome, Cathy Freeman, Bert Newton, Graham Kennedy, John Farnham and Mickey Mouse.
Other favourite Moomba events include the Birdman Rally where entrants compete to see who can “fly” furthest into the Yarra River, the Moomba Masters Waterskiing that showcases elite Australian and International water ski and wakeboard athletes and, of course, the Moomba fireworks – a breathtaking pyrotechnic display that takes place on each night of the festival.
There is no better place in the city from which to soak up all the fun and excitement of one of Melbourne’s most spectacular events. Situated on the edge of the Yarra, Clarion Suites Gateway is just minutes away from all the action of the Moomba Festival.
