white bridge over river near city buildings during daytime

Melbourne, VIC · Autumn

Moomba Festival

Labour Day long weekend, early-to-mid March (4 days)

Moomba is Melbourne's free community festival and among the largest free festivals in Australia, held on the banks of the Yarra across the Labour Day long weekend in March. Running since 1955, it delivers carnival rides, water sports, parades, fireworks each night and the gleefully absurd Birdman Rally, in which homemade flying machines launch off a platform into the river.

Attendances across the weekend top a million. The riverbank precinct from Alexandra Gardens to Birrarung Marr carries most of the program, all walkable from the CBD. It is unpretentious, family-first Melbourne, and the Monday holiday keeps the whole weekend easy.

  • Family Festival
  • Community Event
  • Major Event
  • Free entry
When
Labour Day long weekend, early-to-mid March (4 days)
How often
Every year
Venue
Alexandra Gardens and Yarra riverbanks
Crowd
Estimated 1,000,000+ across the weekend
Entry
Free
Setting
Outdoor
Public holiday
Labour Day (VIC)
Alexandra Gardens and Yarra riverbanksEstimated 1,000,000+ across the weekendOfficial event site

Dates shown follow the event's typical pattern; exact dates change each year, so confirm on the official site before booking travel.

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