OFFICIAL VISITOR GUIDE Melbourne Spring 2019 In Bloom Spring in Melbourne’s parks Fast Times Racing’s biggest season Festival Fun Fashion, music and more Pick up your hard copy at the MCEC Customer Service Desk Melbourne Cup Carnival Message from the Minister Welcome to Melbourne is a spectacular place to be at any time of the year, but in spring our city really Melbourne comes alive with a packed calendar of events featuring the Visitors to Melbourne are spoiled for choice with best in arts, culture and sport. sporting spectacles, arts and culture attractions, It wouldn’t be spring in Melbourne without the stylish shopping, beautiful arcades and laneways, Welcome to Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, with the Melbourne Cup as the centrepiece. and picturesque public parks. Another incredible season of Aussie Rules football will wrap up, culminating in the AFL Finals Series and the Outdoors Shopping Arts & Culture AFL Grand Final at our Melbourne Cricket Ground. Within the leafy city limits Melbourne is a favourite From grand theatres, The Melbourne International Arts Festival will feature there are beautiful botanical destination for those with a museums and galleries the best international and local artists working in gardens and public parks. passion for fashion. The city’s to laneway street art and dance, theatre, circus, music and visual arts. Explore Port Phillip Bay’s shopping precincts cater to vibrant cultural festivals, sheltered beaches, take all tastes and budgets with Melbourne is the place to With so much to see and do in Victoria this spring, a boat cruise on the Yarra luxe designer boutiques, get your fx of art, design, I encourage you to enjoy everything our city and River or follow a walking large department stores music and live shows. state has to offer. track along the water’s edge. and local artisan markets. Hon. Martin Pakula MP Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Melbourne Museum Sport Food & Wine Message from the Melbourne lives and breathes Melbourne is renowned for Lord Mayor sport. A jam-packed calendar its fair for food, acclaimed of high-profle sporting chefs and cool bar scene. With warmer days and plenty events runs year round, with The city boasts more than of sunshine, Melbourne is in full spectators able to get up 3,000 restaurants, cafes and bloom in spring. close to the action at our bars representing about world-class arenas. 75 different ethnic cuisines. Our city’s events calendar is brimming: swoon over trending styles at Melbourne Fashion Week, take in the culture of NGV Friday Nights and discover new talent at Melbourne Music Week. Sports lovers can join the crowds of footy fans for the AFL Finals Series and there’s plenty of action on and off the track at the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Check out our What’s On Melbourne website for more events. We love to see you enjoying our city: share your experiences by tagging #melbmoment on social media. Sally Capp Lord Mayor 34 4 4 What’s on Come From Away Melbourne Music Week Welcome to Melbourne AFL For more information on what’s happening in Melbourne Melbourne International Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Manuel Harlan Melbourne Fringe Festival Arts Festival whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au 17–28 September 2-20 October 25–27 October 7–24 November On Now September The Australian Ballet: Melbourne International Australian Motorcycle Night Noodle Markets The Nutcracker Arts Festival Grand Prix Melbourne Cricket Ground Now Showing 28 August – 5 September Arts Centre Various locations Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit w goodfoodmonth.com Harry Potter and Melbourne w australianballet.com.au w festival.melbourne w motogp.com.au the Cursed Child Fashion Week Princess Theatre Various locations 14-23 November 2019 w harrypottertheplay.com/au w mfw.melbourne.vic.gov.au 26–28 September 5 October Melbourne Music Week The Australian Tanderrum Various locations Burlesque Festival Federation Square November w mmw.melbourne.vic.gov.au Now Showing 31 August – 1 September Federation Square w festival.melbourne/2019/ 1 November 2019 Come From Away Melbourne w australianburlesquefest.com events/tanderrum Comedy Theatre Esports Open Gillette T20 24-28 November 2019 w comefromaway.com.au Melbourne Park International: Mozart the King 19 October Melbourne Recital Centre w ausopen.com 28 September Australia vs Sri Lanka AFL Grand Final Caulfield Cup Day Melbourne Cricket Ground w mco.org.au/event/ Until 13 October mozart-the-king/ Melbourne Cricket Ground Caulfield Racecourse w cricket.com.au 8 September Terracotta Warriors w afl.com.au w mrc.racing.com x Cai Guo-Qiang Festival of Jewish 30 November 2019 NGV International Arts and Music 2–9 November 20 October Aus-X Open w ngv.vic.gov.au Melbourne Recital Centre Melbourne Cup Carnival Marvel Stadium w fojam.com Say Cheese Festival + 2 November Victoria Derby Day October w ausxopen.com Prahran Market + 5 November Melbourne Cup Day Until 20 October w prahranmarket.com.au 1–31 October + 7 November Oaks Day Ballarat International 12–29 September + 9 November Stakes Day Foto Biennale Melbourne Victorian Seniors 25–26 October Flemington Various locations Fringe Festival Festival Various locations Cox Plate w flemington.com.au w ballaratfoto.org Various locations w seniorsonline.vic.gov.au/ Moonee Valley Racecourse w melbournefringe.com.au festivalsandawards w thevalley.com.au 5 6 Melbourne Cup Carnival Pre- and Post-match Drinks Before or after the big event, head to a cosy pub, rooftop bar or waterside drinking hole. Welcome to Melbourne Riverland Bar Toyota AFL Finals Series 01 Good Heavens Good times and 80s-inspired The Finals Countdown Footy’s Big Dance cocktails… you’ll get them For fve months, 18 teams from These two teams have slugged both here. Try the Pretty in across the nation have vied for it out since March, beating all Pink, a blend of gin, Aperol supremacy in the AFL home- others to get to the 2019 Toyota and fresh citrus. and-away season. Now, it’s the AFL Grand Final (28 September). w goodheavens.com.au MELBOURNEʼS business end of the year, with the The MCG will be packed with best eight teams polishing their supporters, and millions more 02 Corner Hotel skills while their fans dream of will watch it on television. The This old-school boozer/music Spring Fling glory. The 2019 Toyota AFL Finals day before, join the Grand Final venue is a great choice for Series (5-21 September) takes Parade (27 September), when fans footy fans. Located in the The weather’s heating up and so are excitement levels as epic place at arenas in most states, but line Spring Street and Wellington heart of Richmond and close the MCG and Marvel Stadium in Parade to cheer on the players. to the MCG, it has a rooftop events and fascinating festivals fll the calendar. Melbourne and GMHBA Stadium You’re unlikely to score a ticket bar and comfort pub food. in Geelong are where you can to the game, but join the fun w cornerhotel.com catch the action in Victoria. watching the action on Federation And They’re Racing The Carnival Begins w af.com.au/fnals Square’s big screen. 03 Waterside Hotel The thundering of hooves on turf, glamorous fashion Before the focus shifts to Flemington, feel the w af.com.au/fnals Enjoy skyline views at this and a party atmosphere can mean only one thing: thrill of Moonee Valley’s Cox Plate Carnival relaxed venue, where there’s the Melbourne Cup Carnival (2–9 November) has (25–26 October). It begins with the Ladbrokes a good selection of beer, arrived. Flemington Racecourse hosts four huge Manikato Stakes, Australia’s richest race run under wine and cocktails, as well as days of thoroughbred racing, beginning with AAMI lights in the evening. The next day, it’s the anticipated tasty pub dishes. Victoria Derby Day (2 November) before the race Ladbrokes Cox Plate. w watersidehotel.com.au that stops a nation on Lexus Melbourne Cup Day (5 w thevalley.com.au/cox-platecarnival November). Get ready for racing at the Melbourne 04 Riverland Bar Cup Parade on Swanston Street (4 November), then Caulfield Class Stare out over the Yarra River prep for the big day. There are plenty of options: One of the most important lead-up events to the as you peruse the drinks a party in the Flemington car park, being one of Melbourne Cup is the Stella Artois Caulfeld Cup list at this open-air riverside thousands of fans trackside, watching celebs at the (19 October). It’s the world’s richest turf handicap over drinking spot. Snack on Birdcage, or attending a lunch in the city. When the 2,400 metres and attracts the best from around the bratwursts cooked on the winner has been celebrated, there are still more globe. There’s plenty happening off the track, too. barbecue washed down with race days to enjoy: Kennedy Oaks Day (7 November) The Style Stakes, delicious dishes, the fnest drinks classic cocktails, beer or cider. and Seppelt Wines Stakes Day (9 November). and marquee action are a huge part of the day. w riverlandbar.com w femington.com.au/melbournecupcarnival Toyota AFL Finals Series w mrc.racing.com/calendar 7 8 The Style Files Local Ready to update your look? This is the city’s biggest Talent fashion event and one that introduces the latest looks Take a reminder of your visit for the coming season. home when you buy a piece Melbourne Fashion Week from a Melbourne designer. (until 5 September) features a jam-packed program of runway shows at Melbourne Town Hall, street Welcome to Melbourne runways, creative workshops, Collins Street stunning exhibitions and Habbot fashion seminars.