Festivals

Melbourne has a broad range of festivals and chances are there will be something on during your stay. If you are able to, plan your trip to coincide with your favourite festival.

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September 10, 2005 new by zan5hin

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Melbourne International Art Festival

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The premiere art festival of Australia is back, bigger and better! Choose from a host of paid or free indoor/outdoor events to enrich your soul. Much of the action is focused around the completely refurbished Melbourne Art Gallery, plus our own little Eiffel spire, the Melbourne Arts Centre just over Princess bridge from the CBD. Check the website for discount packages for everyone and super specials for backpackers and students!

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url:	www.melbournefestival.com.au
date:	6th - 22nd October 2005 12th-28th October 2006

The Royal Melbourne Show

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Animals, Rides and Showbags, Showbags, Showbags!!! The Show is Victoria's largest and longest running annual public entertainment event. It is iconic in its own right, attracting around half a million visitors each year. In 2005 they will celebrate their 150th Show. If you have kids or are a big kid at heart, you can't miss the show! A word of caution - prices have gotten ridiculous lately, so if you want to go on a few rides and get a decent showbag be prepared to treat it as like a day to Movieworld, Disneyland etc, except without the big budget stuff you more..

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url:	www.royalshow.com.au
date:	15th - 25th September
address:	Ascot Vale

St Kilda Street Festival

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The party was so big in 2005 that this bad boy will still be hung-over in 2006. Nevertheless come 2007 Ackland st and Fitzroy street will again go ballistic with the throng of hot, young bodies moving to the rhythm.

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url:	www.stkildafestival.com.au
date:	2007 (?)
address:	St Kilda

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival

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Touted as second only to the Edinburough festival, prepare to split your sides with dozens of top rated comedians from here and abroad doing thousands of acts at over 30 locations around town. Be sure to check out the Great debate which is always popular, as well as the short film festival, Raw comedy which looks for new, young talent or if you want certain laughs there is always the international headliners.
The 20th Melbourne International Comedy Festival will be held in Melbourne, Australia from 12 April to 7 May 2006.

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url:	www.comedyfestival.com.au
date:	12th April - 7th May 2006

The Melbourne Cup / Spring Racing Carnival

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The race that stops a nation. Dress up to the nines and rub shoulders with the rich and famous, or dress up in a costume and have a boozy picnic in the carpark. Either way, you're bound to have a good time.

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url:	www.springracingcarnival.com.au
date:	28th September - 16th Novermber
address:	Flemington

Festival Melbourne 2006 / Commonwealth Games 2006

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Even if sports aren't your thing, the city will come alive during this time with contemporary music, dance, exhibitions, circus and street theatre, bringing together artists and performers from across Australia and the Commonwealth. Regional Victoria including Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Moe will be included in the celebrations. All these events will be free for locals and tourists alike.

For a list of events follow the link.

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url:	www.dvc.vic.gov.au
date:	15th - 26th March 2006

Melbourne Fringe Festival

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If you like the weird, the wacky, the arty and experimental, you will love the fringe festival. Encompassing performance, visual arts, film, movement, cabaret, sound and music it takes place around the CBD but the hub is in North Melbourne (Fitzroy, Carlton, Collingwood) there is a shitload to see and do. There is also quite a bit of comedy if you missed the bigger comedy festival.

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url:	www.melbournefringe.com.au
date:	21st September - 19th October

Melbourne International Film Festival

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Sick of all the Hollywood glitz? Well then the MIFF has you covered. Showing all the best movies you've never heard about this festival is the most fun you can have in the dark (well, that's what they reckon anyway). 400+ films from 50+ countries at five venues. See the best Australian directors, regional focus with great Asian movies, plus a swag of documentaries. Experience the world with a festival passport for AU$300 and go nuts.

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url:	www.melbournefilmfestival.com.au
date:	July - August