Being one of the most metropolitan cities in the country, Melbourne is home to a great many events. The few in this list are a small portion of the events that you can attend during a visit to Melbourne.
1. Victorian Gala Ball
Entering its 30th year in 2024, the Victorian Gala Ball is held annually to raise funds for the Ronald McDonald House Charities in both Victoria and Tasmania which keeps thousands of families together and close to the critical care that they need. The ball also features a silent auction and is the main annual fundraiser for the charity. If you are looking to dress in your absolute best and enjoy an evening just like royalty, then attending the Victorian Gala Ball is a great way to go.
2. Melbourne Marathon
Whether you choose a 5 or 10km run or the 3km walk, the Melbourne Marathon in December brings out some of the fittest local residents. Athletes travel from around the country and the world to participate in Australia’s largest marathon which sets its sights on raising over $1 million for charities like Beyond Blue, Peter MacCallum Cancer Research and Very Special Kids. The route snakes through the beautiful streets of Melbourne and finishes at the iconic MCG, so as a tourist this could be a great way to explore the city further.
3. Stakes Day
Mackinnon Stakes Day is held on the last day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival in November. Promoted to local and international race fans as Family Day, this is the perfect ending to the Spring Racing Carnival in Australia which sees celebrities from the world over attending prestigious race events throughout the season. Tips for the Mackinnon Stakes are eagerly sought after by punters near and far who love to experience the thrill of these incredible creatures thundering down the track. This is a great day to dress in your finest, don your favorite hat or fascinator and join the elite for a day at the races.
4. Fashion Week
Melbourne takes fashion just as seriously as Paris or Milan and Fashion Week in this great Australian city is evidence of that. If you’re looking to experience some of the world’s hottest new designers or find yourself drawn to the glamour of such prestigious events, then you will love every moment of Fashion Week in Melbourne. The festival takes place in mid-November annually and features city-wide runways, thought-provoking talks, exhibitions, workshops and more. Every year the organizers of this fantastic event continue to come up with new and exciting ideas to take fashion to the next level.
5. Rip Curl Pro
Melbourne is home to one of the world’s best surfing locations, Bells Beach. Every year in April, the Rip Curl Pro surfing competition is held just outside of Melbourne seeing the world’s top surfing competitors come together to battle the waves for the top spot. The tradition of playing AC/DC’s “Hells Bells” every morning before the first competition begins has been upheld since the song’s release in 1980. The Rip Curl Pro is part of a larger World Surfing competition and has been held annually over the Easter weekend in this location since 1961. Famous surfers who have competed include Kelly Slater, Sunny Garcia and Mick Fanning.
Choose one of these events or visit them all to experience the best of Melbourne for yourself.