After a two year hiatus, a free and all-ages festival is returning to the banks of the Maribyrnong River this November. This nine-hour event will feature an incredible line-up of Australian musical talent, including ARIA award winners and Triple J favourites. On top of that, there will be heaps of family-friendly events and activities, including an inflatable regatta, carnival rides and a dazzling laser and water show on the river. Illuminate the River will take place on Saturday November 19.
Illuminate the River
The line-up this year will be the biggest and boldest in the festival’s three-year history. Artists on the line-up include Yolngu icon Baker Boy, Melbourne trio Something for Kate, electronic dance band Art vs Science, Eurovision representative Montaigne, indie-pop singer Mia Wray and kid favourites the Teeny Tiny Stevies. These artists will take over the main stage by the river in Aberfeldie. Meanwhile, home-grown and local acts will perform on two other stages.
“People will be so excited to have the chance to see artists of this calibre in Moonee Valley,” said Mayor of Moonee Valley City Council Samantha Byrne. “The fact that they can also see them for free is something they might even find hard to believe.”
During the festival, you’ll also have plenty of fun with an inflatable regatta, kids’ activities, reptile encounters and a Box Wars workshop. There will also be a carnival, with classic rides like a Ferris wheel and dodgem cars.
Enjoy a drink in the beer garden, and satiate your hunger by checking out the food trucks.
The festival will end with a spectacular water and laser show on the river. Expect plenty of vibrant lasers, arc jets, pyro displays and projections, all choreographed into a dazzling show.
Illuminate the River will run from 12pm to 9pm.