Moomba Festival Is Set To Bring Mayhem And Frivolity This March
Peter Hitchener and Fifi Box are this year’s Moomba Monarchs.
Melbourne’s longest-running and largest community festival is coming back! Expect the classic traditions, like the Moomba Monarchs at the Monday street parade, Birdman Rally on the Yarra River and the Moomba Carnival. See Moomba Festival over the long weekend in March, from Friday March 11 to Monday March 14. Remember, entry into Moomba is free!
Moomba Festival
Celebrate on the banks of the Yarra River at this beloved festival. After a tough couple of years due to COVID-19, this party is going to bring plenty of excitement and frivolity to the city. This year, almost one million people are expected to attend the festival.
After a hiatus in 2021, the colourful Moomba Parade, Birdman Rally and Moomba Masters are coming back.
“Moomba is going ahead full tilt,” said Lord Mayor Sally Capp. “All of these elements that we know and love are coming back in 2022.”
Highlights of Moomba include:
- Moomba Parade – see the Moomba Monarchs, as well as 1800 performers and dozens of dazzling new floats
- Birdman Rally – in this hilarious competition, brave participants don handmade flying devices, and throw themselves over the Yarra in the name of charity
- Moomba Carnival – discover thrilling rides for all ages, including The Beast, which reaches speeds of 120 km/hr
- Moomba Masters – see both international and Australian water ski and wakeboard athletes compete on the Yarra
- Dance Zone – check out dance workshops, performances, kids yoga and more
- Pirate’s Cove – this kids play area features a sea-themed playground, roving performers, face painting and, of course, treasure hunts!
- Moomba Stage – find entertainment for all ages, including sing-along drag time, bubble shows and Bluey
- Skateboarding competitions – head to Riverslide Skate Park and see the Australian Skateboarding League’s National Final, as well as demos and free scoot, skate and BMX clinics
This year, there will also be other fun festival activities, like a silent disco, roving entertainment and nightly fireworks. To eat, there will be over 20 food trucks to choose from.
For the first time, Moomba will be a carbon neutral certified event. This will see the diversion of over 4.5 tonnes of organic food waste. In addition, this event will launch the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower initiative. Anyone who needs assistance can choose to wear a Sunflower symbol, so that trained staff can offer their assistance. Sunflower lanyards will be available for free on-site.
Of course, visitors are advised to continue to behave in COVID-Safe ways, such as social distancing and hand sanitising.
The Moomba Monarchs
Leading the parade this year will be iconic media personalities, Peter Hitchener OAM and Fifi Box.
“I am thrilled to crown Fifi and Hitchy as this year’s Moomba Monarchs,” said the Lord Mayor. “These treasured Melbourne media icons have delivered news and entertained us for years. They also add a lot of value to the community as terrific contributors, so we know they will bring plenty of fun and excitement to the event.”
Fifi first heard the news that she would be a Monarch while she was doing the laundry. Meanwhile, Hitchener first heard about it during a news break.
“It really is a huge honour,” he said. “Something that I could never have dreamed of happening since I first discovered Melbourne and moved here in 1974. And I discovered what a wonderful place this is, fell in love and never expected anything like this.”
For Fifi, this March festival marked the start of the year when she was young. “It was the most exciting thing to look forward to,” she said. “The rides and the food, let’s be honest, they were the highlight for me.” But, the highlight for her this year will be hanging out with Peter Hitchener all day. “I mean, not everyone gets to do that,” she said. “He’s the king of Melbourne!”
Key info about Moomba Festival:
Opening hours:
- Friday March 11, 5pm to 11pm
- Saturday March 12, 11am to 11pm
- Sunday March 13, 11am to 11pm
- Monday March 14, 11am to 10pm
Where: Alexandra Gardens and Birrarung Marr
For more information and details, explore the Moomba Festival website.