Moomba Festival

Name: Moomba Festival
Start: 2025-03-06
End: 2025-03-09
Location: Melbourne

A Celebration of Smiles, Light, and Community on Melbourne’s Riverside

2026/03/05 - 2026/03/08

Every March, Melbourne’s Yarra River comes alive with the energy and joy of the Moomba Festival—a colorful event celebrating Australia’s multicultural harmony. For four days, over a million people gather for Melbourne’s largest festival, enjoying parades, fireworks, watersports, carnivals, live music, and multicultural performances. Whether you’re with family, seeking thrills, or just want to soak up the city’s festive buzz, Moomba is Melbourne’s happiest weekend of the year.

Giant floats gliding down the parade route, laughter and live bands, the sweet scent of popcorn and fairy floss, and street food savored under the autumn sun… Moomba is a feast for the senses and a true symbol of Melbourne’s diverse and warm community spirit.

Main Attractions

Moomba Parade

The annual parade features over 2,000 performers, dancers, and musicians in dazzling costumes. Giant floats—some over 10 meters tall—along with community groups, schools, and multicultural organizations showcase Melbourne’s diversity and creativity. The parade’s vibrant colors and energy make it a hit with kids and adults alike.

Birdman Rally & Watersports

The festival’s iconic Birdman Rally sees costumed daredevils launch homemade “flying machines” into the Yarra River. The splashes, cheers, and outrageous designs are pure Moomba fun. Throughout the festival, the river hosts world-class water skiing, wakeboarding, and jet ski competitions, adding excitement to the riverside.

Carnival & Night Fireworks

The festival grounds transform into a carnival with rides, games, and food stalls. At night, fireworks light up the Yarra and Melbourne skyline, their reflections and the scent of sweet treats filling the air with celebration.

Costumes and Decorations

Parade performers don sequins and feathers, while families sport face paint and festival hats. The riverbanks are decorated with banners, lanterns, and art installations, and the tactile feel of confetti and popcorn adds to the Moomba experience.

Traditional Food & Drink

Classic Aussie festival fare—hot dogs, meat pies, fairy floss, churros—line the grounds. International street food adds to the variety, with the aromas of grilling, frying, and sugar in the air. Food trucks serve cold drinks and coffee to keep everyone refreshed.

Cultural and Historical Background

The Moomba Festival was born in post-war Melbourne in the 1950s, a time of rapid immigration and urban growth that was shaping a new multicultural society. There was a desire for a large-scale celebration to unite citizens and foster a new urban identity. Inspired by Queen Elizabeth II’s 1954 visit and the huge crowds it drew, the first Moomba Festival was launched in 1955 as an event for all Melburnians to join.

The name “Moomba” was officially adopted and is said to come from an Aboriginal word meaning “let’s get together and have fun” or “let’s celebrate.” Early Moomba festivals centered on parades, water shows, carnivals, and fireworks, with immigrant communities and local groups actively participating—making it a symbol of multicultural coexistence.

From the 1960s, Moomba expanded every year, introducing unique events like the Birdman Rally, the crowning of Moomba Monarchs, and increasingly international performances. It became a place where people of all backgrounds and generations could gather, symbolizing Melbourne’s pride and unity as a multicultural city.

Today, Moomba is Australia’s largest free community festival, attracting over 1.5 million visitors annually. It marks the start of autumn and is a cherished tradition where families, friends, and newcomers can feel part of Melbourne, creating memories and celebrating together across generations.

Participant Voices

I came for the Birdman Rally. Watching costumed people launch themselves into the river was hilarious! One contestant told me their flying machine was made of pool floats and dreams. The music, food, and everyone’s smiles made me glad to be in this city.