Travel Tips for Moomba Festival 2021
Moomba Festival 2021 is one of the most celebrated events in Melbourne. It is a family friendly event, but can accommodate people of all ages, and is the largest free festival in all of Australia. If you are travelling to Melbourne, or a resident, then heading to Moomba should be something on your calendar.
Getting into Moomba is free, but you may want to have some cash put aside for travel, accommodation, food, and any rides that you wish to go on. The event lasts for four days and is usually held in conjunction with the Victorian public holiday of Labour Day. It is best to arrive into Melbourne on Thursday as it’ll give you some time to settle in and prepare for the event. You can check out the Moomba program to uncover what you really want to see, but many people find that simply walking through the event area is more than enough. The gates to Moomba Festival 2021 open at 5pm on Friday 5th or March. As this year the program is slightly modified (COVID-19 strikes again!), it’s a requirement that you register for a three hour stay at any of the Alexandria Gardens events.
What is the Moomba Festival?
The Moomba Festival had its beginnings in 1951 with an event to celebrate fifty years of federation. It started as a parade and included a staged theatre production titled “An Aboriginal Moomba: Out of the Dark”. However, it was in 1954 that an autumn carnival was proposed to coincide with a visit from the Queen (which was her first to Melbourne), it was this festival that was first titled as “Moomba”.
The word Moomba is actually a little bit of a miscommunication with event organisers believing it means ‘Let’s get together and have fun’, but it has been found that this was not the case, and rather the name was suggested as a bit of a joke on the organisers. But anyway, Melbournians know the festival well, and for them it does mean to have a good time with your family.
What can I do at Moomba Festival 2021?
The Moomba Festival 2021 is an altered program over the usual Moomba event (it has been dubbed as Moomba 2.0) as it has to contend with restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. This unfortunately means that some of the popular events cannot be held. Although there were fears that the festival was not going to be held at all, especially with the outbreak that saw most of Melbourne in lockdown for several months. The events that are not going ahead include, the Birdman Rally, the Moomba Parade, and the nightly Fireworks; this is due to the fact that these events draw large crowds where it can be difficult to monitor and socially distance properly.
One of the better things about the Moomba Festival 2021 is that for the first time the event will be scattered throughout the city, so there is more to see and do. Our favourite would have to be checking out some of the excellent busking that is happening at various locations. There are events spread from Alexandra Gardens all the way to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, we’d highly recommend checking out some of the local busking talent as you walk through the area.
A large part of Moomba Festival 2021 is all the carnival rides and side show games. These are usually set up along the Yarra River. Many of the rides are child friendly, and there’s always something for the thrill seeker. While you at it you can have try to win at the carnival style side show games. Some of the games include the laughing clowns, balloon darts, duck pond, and the milk can toss. You are sure to find something to show of your talents, and have a bit of fun!
What is there to eat at Moomba?
In Melbourne you really are spoiled for choice when it comes to food options. There is a restaurant, takeaway venue, or food truck that can serve all sorts of meals. Many of these are suitable for all dietary requirements. It’s a good idea to book in for a table if you’re looking to eat at a sit-down restaurant. Moomba Festival 2021 is likely going to see many places full to (their limited) capacity.
How to get to Moomba Festival?
Melbourne has many public transport options, including busses, trains, and the largest tram network in Australia. If you are staying at a hotel in the city it is possible to walk to the festival location. Melbourne is a very safe city you should have no trouble getting there and back. However, as the city is large and quite hilly in some areas it can be easy to lose track of where you are staying. The public transport system is fairly reliable; although it does not usually operate past midnight (there maybe be some operating during the event).
What is the best option for transport to Moomba?
For the best in transportation around Melbourne you can rely on the services as offered by Maxi Cab Melbourne Airport. If you’re flying into Melbourne, we can take you from the airport directly to your hotel; then later take you to Moomba Festival 2021 and return once you’re finished. You can book in for our services through the form on our website, or you can call our team directly on 03 8374 2232. As Moomba is a large event that attracts over a million visitors it’s best to book in early.
Using a Maxi Cab to get you around the city of Melbourne can be the cheapest and easiest transport option. We can fit up to eleven people including luggage into our vans and that means you’ll save money on travel. This is especially true if you are travelling from, or to, any of Melbourne’s airports. For residents living in Melbourne, you can call on our team to pick you up from your home. Then when you’re ready, arrange to meet our team members at a location that is best for you. This can limit your walking time and maximize the time you can spend at Moomba 2021.
Enjoy your Moomba Festival Melbourne visit!
Moomba Festival 2021 is going to be a slightly different event to what the previous years were. However, we’re sure that it’ll be a huge success; especially as it has proven to be such a winning event with all Melbournians and visitors. You can visit one day, or all four, as there is plenty to see and do. We know it will be a memorable event for all involved!
