The City of Melbourne’s Moomba Festival is preparing for a grand return in March 2022, with new efforts to ensure the festival is carbon neutral and more accessible to all.
Melbourne’s iconic Moomba Festival – the largest free community festival in Australia – will return to the banks of the Yarra River from 11 to 14 March 2022, with a full schedule of family-friendly fun that spans from thrill-seeking carnival rides to music performances, food trucks and skate competitions.
For the first time, Moomba will be a carbon neutral certified event, ensuring the diversion of more than 4.5 tonnes of organic food waste, or the equivalent of 22,500 curly potatoes.
The City of Melbourne will also use the festival to launch the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower initiative, an Australia-wide program to assist people with hidden disabilities.
Through the initiative, people who need assistance at Moomba can choose to wear a sunflower symbol so trained Moomba staff can offer assistance.
Sunflower lanyards will be available for free on-site at the event.
City Activation Portfolio lead and City of Melbourne Councillor, Roshena Campbell, stressed the significance of what major events like Moomba can deliver for city businesses and how they can increase public interest in visiting Melbourne.
“Major events are critical to our local economy. They drive visitation and provide a much needed boost to city businesses,” Cr Campbell said.
“Prior to COVID, Moomba created a $20 million boost to local businesses as Victorians flocked to the city to celebrate.
“We’re proud to be bringing the Moomba Festival that we all know and love back in 2022.”
Lord Mayor of the City of Melbourne, Sally Capp, was also pleased that this major event could return and continue to showcase Melbourne businesses and nightlife.
“Moomba is one of the biggest events on our city’s calendar and we’re expecting almost a million people to revel in the festivities this year, providing a significant boost to our city business owners,” Mayor Capp said.
“We are also delighted to be bringing back the Moomba Parade, Birdman Rally and Moomba Masters after a hiatus in 2021.
“These vibrant festival favourites are always huge crowd pleasers, and we expect they’ll attract many visitors back to the city.
“From daredevils bursting for a ride fix to food-truck-loving foodies and families ready for a fun-filled day of activities, Moomba truly offers something for everyone.”
Two of Melbourne’s favourite media personalities, Fifi Box and Peter Hitchener OAM, will lead the celebrations as this year’s Moomba Monarchs.
Ms Box said, “I’m absolutely honoured to be asked to be a Moomba Monarch. Moomba is such an iconic Melbourne event that I have grown up loving, so I’m incredibly proud to don the crown and enjoy the celebrations with the community.”
Fellow Moomba Monarch, Mr Hitchener, said, “I just love meeting Melburnians who make up our vibrant city. Being crowned a Monarch allows me to step beyond the news desk and really connect with our greater community; I’m honoured and delighted to be a 2022 Moomba Monarch.”
As part of the announced return of Moomba Festival, The City of Melbourne thanked its major partners, including TAC, 9News, Wallaby Water and Streets.
2022 Moomba Festival program highlights:
- The hilarious Birdman Rally – which will see competitors don inventive homemade flying devices and hurtle themselves over the Yarra, all in the name of charity
- The much-loved Moomba Parade – starring the 2022 Moomba Monarchs, featuring 1800 performers and dozens of brilliant new floats
- The Moomba Masters – showcasing an elite field of Australian and international water ski and wakeboard athletes in competition on the Yarra
- The Moomba Carnival – with rides for all ages, including The Beast, which reaches speeds of 120km/hr and swings 38 metres into the air
- A Dance Zone – including workshops and performances led by Tik Tok star Jazz TKO and community-focused dance group L2R, as well as kids yoga, African drum and dance workshops
- A dedicated Pirate’s Cove kids play area – featuring a sea-themed playground, roving performers, treasure hunts and face painting
- The Moomba Stage – with entertainment for young and old, including Bluey, the Public Opinion Afro Orchestra, Mariachi Los Romanticos, The Mamas and Amaru Tribe, as well as sing-along drag time and bubble shows
- Skateboarding competitions – including the Australian Skateboarding League’s National Final at Riverslide Skate Park, as well as free scoot, skate and BMX clinics, demos and competitions
- A range of other festival favourites – including roving entertainment, silent disco, ArtPlay, Design-a-Float, nightly fireworks and more than 20 food trucks offering up festival eats
For a full Moomba Festival program, and to purchase a Friday Ride Pass for the Moomba Carnival, click here.