|
For a full events calendar with information on everything that is happening in Melbourne, visit the City of Melbourne's What's On website. Below are some usefull event dates to help you plan your trip. |
 |
|
| 2012 | |
| March |
AFL The AFL is the most attended sporting league in Australia and one of the two most watched sports in Australia. It is also currently the third-most attended professional sports league in the world in terms of attendance per match, with an average attendance of 38,417. AFL: http://www.afl.com.au Fixtures: AFL Fixtures - AFL draw - AFL Fixture - AFL.com.au |
| April |
Anzac Day AFL The annual Anzac Day blockbuster between Essendon and Collingwood at the MCG |
| May |
NRL - State of Origin Origin games have been played in Melbourne before but not like this, not with the colour and atmosphere that the Blatchys Blues will bring to Etihad Stadium next year. We are going to have thousands of fans travelling down from Sydney for this game here and I would love to see all the fans across Victoria join them in their blue wigs and be part of a great sporting experience. In typical Origin spirit, Smith was quick to establish the Maroons claims to the hearts of Victorian fans. The Wally Lewis Medal winner as the best player in this years Harvey Norman State of Origin Series, Smith said that he and fellow 2011 Storm Origin stars Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater and Dane Neilsen would love nothing more than to have the chance to play in next years series opener in front of their loyal fans. Victorian sports fans are among the most passionate in the world and I know they will come out in force to support Rugby League and in particular Origin, Smith said. The Queensland side has always received a great reception in Victoria and I have no doubt there will be plenty of Maroon support down here again. From a Storm perspective, its great to have the pinnacle of Rugby League in Melbourne. The match will have a positive impact on our ongoing commitment to grow the game across Victoria. Its a great reward for the fans here who support the Storm week in, week out, to see an Origin game live in Melbourne and Id be proud to run out in front of them. ARL Chief Executive Geoff Carr, Victorian Minister for Tourism and Major Events, the Hon. Louise Asher MP, Victorian Minister for Sport and Recreation, the Hon. Hugh Delahunty MP and Storm CEO, Mr Ron Gauci, were among the guests joining Stuart and Smith at the Sofitel on Collins in Melbourne today to begin the countdown to the 2012 series. NRL: http://www.nrl.com/origin |
| November |
Melbourne Cup-Spring racing Carnival The Spring Carnival is made up of meetings held by the metropolitan clubs, where Group One races take place, and also at Geelong. With numerous group races during August and September at metropolitan tracks Flemington, Caulfield and Moonee Valley, the Spring Carnival officially starts on the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes Day at Flemington, one week after the AFL Grand Final. The Spring Racing Carnival officially ends on the final day of the Sandown Carnival, Eclipse Stakes day. Caulfield Carnival The Melbourne Racing Club holds three race meetings at Caulfield Racecourse, each with major Group one races. The Caulfield Guineas is held on the Saturday three weeks before the Victoria Derby. The guineas are a set-weights race for three year-olds. Other group one races are held on this day. The Caulfield Thousand Guineas for three-year-old fillies is held on the Wednesday following the Saturday Caulfield Guineas. The Caulfield Cup is held on the Saturday on the weekend following the Guineas meeting. Geelong Carnival The Geelong Racing Club hosts its Group 3 Geelong Cup on the Wednesday between the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate. This is the only group race featured at Victoria's country tracks. The day is a public holiday in Geelong's metropolitan area. Moonee Valley Carnival The Moonee Valley Racing Club is famous for its Weight for Age Cox Plate race, the meeting which is held on the Saturday following the Caulfield Cup. Flemington Carnival The Victoria Racing Club's meetings attract the most attention from the media and the wider community. The Victoria Derby is held on the Saturday before the Melbourne Cup. It is a set-weights race for three-year-old horses. There are also other major races held on this day as well, making it the biggest day in racing. The Melbourne Cup handicap race is held on the first Tuesday in November, and is a public holiday in Victoria, but the Cup is witnessed by those all around Australia as well as internationally. The VRC Oaks race is held on the Thursday following the Cup. It is a three-year-old fillies race, and traditionally it has been known as 'ladies' day'. The VRC Stakes day is held on the Saturday following the Oaks, and traditionally it has been known as 'family day'. Spring Racing Carnival: http://www.racingvictoria.net.au |
| 2013 | |
| January |
Australian Open Tennis The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court event. It is currently held at Melbourne Park. The tournament is held in Melbourne in the Australian summer, in the last fortnight of the month of January. The two main courts used in the tournament are Rod Laver Arena and Hisense Arena and feature retractable roofs, which are shut during rain or extreme heat. The Australian Open and Wimbledon are the only Grand Slam tournaments with indoor play. 14-29th January 2013 Australian Open Tennis: http://www.australianopen.com |
| March |
Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix Experience the energy, excitement and power of Formula 1 in Melbourne this March. With a host of world class motorsport and entertainment on offer this is an event not to be missed! Soak up all the adrenaline and atmosphere as Melbourne comes alive across an action packed weekend. 21-24th March 2013 28-31st March 2013 Dates to be finalised Formula 1: http://www.grandprix.com.au |
