Calendar of Events

With its busy calendar, Melbourne stakes its claim as Australia's events capital. Appreciative audiences flock to historic theatres, state-of-the-art stadiums and venues for international sporting championships, regular Australian Football League games, international entertainment and festivals throughout the year.

Australian Football League(AFL) 2011 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

Where:

Across Australia

When:

24 March - 1 October 2011

Every autumn, AFL fans don their team colours for the opening bounce of the AFL Premiership Season, which extends to the beginning of October. Grab yourself a seat and soak up the atmosphere amid the passionate fans and colourful team mascots. Matches are held each weekend at the undercover state-of-the-art Etihad Stadium at Docklands or at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) during the 22-week season. In 2011, a 17^th team, the Gold Coast Suns have lined up, hopeful for a place in the top eight in the September finals, which culminate in the parades, parties and ultimate contest of the 1 October Toyota AFL Grand Final. As Australia's most popular sport, the AFL continues to surpass attendance records each year.

www.afl.com.au

Melbourne Writers Festival

Where:

Venues around the city

When:

26 August - 4 September 2011

Hear your favourite authors speak at the annual celebration of the written word. The Melbourne Writers Festival brings together over 300 of the world's best wordsmiths to share their stories with avid audiences. Find out what's on at The Wheeler Centre for books, writing and ideas, or head to Federation Square, and other venues throughout Australia's only UNESCO City of Literature to listen to acclaimed writers, reviewers, commentators, and avid readers speak, or attend a master class, a reading or a debate.

www.mwf.com.au

Spring Racing Carnival Incorporating the Melbourne Cup Carnival

Where:

Metropolitan racecourses including Flemington, Moonee Valley, Caulfield and Sandown and country racecourses across Victoria

When:

30 September - 20 November 2011

Victoria's Spring Racing Carnival is a celebration of the world's best horse racing. The carnival is renowned for its elegant fashion and fantastic head wear along with Fashions on the Field parades, entertainment, events, and celebrity appearances at elegant metropolitan and country race meetings across the state.

Its pinnacle is the world's most famous two mile handicap, the Melbourne Cup, popularly known as 'The Race that Stops the Nation'™. Join the thousands of elegantly dressed race goers and embrace the excitement of the sport and the spectacular fashion.

www.springracingcarnival.com.au

Melbourne International Arts Festival

Where:

Various venues

When:

6 - 22 October 2011

The city's flagship cultural event, Melbourne International Arts Festival (MIAF), is regarded as one of Australia's premier festivals, celebrating performing and visual arts from around the world. Held each October, MIAF hosts exclusive performances by some of the finest national and international artists and companies. Almost half a million people attend over 500 performances, including free and ticketed dance, theatre, music, visual arts, multimedia and outdoor events. The 2011 event coincides with the 5^th World Summit on Arts & Culture. Festival Artistic Director Brett Sheehy is programming the summit's cultural events (scheduled for 3-6 October).

www.melbournefestival.com.au

Boxing Day Test Match

Where:

MCG

When:

26 - 30 December 2011

The Boxing Day Test cricket match is played each year, beginning on 26 December at the MCG. It pits the Australian cricket team against another national team touring Australia that summer. Having been defeated by England in 2010, Australia will be keen to regain the title in 2011 when they face the Indian team. For information about tickets to the Boxing Day Test visit the Cricket Australia website.

www.cricket.com.au

Australian Open

Where:

Melbourne Park

When:

16 - 29 January 2012

Every year in January, Melbourne Park comes alive for the Australian Open Tennis Championships, a festival of on and off-court entertainment that is enjoyed by the players and fans alike. The Australian Open attracts more than half a million patrons each year. Over 500 of the world's best players vie for the glory of winning the first Grand Slam event of the year. More than 45 nations are represented in the main singles draws alone. Grab a centre court ticket to Rod Laver Arena and take in all the atmosphere of this exciting event. The Australian Open gets bigger and better every year so don't miss your chance to see the world's best tennis players compete for the honour of a Grand Slam title.

www.australianopen.com

Melbourne Food and Wine Festival

Where:

Various Venues

When:

2 - 21 March 2012 (tbc)

Join the feast that is the annual Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. Since its launch in 1993, it has grown to be the largest food and wine festival in the Southern Hemisphere. It attracts hundreds of thousands of lovers of food and wine to participate in a busy program of over 250 events, including classes, demonstrations, forums and plenty of opportunities to sample the best of local food and wine. Book to hear celebrity chefs talk about their food philosophies and attend a culinary master class. Learn how to grow your own produce at edible gardens in the city, pull up a deck chair for a food-flavoured alfresco cinema experience, or find a seat at the World's Longest Lunch, hosted at surprising settings in Melbourne and around the State. 2012 is the event's 20^th anniversary and will be a special 20-day celebration of the past, present and future of Melbourne's culinary culture.

www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au

2012 Formula 1™ Australian Grand Prix

Where:

Albert Park Lake, Melbourne

When:

15 - 18 March 2012

The fastest men on four wheels come to Melbourne's purpose-built 5.3 kilometre track in Albert Park in March to contest the Formula 1™ Australian Grand Prix. This four-day carnival of speed, glamour and excitement features the world's best drivers, V8s, great music, food, festivities and performances by leading DJs and musicians.

www.grandprix.com.au

Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show

Where:

Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens

When:

28 March - 1 April 2012

Every autumn, the largest horticultural event in the Southern Hemisphere blooms on the edge of the Central Business District. Ranked in the top five flower shows in the world, the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show showcases the work of Australia's best landscape and floral designers as well as garden retail products, great food and entertainment for all ages. In 2012, the 17^th event will include more than 300 exhibits, including sustainable gardens, floral and design competition entries and the Great Hall of Flowers.

www.melbflowershow.com.au

Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Where:

Various Venues

When:

28 March - 22 April 2012

Melbourne's annual festival of mirth has the whole city laughing out loud each autumn. One of the three largest comedy festivals in the world, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival attracts more than 500,000 comedy fans who attend over 300 hilarious events at venues around the city. The program includes stand-up comedy, cabaret, theatre, street performance, film, television, radio and visual arts. See performances by the international greats of comedy, local favourites and hopeful newcomers who brave open mic competitions or launch shows of their own. Don't miss annual events Raw Comedy, Class Clowns Teenage Gala and the Deadly Funny indigenous comedy competition.

www.comedyfestival.com.au