Melbourne's Moomba Festival is held every March and has become an iconic annual landmark for Melbourne. Admission is free and attendance is huge to this colourful, lively and crazy Melbourne extravaganza!

There are parades, rides, fireworks, live-music, food trucks, the birdman rally, kids zone (including Ashton's Circus), bands and skate park.

An International Waterski Championships is also held on the Yarra as part of the festival and the festival closes with a huge fireworks display.

Here's a run-down of what to experience:

Children's Activities

Chock-a-block with entertainment, the Kids Zone is a fun-filled haven for young Moomba goers. Kids' thirst for discovery will be catered to with a daily schedule of free workshops, games and activities, including face painting, puppetry and craft making.

Skate Park

Discover the best in scoot, skate and BMX. Last Moomba Festival we had the kiddos booked into a scooter course!

Hit the ramp yourself, or watch the pros show you how it's done. The Skate Park is the perfect scene to realise new skills with scoot, skate and BMX clinics, demos and competitions.

Fireworks

Fireworks are a big part of the Moomba festival and large displays occur on the opening and closing nights of the festival .The fireworks are above the Yarra river.

Carnival

A traditional carnival including Ferris wheel are held in the Alexandra Gardens along the river bank. In recent years, the carnival has extended to Birrarung Marr across the river. It is popular with the kids, and fast food - dagwood dogs and doughnut stands line the paths.

River activities

Moomba is somewhat a paradox in that it celebrates the Yarra River, a river that has been much maligned in the history of the city until the last few decades.

Waterskiing

Watch the world's best waterskiers and wakeboarders strive to win at the biggest international waterski competition and the first stop in the 2015 Nautique Wake Series – the Moomba Masters Championships.

River Floats

The festival has featured Chinese Dragon Boats and the Moomba Showboat.

Birdman Rally

Among the more popular Birdmen event, the Birdman Rally, which traditionally adds colour to the festival and is traditionally held at the Swan Street bridge, a location that also featured in the 2006 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony as part of the Queens Baton Relay.

Music and Live Bands

Explore Moomba's Main Arena where free music and performances spark colourful adventures for all ages. The Main Arena is a space where music, performances, workshops, and interactive activities entertain crowds during the day and night.

So put on your dancing shoes (okay...your comfy shoes - you'll be on your toes checking out all that action) and dance the day/night away. Moomba is free - you'll only fork out some $$ for food, transport and carnival rides.

Where:

Alexandra Gardens & Birrarung Marr, Melbourne

When:

9 - 12 March 2018

www.thatsmelbourne.com.au/moomba

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