Moomba Festival to go ahead with modifications after initially being cancelled for first time in 66-year history
The iconic Melbourne festival will now go ahead with modifications after a decision to cancel Moomba was reversed following backlash.
Victoria
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Moomba has had a reprieve after the City of Melbourne reversed its decision to cancel the iconic festival for the first time in 66 years.
Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the message from the community “had been loud and clear – Melburnians want Moomba to proceed”.
“We have been working closely overnight with the events industry and the Victorian Government to ensure we can deliver a reimagined Moomba 2.0,” she said.
“The circumstances of the past year have meant we were not able to host the traditional Moomba Festival that the community has come to know and love”
The city council reversed its decision after the intervention of. Major Events Minister Martin Pakula, who urged the council to reconsider.
“The decision to cancel Moomba was a mistake,” the Lord Mayor said.
“We always planned to host events over the March long weekend but we have worked tirelessly overnight to ensure more events will be put on as part of Moomba 2.0.”
Instead of the usual festival featuring a parade, water skiing and the Birdman Rally, Moomba 2.0 will be “a series of fun, family friendly events and attractions across the city”.
The revised program will include:
· The Moomba Carnival at Alexandra Gardens with smaller rides for the kids, and thrilling rides for teenagers and adults.
· Roving performers, entertainers and creative installations.
· Food trucks running alongside the carnival with hot dogs, fairy floss and some healthy options too
· A busking competition in the city centre where the winner will receive a ‘golden ticket’ to Melbourne’s best events
· Significant buildings across the city will be lit up in red to encourage everyone to show their love for Melbourne
· An extended program of pop up music performances and street art installations in city laneways
· A Moomba Conversation event at the Library at the Dock
· Concerts at the Myer Music Bowl featuring stars like the Cat Empire, Spiderbait, Jebediah and Bodyjar
Ms Capp thanked the Victorian Government, and particularly Minister Pakula, “for working with the City of Melbourne to ensure Moomba can proceed and deliver a family friendly festival for our city”.
City Reactivation portfolio lead councillor Roshena Campbell said Moomba is a favourite event for many Melburnians.
“We are pleased to be able to offer Moomba 2.0, with a revised program this year,” Cr Campbell said.
“We have worked hard overnight to bring back iconic elements of Moomba including the carnival for our families and the beloved Moomba monarchs.
“Traditionally, the event has contributed more than $32 million to the city’s economy each year. While the numbers will be lower this year, it is more important than ever to help support our tourism, creative and events industries.”
Major Events Minister Martin Pakula had previously flagged there is still hope the Moomba Festival could go ahead.
Mr Pakula has is urging the City of Melbourne to reconsider their decision to cancel the festival for the first time in the event’s 66-year history.
Mr Pakula said it wasn’t necessary to stop the event and that further discussions to reach a solution would take place on Friday.
“I thought the decision was premature and I’ve asked them to reconsider,” he said.
“I hope City of Melbourne can reconsider some time today.
“I’d much rather see council think about a smaller Moomba, a pared back Moomba, than no Moomba at all.
“The sense that I got was that council would have a look at that today.”
The City of Melbourne on Thursday decided to scrap the event, planned to kick off on March 5, amid reduced crowd capacities and the cancellation of some of the festival’s most popular attractions.
Lord Mayor Sally Capp said last week’s snap lockdown had also contributed to the decision to axe the event with interstate suppliers unwilling to commit to the festival.
“Reduced crowds together with the cancellation of key elements such as the Birdman Rally, the Moomba Parade, and most recently, the water skiing, mean that the Moomba we know and love cannot go ahead,” Lord Mayor Sally Capp said.
“Historically, we would welcome around 1.3 million people to Moomba over the Labour Day weekend.
“This year, because of COVID-19 safety requirements, we would be able to only have around 14,000 attendees at Moomba each day.”
The famous Birdman Rally and traditional festival parade had already been cancelled.
The Victorian Water Ski Association this week decided to cancel its 2021 Nautique Moomba Masters water sports event, a key attraction of the festival.
Moomba was the last major event to take place in Melbourne before COVID restrictions were introduced last year.
It would have been the first time the festival has not gone ahead since it was first introduced in 1955.
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