One nation, many cultures

Moomba, Melbourne

The Moomba Festival was first held in 1955. For many years, Moomba featured a parade with marching bands, marching girls and elaborately decorated floats.

In more recent years, with internationalisation of this great city, the festival evolved into the Moomba Waterfest bringing Melbourne's waterfront to life with four days of free public events culminating on Labour Day (March 9).

2009 will have a program packed with old favourites and first-time events ... the craziness of the Birdman Rally, the excitement of the nightly Fireshow, the thrills of the Moomba Carnival and of course, the Moomba Parade itself.

Other favourites will also be back including the world renowned Moomba Masters International Waterskiing, Active Melbourne - an interactive sporting and come-and-try activities precinct for the whole family, 'Dripple Drop' a new and uniquely interactive theatre show especially for children, and the highly entertaining daily program of performances on the Moomba River Rhythms main stage, including Rockwiz Live!

All the fun of the fair

Preparing dancer

Dragon boat racing