There’s so much happening in Melbourne this month we’ve split it into two. In the first of our ‘What’s on in Melbourne’ guides for March you’ll find sporting supremacy, Guinness and an awful lot of Irish breakfasts…
Australian F1 Grand Prix
This 4 day race meeting is the oldest surviving motor race in Australia and, with a couple of exceptions, has been the first race of the season ever since it moved to Melbourne (from Adelaide). As if you needed telling, it’s a celebration of with the world’s fastest racing cars and the world’s greatest drivers. It’s also where Lewis Hamilton will start the defence of his world title, and his bid to become a 3-time world champion.
Thursday 12 March is a chance for you to go behind the scenes, watch the drivers take to the track, and maybe even meet some of them.
Friday 13 March is the day the V8 cars make their way on to the track. You can take a closer look at them in the V8 Village.
Saturday 14 March is Qualifying Day and Sunday 15 March sees the big race proper.
Where: Albert Park Circuit
When: From 12-15 March, 10:30am until 8pm
Photo courtesy of Grand Prix Website
Cricket World Cup
The excitement of the Cricket World Cup reaches its climax with the final in Melbourne on Sunday 29 March, but not before India and Bangladesh clash in the quarter finals on Thursday 19 March.
The World Cup has played host to 14 countries ranging from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe and games have been played in Australia and New Zealand. In 2019 it will be the turn of England to be host, which gives us 4 years to get some practice in. You will find all the information you need on the website from the latest news to team profiles and the history of the event.
Where: Melbourne Cricket Ground
When: Quarter Finals, Thursday 19 March, 2:30pm
Final, Sunday 29 March, 2-30pm
Cost: Prices start at $60 for the final, but the top price is a hefty $395 for the best seats. Quarter final seats start at $20. Check website for details.
Photo courtesy of ICC Cricket Website
St Patrick’s Day
Melbourne Irish Festival
Celebrate St Patrick’s Day and join the party with Irish music, pipers and (as it says on the website) a chance to “sample and enjoy Irish heritage, culture and hospitality”. They’re still on the lookout for volunteers if you’d like to get involved.
Where: Edinburgh Gardens, North Fitzroy
When: Sunday 15 March from 12 noon until 5pm
Cost: Free
Photo courtesy of Melbourne Irish Festival Website
There will be plenty of shenanigans in Melbourne in the run up to and on the day itself. Guinness has even created its very own Blacklist of pubs selling the perfect pint of the black stuff.
At Meg O’ Malley’s join a 2 day celebration (split between the Saturday and Tuesday) of dancing, bagpipes, music, drink and food. On Saturday 14 March a parade kicks things off at 11:00. On Tuesday 17 March (St Patrick’s Day itself) you can limber up for the day with the obligatory Irish breakfast.
Flying in or out of Melbourne around St Patrick’s Day? You don’t have to miss out on the fun. PJ O’Brien’s in Terminal 3 of Melbourne Airport is starting the day with a full Irish breakfast. They also have a bar on the South Bank where the festivities kick off on Sunday 15 March with (you guessed it) a full Irish breakfast or, if the waistline will take any more punishment, call by for a roast dinner and watch the Irish dancing. There’s music from 4pm.
On St Patrick’s Day itself, the pub will open at 8am with music and dancing throughout the day and into the night.
Once your seventeenth Irish breakfast has had time to settle and you’re ready to find out what else is on in Melbourne, take a look here.
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