Every year in November the Melbourne Cup Carnival takes place at the Flemington Racecourse, fusing together horseracing, culture, fashion, entertainment and incredible food to create one of Victoria’s biggest social occasions.
Spanning over four days from 1st to the 8th November, this racing festival puts on a show like no other in the world and draws crowds both national and international on a yearly basis.
Of course, the main spectacle is the racing itself, with the finest thoroughbred horses being brought from all over the globe to compete.
As well as the famous Emirates Melbourne Cup Day, the event is made up of three other key race days; AAMMI Victoria Derby Day, Crown Oaks Day and Emirates Stakes Day, ensuring that there is never a dull moment at the carnival.
The Emirates Melbourne Cup is the biggest race and the one that everyone wants to see. Expect the best talent around to be competing for glory and the spoils of victory. The only question is, who will you back?
But, aside from the racing, there is much more going on to keep you entertained. Fashion is a huge part of the fun and attendees are expected to dress in their most glamorous attire, adding further prestige to the carnival.
The party atmosphere itself i another reason why the event is so popular in Australia. In fact, it is said to be unrivalled in this area, and that’s some feat when you consider how much the Aussies love their sport!
Huge crowds gather on the picturesque lawns of Flemington to drink, eat, laugh and, of course, have a little punt on the horses.
There are many marquees set up to provide fine dining so that food is very much an integral part of the whole day – but you wouldn’t expect anything less from a city renowned for its foodie culture, would you?
Whether you are with a group of friends, your partner or the whole family, the Melbourne Cup Carnival has something for you. At the end of the day, it is a huge celebration with thousands of people congregating in one place to have some fun. It’s, quite simply, a unique experience you have to attend for yourself.
The racecourse itself is easily reachable from the city centre with trains from Flinders Street Station departing regularly. One thing is for certain, you won’t be the only party heading over to Flemington!
