What's On? March 2020

Golden Tag Fishing Competition1 March 2020 – 21 Feb 2021

The Victorian Fisheries Authority has established a tag-recapture competition to encourage recreational fishers to return to bushfire affected areas in East Gippsland and North East Victoria to help local communities get back on their feet. The first 10 tagged fish to be reported caught by fishers after the competition begins will earn the lucky fisher a $10,000 cheque, with tagged fish beyond the first 10 to be awarded a $2,000 cash prize. The fish have been tagged in waterway surrounding Mallacoota, Cann River, Bemm River, Orbost, Marlo, Lakes Entrance, Lake Tyers, Omeo, Dartmouth, Mitta Mitta, Corryong, Tallangatta and Bright. All these places are well known for their inland and estuarine fishing, boasting terrific opportunities for shore-based and boat-based fishers of all skill levels.

Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival4 – 14 March, Melbourne

Australia's largest fashion event, the Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival is back for its annual celebration of fashion, beauty, business and creative endeavour for everyone to enjoy. A true feast for the senses, the Festival presents the most stylish program of entertainment on offer including world-class runway shows featuring Australia's established and emerging designers, state-of-the-art production, beauty workshops, interactive experiences, live entertainment and much more.

Nocturnal x Fashion6 March, Melbourne Museum

After a massive event in 2019 Nocturnal and Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival join forces again to celebrate the best of music and fashion at Melbourne Museum. Get ready for a tailor-made night of culture, fashion and a massive line-up featuring: Banoffee, Romance Was Born x Chunky Move, Rainbow Chan, Mojo Juju, Purple Sneakers DJ's, Feels and more.

Lost Trades Fair7 – 8 March, Bendigo

Come and meet over 200 talented makers pursuing their careers in lost arts. Lose yourself in the live demonstrations as they share their skills, their trades and crafts work at the Lost Trades Fair in Bendigo. Meet the makers and purchase something truly unique from master coopers working alongside stonemasons, bookbinders, chairmakers, ropemakers and luthiers, makers of rocking horses, penny farthings and coaches; hedgelayers, knifemakers, clockmakers and more.

Tastes of Rutherglen7 – 8 March, Rutherglen

Revel in Rutherglen over the March Labour Day weekend with 19 of the regions wineries famous for world-class fortified wines. Be a part of Rutherglen’s epic resurgence as Muscat Cocktails and decadent Durif take centre stage. Travel from winery to winery to sample, taste and sip on the incredible flavours of Rutherglen. Enjoy wine tastings, gourmet food, masterclasses, live music, kid's activities, exclusive dinner events, concerts, markets and more.

ICC T20 World Cup 2020 Women’s Final8 March, the MCG

Held on International Women’s Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the ICC T20 World Cup 2020 Women’s Final presents Australia with the ground breaking opportunity to set a new world record for attendance at a women’s sporting event. Witness history in the making alongside the best cricketing nations and international pop-sensation Katy Perry.

Formula 1® Rolex Australian Grand Prix12 – 15 March, Albert Park

The Formula 1® season returns to Melbourne with Supercars 500, TCR, S5000 and the Porchse Carrera Cup Australia. Visitors will experience live music over three days with AusGP Sessions offering fans a live music experience in M-Lane, with homegrown global sensation, Peking Duk, Client Liaison, Bag Raiders and more. Don’t miss Daniel Ricciardo, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel take to the track at Albert Park for a fast-paced weekend of racing complemented by live music, fashion, food and wine.

Bendigo Craft Beer and Cider Festival14 March, Bendigo

The Bendigo Craft Beer and Cider Festival boasts the best brewer and cidery line up seen at a regional event with representation coming from right across the country. Meet the brewers and taste beers from across all states, plus a terrific range of ciders – there are more than 100 unique beverages to tempt you alongside food trucks, live music, plenty of fun and festival games. Kick back on a hay stack and enjoy the smooth sounds of hand-picked live performances or reserve a seat with your group in the VIP tent, offering many surprises and luxuries on the day.

Melbourne Food and Wine Festival19 – 29 March, Queen Victoria Market

The Queen Victoria Market will be home to the 28th Melbourne Food and Wine Festival that makes up over 10 days of parties, talks, demonstrations and foodie events. Melbourne will welcome some of the world’s hottest talent, including Alison Roman, Fuchsia Dunlop, Ignacio Mattos and Helen Goh along with local heroes Josh Niland, Shannon Martinez, Ben Shewry and Andrew McConnell, to name a few. This year there will also be a dedicated food and wine festival in regional Victoria, set to launch in spring 2020, showcasing more of the state's abundance of great food and drink than ever before.

High Country Women's Cycling Festival20 – 22 March, Bright

Based out of Bright, High Country Women’s Cycling Festival is a celebration of women's cycling with a focus on fun, fitness, friendship and bike gains, in a unique alpine environment. Defined by their love for exploring the open road on two wheels, women cyclists will come together to share knowledge, build confidence, push boundaries and find new limits. It will deliver bucket-list worthy moments; opportunities to explore new riding destinations with new friends, as well as connect with the local cycling community.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival25 March – 19 April, Melbourne

The city will light up with laughs when the Melbourne International Comedy Festival takes over town. For three and a half weeks, Melbourne will be the nation’s hive of happiness, injecting all-day, all-night infectious fun to the city. Be it family fun at Fed Square, glittering gala events or late-night laughs at Festival Club, there is a comedy thrill to fit everyone’s bill.

Ability fest4 April, Coburg

Australia’s most inclusive music festival, Ability Fest is designed to bring music lovers together by inviting everyone, regardless of gender, disability or race, to enjoy some of the country’s best musical acts. Festival goers will be treated to a slate of Australia’s best acts including Crooked Colours, SAFIA, What So Not, and Seth Sentry. Coburg Velodrome will transform into a completely accessible venue with the inclusion of elevated platforms, pathways, quiet zones, companion ticketing, AUSLAN translators and ramps to ensure an unforgettable experience for all guests. 100 percent of proceeds from Ability Fest will go towards helping the 4.3 million young Australians currently living with a physical or mental disability via the Dylan Alcott Foundation, with all musicians donating their time to this exciting event.