Here’s a clear rundown of what the 2026 Moomba Festival in Melbourne is all about — especially since you’re playing there and running a cumbia boom workshop:

🎉 What Moomba Festival Is

Moomba Festival is Melbourne’s biggest free community festival, held annually over the Labour Day long weekend (early March) along the banks of the Yarra River in central Melbourne. It’s run by the City of Melbourne and has been celebrated since 1955.

📍 Location: Melbourne CBD / Yarra River precinct, Victoria, Australia.

📅 When: Labour Day weekend — for 2026 that’s expected to be Thursday 5 – Monday 9 March 2026 (dates similar to early listings).

🎟 Free entry — all festival events are open to the public at no cost.

🎡 What Happens at Moomba

Moomba is about fun, community celebration and variety — with events and activities for all ages that bring Melburnians and visitors together:

🎶 Live Music & Performances

Stages and live music programmed across the weekend — so your cumbia boom workshop and performance fit right into this celebratory lineup.

🎭 Parade & Community Spirit

A big Moomba parade with colourful floats, dance groups, community organisations and performers marching through the city streets is a centrepiece.

👏 Unique & Classic Events

🎈 Moomba Carnival: Rides, festoon lights, food stalls and family-friendly fun.

🛶 Moomba Masters Championship: International waterskiing and wakeboarding competitions on the Yarra River.

🪶 Birdman Rally: People in homemade “flying” costumes launch themselves off a platform into the river — hilarious and iconic.

🛹 Skate & Sport Activities: Riverslide skate events, BMX and scooter competitions.

🎆 Fireworks: Spectacular night displays above the Yarra River each night of the festival.

🤹 Family & Community Activities

Workshops, dance, art and craft spaces, face-painting and a really broad mix of interactive elements for families and festival-goers.

🌟 Vibe & Culture

Moomba has grown into a Melbourne institution — a joyful, inclusive celebration of city life, community spirit and creativity. It’s considered one of Australia’s biggest free public festivals with millions attending every year, filling the city with music, movement, crowds, rides, laughter, and cultural activities.

Knox Fest 2026 is a free, family-friendly community celebration organised by Knox City Council and Knox Arts & Events. It’s a big outdoor festival that brings the community together for a whole day of fun, music and activities.

🗓 Date & Location

📆 Saturday 28 February 2026

🕙 10 am – 10 pm

📍 Wally Tew Reserve, Ferntree Gully, Victoria (Melbourne region)

🎟️ Free entry — everyone’s welcome.

🌟 What Happens at Knox Fest

Knox Fest is all about celebrating community life with lots of free and inclusive experiences for all ages:

🎶 Live Music & Performance

There’s a strong live music program planned throughout the day and into the evening. Your band — La Descarga — is part of the lineup!

🍴 Food & Markets

Food trucks and market stalls offering local eats and artisan items.

🎡 Family Activities

Amusements & rides

Kids’ activities

Circus workshops

“Come and try” sports & Active Hub

Arts and outdoor play zones

Cooking demos and more.

🎆 Special Extras

Fireworks display at ~9:45 pm — a highlight for families and festival-goers.

🧑‍👩‍👧‍👦 Festival Vibe & Policies

Alcohol, smoke, vape and drug-free event — safe for all ages.

Pets aren’t allowed (except assistance animals).

A focus on community connection, celebration, inclusion and fun — not just music.

🎶 1. Surrey Hills Music Festival (community festival in Surrey Hills, Victoria, Australia)

This is a free, family-friendly community music festival run around the Surrey Hills Neighbourhood Centre in Surrey Hills, Victoria, Australia (Melbourne area):

🗓 Date: Saturday 28 February 2026.

🎵 What it’s about: A day of live music performances across multiple local venues, food, drinks, market stalls and community activities.

💫 Vibe: Inclusive, casual, and free — designed for local people and families to come together around music and community.

📍 Location: Around Surrey Hills Neighbourhood Centre, Union Road, Surrey Hills, VIC.

🎤 Lineup & offerings: Usually includes an eclectic mix of local bands, solo artists, workshops, and stalls (though full 2026 lineup details may be published closer to the date).

Melbourne’s cumbia movement unites for one epic night of Latin rhythm and tropical sound.

Cumbia is calling — and this summer, Melbourne is answering. This November Cumbia Fest 2025 transforms Howler Theatre, Brunswick into a sonic tropical carnival, a night of deep bass, ancient flutes and collective motion.

More than a party, this year’s fest is a collective moment for Melbourne’s cumbia movement, where the many crews that have emerged over the decades unite to bring this celebration to life. From the city’s early Latin pioneers to a new wave of cumbia orchestras, DJs, dancers and soundmakers, it’s a cross-generational fusion of rhythm, colour and community. At its core, cumbia is the groove that unites a continent — born on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, where Indigenous flutes, African drums, and coloniser’s melodies collided to create a rhythm that danced its way across Latin America.

As it travelled, it absorbed new sounds and flavours at every stop, eventually becoming the musical backbone of the continent and a sound that keeps reinventing dance floors worldwide. It’s deep, it’s soulful, and it hits you where it matters: the hips, the heart, the collective pulse.

Bringing the fire are La Descarga — Australia’s long-standing Afro-Colombian powerhouse, blending deep basslines, hypnotic gaitas and psychotropic tropical funk. Fresh from a national tour that’s taken their explosive sound across the country, the band returns to Naarm to launch their latest music video “Atarraya” and turn Howler into a full-blown tropical carnival.

Sharing the spotlight, Sorbo Amplio — Chile’s growing cumbia force — brings raw street energy, ska-infused grooves and infectious communal spirit, amplifying the celebration with their signature high-voltage sound. They will also be returning home after their first Adelaide show.

Behind the decks, selectors Emma Peel, Otorongo and Sonidero Esperanza will light up the night with a kaleidoscopic mix of tropical frequencies — from the raw roots of Afro-Caribbean cumbia to an electric mix of Peruvian chicha, Argentinean villera, Chilean neocumbia, Mexico’s narcotic rebajadas, cumbia digital, cumbia dub, and more!

This year’s edition is a double celebration — ISU TAKI’s 6-year anniversary, marking six years of tropical mischief, dancefloor revolutions and unapologetic Latin flavour across Naarm, Meanjin, and beyond; plus the launch of La Descarga’s brand-new music video “Atarraya”, filmed entirely in Melbourne.

Presented by ISU TAKI, La Descarga, Sorbo Amplio, with the support of Cumbia Massive, this isn’t just a gig — it’s a tropical uprising. A groovy, magnetic, heart-thumping celebration of rhythm, identity and good times that could only happen in Melbourne.

This free family-friendly festival will include:

Live music Thrill rides Kids kingdom and free rides Food trucks Market stalls Come and try sports And much more!

Rhythms of The World brings the World to The Valley through music, dance, storytelling and food! Immerse yourself in a day of Multicultural Arts with a line up from culturally rich communities by participating in a full program of music & dance workshops, be entertained by MultiCultural performances and tantalise your taste buds with a culinary extravaganza of food from around the world!

Thank you to our sponsors: Yarra Ranges Council & Upper Yarra Community Enterprise.

Amazing family friendly festival in the Victorian bush.

The Premier’s Multicultural Gala Dinner celebrates the vibrant contributions of Victoria’s multicultural and multifaith communities on Saturday 30 August 2025.

This year’s theme, Harmony in Diversity, recognised the strength and unity we build by embracing our differences.

The Honourable Premier Jacinta Allan, Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ingrid Stitt MP, and VMC Chairperson Vivienne Nguyen AM hosted an unforgettable evening of connection, celebration, and shared pride in our multicultural communities.

Guests enjoyed a three-course sit down meal with drinks, cultural performances, inspiring speeches, and the opportunity to connect and reflect on the power of diversity in shaping our collective future.

The MC for the evening was Diana Zhao, born in Shanghai and raised in Melbourne. Her passion lies in creating meaningful connections with audiences while celebrating and promoting cultural diversity.

Attendees witnessed an impressive line-up of performances from:

Drumming Events Melbourne King Bell and Soukous Ba Congo Estudiantina of Melbourne Sanggar Lestari Pasefika Vitoria Choir ALPA Kinisi La Descarga Guests also sampled traditional teas and coffee blends from diverse cultures facilitated by the following community groups:

Okei-san Japanese Tea Plus North Cyprus Turkish Community of Victoria Eritrean National Communities Council Australia Melbourne Diwali Vietnamese Museum Australia CO.AS.IT Bhutanese Association Melbourne Chiquinitines Cultural Workshop

Family Fiesta is lighting up Palmerston again with a huge night of free Friday fun for all ages! Free Event Jump into a conga line, show off your limbo moves and dance to the infectious sounds of La Descarga – the masters of Latin-Aussie tropical beats.

Sing your heart out at I Like To Movie, Movie, the ultimate musical movie singalong. Darwin’s own M3 Dance bring the heat with explosive moves, infectious energy and a soundtrack the whole family will love. Push your creative limits with with Task Party and flex your circus skills with Corrugated Iron Youth Arts. And don’t miss the Top End Clown Troupe, bringing playful chaos and delight.

With delicious eats, buzzing markets and high-energy entertainment, this is one fiesta you won’t want to miss. Bring everyone along and soak up the feel-good festival energy!

🎉 Te invitamos a vivir la experiencia “Colombia, el país de la belleza” en Melbourne 🇨🇴

La Embajada de Colombia en Australia, el Consulado de Colombia en Canberra, el programa Colombia Nos Une y Horizons PWC tienen el gusto de invitarte a celebrar el Día de Colombia con un evento único en Melbourne, lleno de cultura, sabor, arte y comunidad.

Será una jornada gratuita y familiar para reencontrarnos con nuestras raíces, fortalecer los lazos entre connacionales y mostrar al mundo lo mejor de nuestro país.

Acto simbólico: cantemos juntos el Himno Nacional

Nos reuniremos como comunidad para entonar con orgullo nuestro Himno Nacional de Colombia, en un momento especial que nos unirá en sentimiento patrio, gratitud y esperanza.

Un viaje a Colombia sin salir de Melbourne

Este evento es más que una celebración: es una experiencia de identidad, encuentro y alegría.Ven a disfrutar, reconectar con tu cultura y llevarte un recuerdo inolvidable de esta fiesta que une corazones.

Música en vivo – ¡La Descarga pone a bailar Melbourne!

La reconocida banda La Descarga será la encargada de encender el escenario con su potente mezcla de salsa, cumbia, funk y ritmos afrocaribeños. Prepárate para moverte al ritmo de una fiesta que te hará sentir como en casa.

taller de cumbia – Colombia en movimiento

ritmo y sabor para aprender sus pasos básicos y vivir en cuerpo propio uno de los bailes más emblemáticos de Colombia .¡No necesitas experiencia, solo ganas de moverte y disfrutar!

Danzas tradicionales – Colombia Dance en escena

El grupo Colombia Dance nos llevará a un recorrido por las regiones del país a través de presentaciones vibrantes de joropo, cumbia, currulao y champeta, con trajes típicos y coreografías que llenan de vida el escenario. Una oportunidad para ver, sentir y amar nuestras raíces

Feria de más de 60 emprendimientos colombianos

La feria contará con más de 60 stands de emprendimientos que ofrecen:

Gastronomía típica Moda, accesorios, artesanías Productos artísticos, culturales y de bienestar Una oportunidad ideal para almorzar delicioso, apoyar a nuestra comunidad emprendedora y llevarte recuerdos únicos.

Exposición colectiva de artistas visuales

Descubre la creatividad de artistas colombianos en Melbourne en la muestra colectiva “Colombia, el país de la belleza”, que reúne obras de pintura, fotografía, ilustración y técnicas mixtas.

También encontrarás una mesa colectiva de venta con impresiones, postales, stickers y más productos creados por los mismos artistas.

Mesa de inscripción de cédulas para elecciones

En coordinación con la Embajada y el Consulado, realizaremos una jornada de inscripción de cédulas para que los colombianos en Australia puedan participar en las elecciones futuras.

📍 Lugar: Champions Ballroom – Arrow on Swanston🗓️ Fecha: Sábado 9 de agosto de 2025⏰ Hora: De 11:00 a.m. a 5:00 p.m.🎟️ Entrada libre y para toda la familia

¡No te lo puedes perder! Te esperamos con los brazos abiertos para celebrar juntos a Colombia, el país de la belleza. 💙💛❤️

Brazilian Colombian Free Entry Party with: 7:30pm - Fua da Tita 9:30pm - Agobloco Orchestra (quadrilha) 10:30pm - La descarga Food by Sambar

Join us for a vibrant night of Colombian music, culture, and community connection at the 4th Colombian Cultural Celebration at The Couch! 🌍💃 In collaboration with the Embassy of Colombia in Australia, this special evening brings you a high-energy performance by TRIBU BAHARÚ – the Afro-Champeta powerhouse from Colombia’s Caribbean coast. On tour across Australia and Asia as part of Colombia’s Cultural Diplomacy program, they’ll bring their signature fusion of champeta, soukous, and Afro-Caribbean rhythms straight to the heart of Melbourne for one unforgettable night! 🎶🔥 💥 Supporting on the night is Melbourne’s own La Descarga – an iconic tropical band blending Colombian roots music with contemporary Aussie vibes. Expect an electrifying set of cumbia, puya, gaita, and more – full of colour, rhythm, and crowd participation! 🎤 PLUS: From 5–6pm, come early for a special networking hour featuring local organisations supporting international students and multicultural communities. This year’s celebration also leads into a major milestone in 2025: 50 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and Colombia, honouring the growing cultural ties between our two nations. 👉 Don’t miss this free, family-friendly fiesta full of rhythm, connection, and Colombian soul! Feel free to invite your friends! We look forward to welcoming you for an evening filled with music, culture, and meaningful connections. This is a free-entry event supported by City of Melbourne in collaboration with the Embassy of Colombia in Australia. The Couch is an initiative of the City of Melbourne and the Salvation Army Melbourne Project 614. Please email us if you would like more information: internationalstudents@melbourne.vic.gov.au

ColombianMusic #TribuBaharu #LaDescarga #Champeta #Cumbia #AfroCaribbean #MelbourneEvents #InternationalStudents #CulturalDiplomacy

Melbourne, we’re back! After touring across Australia and lighting up stages nationwide, La Descarga returns home bringing the fiesta to The B.East in Brunswick East on Saturday June 21. This is La Descarga’s only free public show in Melbourne this June, and it’s set to be an unforgettable night of explosive Colombian rhythms, wild boneshaking grooves, limbo contests, conga lines and tropical party vibes. Fusing cumbia, salsa, and Afro-Caribbean beats with global sounds like funk, dub and highlife, La Descarga delivers a high-energy performance that will get every body moving. Known as Australia’s powerhouse of tropical music, the band has just dropped their debut album Fiesta de Corazón, featured on PBS FM as Album of the Week, and they’re fresh off a national tour supported by Creative Australia and Music Australia. Don’t miss this special hometown stop of the tour—gather your crew, bring your dancing shoes, and get ready to party Colombian-style. Free entry. Music from 9pm. 80 Lygon Street, Brunswick East.

Melbourne’s biggest cumbia celebration is here! Get ready for a night of unstoppable rhythms, deep tropical vibes, and high-energy performances as Cumbia Massive brings together some of the most electrifying acts in the scene. 🎶 Featuring: 💥 La Descarga – A fearless outburst of tropicality, delivering bone-shaking rhythms and fiery colourfulness straight from the Colombian Caribbean to Melbourne! 🚀 Cumbia Cosmonauts – Pioneers of new-wave cumbia and tropical bass, blending heavy grooves with Afro-Caribbean influences and electronic sound system culture. ⚡ Bandides – Rebellious, experimental, and wildly unconventional, bringing cumbia-infused beats with rock, hip-hop, and electronic twists. 🎧 Saca La Mois DJ!! – Cumbia and Bass specialist, selector of the deepest tropical sounds, and a driving force behind Melbourne’s global bass scene. …and more! 🌎 A FULL-SCALE CUMBIA PARTY! 🌎 From the rich folklore and traditions of the Colombian Caribbean to the rough, synth-driven sounds of Argentina’s cumbia villera, this night is a journey through the evolution of cumbia—its past, present, and future. Cumbia is the musical backbone of the continent (Jasmine Garsd, 2015), a rhythm that unites and energizes, and on this night, we’re taking it to the next level with live music, DJs, and a non stop dancefloor! 🎉 PLUS: A TRIPLE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION! 🎉 We’re celebrating the birthdays of Jorge (La Descarga), Moses (Cumbia Cosmonauts) and David (Bandides) – and what better way than with a full-force cumbia fiesta? Don't miss this massive night of music, dance, and culture! 🎟️ Tickets on sale now!

La Descarga is a powerhouse of tropicality! Renowned for their explosive performances, the band delivers a tropical boom packed with fiery colour, infectious rhythm, and pure joy. Born in Melbourne in 2010, La Descarga blends Colombian coastal roots with global grooves and a fresh Australian twist. Combining folkloric drums, gaita flutes, and call-and-response vocals with electric and electronic elements, they honour tradition while creating something entirely their own. Inspired by the vibrant street carnivals of Latin America, their music is a celebration of life, culture, and connection. La Descarga’s shows are electric and deeply interactive—featuring conga lines, limbo contests, call-and-response moments, and spontaneous dancing. Audiences don’t just watch the show; they become part of it. It’s a shared, joyful experience that captures the spirit of Latin American carnival. They’ve ignited stages at festivals like MOOMBA, Firelight Festival, White Night, and Brunswick Music Festival, and performed at iconic venues including MONA, NGV, Arts Centre Melbourne, and Northcote Social Club. Their debut album Fiesta de Corazón—described as “a vibrant party for your heart”—features over 30 artists from four continents and includes Cumbia de Corazón, a PBS FM Top 10 track and Feature Album of the Week. In 2025, with support from Creative Australia’s Contemporary Music Touring Program, La Descarga is taking their high-energy tropical fiesta on tour across the nation—bringing the heat to cities and regional towns Australia-wide.

Let’s fiesta, Fremantle! La Descarga, the electrifying Afro-Latin-Australian band renowned for their vibrant performances, is thrilled to bring their “Fiesta de Corazón” Australia Tour 2025 to Mojo’s on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 1:00 PM for an afternoon Family Fiesta.

With their unique blend of Afro-Colombian rhythms fused with global sounds, La Descarga promises an unforgettable evening of music, culture, and celebration for the whole family. The Fiesta de Corazón Tour kicked oT with a bang in Tasmania, with incredible performances at MONA, Taste of Summer Festival, and Bellerive Beach Party, across Victoria in Moomba Fes3val, Ballarat, Shepparton and Geelong, then taking the party to Adelaide, Sydney, Port Kembla and Wanneroo. And now, Perth Country, it’s your turn to experience the fun! Fremantle/Walyalup: Get Ready to Dance! Don’t miss the energy and excitement of La Descarga’s live show, featuring infectious beats, dazzling costumes, and an immersive tropical experience. Expect a high-energy explosion of Colombian beats, Afro-Latin rhythms, and hypnotic electronic sounds that will get everyone on their feet!

What to Expect:

• Live music and dance performances full of carnival spirit

• Interactive dance experiences including limbo and conga lines

• A colouring competition for the little ones

• Dress ups

About La Descarga La Descarga was born in 2010 in Melbourne as a tribute to the folkloric rhythms of Colombia’s coasts. Over the years, it has evolved into a pioneer of Latin-Aussie tropical music, blending traditional Afro-Colombian beats with modern electronic and global influences. Inspired by the street carnivals of Latin America, their performances are a vibrant fusion of music, dance, and cultural celebration. With a rich history of festival appearances and collaborations, La Descarga continues to ignite dance floors across Australia.

WORLD MUSIC CAFÉ PRESENTS MAHALI AND LA DESCARGA CELEBRATING SOUTH AFRICAN AND COLOMBIAN MUSIC & CUISINE IN WANNEROO ON FRIDAY 16 MAY 2025. World Music Café brings its extraordinary Dinner & Show concert feast to the City of Wanneroo Beach to Bush Arts Festival at the City of Wanneroo Civic Centre, Banksia Room on Friday 16 May 2025. The Wanneroo World Music Café show features the stunning vocal talent of South African singer Mahali Selepe from Lesotho, with an all-star local African band including guitar maestro Mahamudo Selimane from Mozambique, playing the classic songs of Mariam Makeba, Letta Mbulu, Freshlyground, Zahara, Brenda Fassie, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Hugh Masekela and more. Colombian 7-piece band La Descarga, on tour from Melbourne to WA for the first time, complete the party with a showcase of folkloric tropical Columbian music entwined with infectious street Carnivale rhythms. Playing festivals across the country, La Descarga has just released their album Fiesta de Corazón, capturing the essence of Latin American and Caribbean celebration and connection. “This is a very exciting World Music Café show and we’re delighted to bring such great music from around the world to the City of Wanneroo.” said World Music Café producer, Jon Cope. The Dinner & Show concert also includes a delicious three-course banquet menu created by Venezuelan chef Tamara Rodriguez and the World Music Cafe catering team that complements the musical cultures. Established in 2019, World Music Café is a successful social enterprise that provides genuine economic and social inclusion for the WMC crew members of new migrant and refugee backgrounds. Described by the UWA Centre for Social Impact as ‘An Oasis of Integration in Our Country’, World Music Café was a national ‘Social Entrepreneur of the Year’ finalist in the Australian Third Sector Awards 2022. Given shows often sell out, patrons are encouraged to book early to avoid disappointment. Group tables are available with discounted ticket prices, so book a group table together with friends or colleagues!

Healesville Festival is a fun filled weekend of live music, artists and abundant goodies from our local business, you’re in for a real treat this May. 💗

Sunday 11/05; A free family fun day with live free entertainment, activities and great food & Beverages at the “Green on Green” 13 Green st Healesville. We would like to honour and showcase our wonderful sponsors involved in bringing our Healesville Festival to life.

Port Kembla stop La Descarga will also take the Fiesta de Corazón to Port Kembla for a family-friendly celebration! Get ready to experience a tropical explosion of rhythm, colour, and fun as La Descarga brings their Fiesta de Corazón Australia Tour to the Servo in Port Kembla on May 3! From lively dance moves to call-and-response chants, limbo contests, and conga lines, this event is a true celebration of Colombian and Latin Australian music. Expect a high-energy show that’s fun for all ages! Whether you're coming with kids, abuelitos, or friends, La Descarga is bringing a fiesta everyone can enjoy. Dress in your most colourful outfit, participate in a creative colouring competition, and get ready to groove all night long! What to expect: • A family-friendly event full of dancing, music, and fun. • A vibrant, interactive performance with call-and-response moments. • A colourful dress-up competition and plenty of opportunities to join the fiesta! • Non-stop grooves from La Descarga’s debut album Fiesta de Corazón, with its infectious tropical rhythms and electric vibes. 🎥 Watch the music video for "Cumbia de Corazón" here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXXUaQPoYj8 Event Details: • Date: Saturday, May 3, 6pm - 10pm AEST • Venue: The Servo - Port Kembla, 6-8 Wentworth Street, Port Kembla 2505 • Tickets: Purchase here Bring the whole family, put on your brightest clothes, and join La Descarga for a night of tropical rhythms and unforgettable fun! Let’s make this Fiesta de Corazón one to remember! 🌴🎶💃🕺