kbc_free_entertainment_city

Homepage | Mind Map | **Free Entertainment in the City** | Our Top 10 Picks | Varun's Reflection | Shreyas' Reflection | Evan's Reflection Bibliography | CeeBeeDee 2009 | Student Pages

__//Free Entertainment in the City//__ //Free entertainment is in abundance in the city, so much so we cannot write about all the attractions, so we have chosen this group which we think are some of the better free attractions. After viewing this page, you might like to view the top 10 free attractions in Melbourne, which can be accessed by clicking here.//

__**Summer**__


 * New Year's Eve Fireworks**[[image:new_years_eve_fireworks.jpg align="right"]]
 * As the name suggests, these fireworks are held on New Year's Eve. It is a very extravagant and colourful show, with fireworks being launched from many locations throughout the CBD. There are two shows, one at 9:15pm and the traditional one at 12 midnight. The 9:15 show is specifically designed for families and children. The family show fireworks will be launched from two sites in the city. They are the Yarra Park, near the MCG, and the Docklands. A floating barge at Victoria Harbour will also be used. The midnight fireworks are a tradition and are launched from the tops of many buildings in the city.


 * Australia Day Fireworks**
 * Similar to New Year's Eve, Australia Day also has fireworks. They are hosted at approximately the same time as the New Year's Eve fireworks; 9:15pm. They can be viewed from venues such as Federation Square, Birrarung Marr, and the northern bank of the Yarra. The fireworks could also have been viewed from the Southern Star Observation Wheel, but its has since been closed for reconstruction


 * Myer Christmas Windows **
 * An indicator in Melbourne that Christmas in on it's way is the unveiling [[image:olivia.jpg width="320" height="240" align="right" caption="The Christmas Windows with 2009's theme, Olivia"]]of the Myer Christmas windows and the Myer Christmas Parade. The Christmas windows have been a tradition in Melbourne since 1956. Each year, the windows have a different theme, some specially created for the windows, some based on books or authors. Some of the themes were: Beatrix Potter, The Wizard of Oz, How Santa Really Works and Alice in Wonderland. This year the theme for the windows is Olivia the Pig, with the story voiced by the Melbourne icon Dame Edna. The Myer Christmas Parade is also another tradition in Melbourne that is organised by Myer. In 2009, the parade traveled down Bourke Street, from Spring street to Queen Street. This event is very popular with families.


 * Summer Fun in the City**
 * The 'Summer Fun in the City' is a program held by the Melbourne city council for the enjoyment of everyone. In 2010, the summer fun will be in action from January 9 till February 14. During this time, there will be concerts, jazz performances, trapeze acts and a chance to try it for yourself, sport activities for the kids, dance classes, wetland activities for the kids, painting activities for the kids and a display of sand sculptures at the docklands, with a chance for the kids to get a sand sculpting lesson. These are just some of the free attractions and activities available in Melbourne during summer.


 * __Autumn__

The Moomba Parade and Waterfest**
 * The Moomba Parade and Waterfest has a long history in Melbourne. Established in 1955, Moomba is currently in its 53rd year. Moomba is an Aboriginal word meaning lets get together and have fun, which is exactly what Moomba is about. All sorts of people come to enjoy the water skiing, clown shows, rides, bands and just about everything else that the Moomba waterfest has to offer. Here is a page, made by Augusta and Noureen, about the Moomba Parade and Waterfest.


 * __Spring__**


 * The Melbourne Cup Parade**
 * The Melbourne Cup parade is a traditional event in Melbourne, where jockeys, race horses and everything else associated with the Melbourne Cup, include the cup itself (which you can touch), march though the city to Federation Square. This is a very popular free event that is filled with fun, excitement and fashion.



The Yarra River Walk**
 * __Year-Round__
 * The Yarra River walk is a stretch of pathway along the Yarra. Along the walkway, iconic sites like the MCG, Rod Laver Arena and The Royal Botanical Gardens can be seen. A lane for bikes and some barbecue sites are also present along this path. This is an ideal place for a weekend outing or a nice way to relax.


 * The Nintendo Experience at EB Games**
 * The Nintendo Experience is a relatively new attraction at EB Games in Swanston St. It opened exclusively to EB at Swanston St, in December 2008. The Nintendo Experience consists of 15 Nintendo DS's, 2 DSi's and 5 Nintendo Wii's, complete with WiiWare and Virtual Console. Games at the site include Legend Of Zelda, Mario Kart in 4 Player mode, Wii Fit, Wii Sports Resort and Wii Play. All of these games are updated regularly, and many new games can be downloaded to one's DS at their Wii-Fi Hotspot. The Nintendo Experience also hold regular workshops for the benefit of users. Many tournaments are also held there: prizes include the latest games and [[image:busker.jpg width="159" height="229" align="right" caption="A Moving Statue - Image from www.creativecommons.org"]]accessories. You also have the chance to meet authentic Nintendo characters like Mario, Daisy and Peach.


 * Moving Statues**
 * Dotted throughout the city, people dressed in weird and wonderful costumes are present. These people have a special talent: the ability to stand still like a statue for a very long time. Generally buskers, these "moving statues" are a creative and imaginative addition to the city's portfolio.


 * Buskers**
 * In Melbourne busking is a common way that people make some extra cash, or even a living. While walking around the city streets, you will find people busking at tram stops and on street corners. Bourke Street Mall is where serious buskers perform, commonly having more than one person performing. It is really amazing how good the music from these free performers is. Just don't forget, they appreciate a donation, or if you really like them, buy their CD.


 * Parks & Playgrounds **
 * There are many parks in Melbourne and some playgrounds too. There is a large adventure playground at Art Play, which is located along the Yarra River bike track, just before Federation Square. There is also another playground located in the Carlton Gardens behind the Melbourne Museum. There are many more parks in the city than [[image:157233790_ea45f5ed23.jpg width="166" height="212" align="right" caption="A city playground climbing frame - Image from www.creativecommons.org"]]playgrounds. Parks in Melbourne include: The Alexandria Gardens, Carlton Gardens, Flagstaff Gardens, Fitzroy Gardens, Kings Domain and The Royal Botanic Gardens. As you can see, this is why Victoria is called the Garden State. The parks and playgrounds listed above can be viewed [|here] in the format of an interactive map. Note: The link is to a very large map which can use up a lot of bandwidth. Please be careful when accessing it.


 * Australian Centre for the Moving Image**
 * The Australian Centre for the Moving Image is a state-of-the-art facility, multi-story building that is present in the heart of Federation Square. It started its life as the State Film Centre in 1946, with a collection of moving image material. In 2002, ACMI moved into the Alfred Deakin Builing at Federation Square. ACMI is designed to celebrate, explore and promote Victorian, Australian and International material regarding the Moving Image. ACMI's facilities include the world's largest screen gallery (over 1500 square metres), 2 multi-format cinemas and Victoria's largest collection of moving image material.


 * Melbourne Tourist Shuttle**
 * The Melbourne Tourist Shuttle is a great way to explore the many different aspects of the city. It is a free service that runs past the major attractions and destinations in and around the city. While the one and a half hour tour is running, a commentary service is also provided. It is a hop-on, hop-off service, allowing you to get on and off at any of the 13 stops. The shuttle runs every 30 minutes, from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, daily.


 * Free Internet Access at Wi-Fi Hotspots**[[image:3715717053_116e3c04d9.jpg width="200" height="112" align="right" caption="Image from www.creativecommons.org"]]
 * The Internet is a crucial aspect of most city people's lives. Many businesses offer free wifi throughout the city. These include cafes, McDonalds fast food outlets and restaurants. The State Library is one of those places that offers this free service. Along with being fully covered in the wireless internet zone, the State Library also has many wired spots where people can sit down and connect with the world wide web.

Homepage | Mind Map | **Free Entertainment in the City** | Our Top 10 Picks | Varun's Reflection | Shreyas' Reflection | Evan's Reflection Bibliography | CeeBeeDee 2009 | Student Pages