Geelong's Major Annual Events and Festivals
Geelong's events calendar has been elevated by the city's strong population growth, the success of the Geelong Cats AFL club and the growing arts and food culture that has transformed the waterfront precinct. The city's proximity to the Bellarine Peninsula wine region, Surf Coast and Great Ocean Road adds a regional tourism dimension to its local events scene.
February — Pako Festa
Pako Festa on Pakington Street, Geelong West is one of Victoria's largest free multicultural street festivals, celebrating the diverse cultural communities of Geelong with food, music, dance, craft and community stalls. Pako Festa draws over 60,000 visitors to Pakington Street on the Saturday in late February.
September to October — Geelong Show
The Geelong Show at the Geelong Showground is the Geelong region's major agricultural and community fair, with livestock competitions, rides, showbags and pavilion exhibitions. A local tradition for over 150 years.
November — Queenscliff Music Festival
The Queenscliff Music Festival at the historic Queenscliff township on the Bellarine Peninsula is one of Victoria's premier regional music festivals, held over the last weekend of November. The festival presents a diverse program of roots, folk, blues and world music across multiple stages in the historic seaside town.
AFL Season (March to September)
The Geelong Cats are one of the AFL's most successful clubs of the modern era and Geelong is a passionate football city. GMHBA Stadium hosts regular season matches from March through August. Grand Final trips to the MCG are a major annual event for the local community when the Cats qualify.
Year-Round — Waterfront and Cultural Precincts
Geelong's redeveloped waterfront precinct hosts regular markets, outdoor concerts and community events. The Geelong Gallery on Little Malop Street presents changing exhibitions of Australian and international art. The GMHBA precinct and Deakin University's Waterfront Campus have transformed the city's cultural offering over the past decade.
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