Expect live music, Bollywood dance performances, celebrity chef demonstrations, food trucks, and pop-up cricket games.
The Victorian government is amplifying the excitement of the Boxing Day Test with the announcement of a Summer Festival in Yarra Park, running alongside the first three days of the match. Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos made the announcement today at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, alongside Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley, Melbourne Renegades player Nicole Faltum, and Victorian cricketer Todd Murphy.
The festival will bring a vibrant atmosphere outside the iconic MCG, showcasing a celebration of the cultural ties between India and Victoria. Activities will include live music, Bollywood dance performances, celebrity chef demonstrations, food trucks, and pop-up cricket games. Big screens will broadcast the match live, while experts will offer insights each morning on the day’s upcoming play.
Summer festival highlights
- Live music and Bollywood dance performances
- Celebrity chef demonstrations
- Food trucks and pop-up cricket games
- Day’s play previews from cricket experts
- Live screening of the Boxing Day Test action
Check out our gig guide, our festival guide, our live music venue guide and our nightclub guide. Follow us on Instagram here.
Kabaddi and other cricket fixtures
This event is expected to draw large crowds, building on the success of 2018’s India-Australia Test series, which saw over 176,000 fans attend. Ticket sales for this year’s match have already doubled compared to the same stage in 2018/19, with international fans accounting for over 10 per cent of purchases.
On the third evening of the Test, fans can experience Pro Kabaddi Melbourne Raid at John Cain Arena, featuring the first professional Kabaddi matches in Australia. This doubleheader will bring together sporting stars from both India and Australia, highlighting the sport’s growing international appeal.
Victoria’s cricket calendar extends beyond the Boxing Day Test, with men’s Big Bash League games running throughout December and January, and a women’s Ashes one-day international leading into the historic Women’s Pink Ball Test match at the MCG.
The Boxing Day Test is one of many major events bolstering Victoria’s visitor economy, which contributes $39.2 billion annually. Other highlights include the Australian Open, the Formula 1 Grand Prix, and the Yayoi Kusama Exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria, reinforcing Melbourne’s status as a global destination for major events.
For Pro Kabaddi Melbourne Raid tickets, visit John Cain Arena’s website.
