#moombaparade

Some of the 150 members of Melbourne’s Indonesian Diaspora who performed in the 69th Annual Moomba Parade. 11 March 2023 

I remember being in the Moomba parade in 2001 , We had our grade 6 camp in Melbourne and we were lucky enough be also in the parade  ,students rode on scooters and bikes down hills and i roller bladed . was a lot of fun and will always remember it :-) plus i attend the Moomba festival every year and its such a great event for kids and even adults . 

The Caribbean Community in Victoria

It was 1975 when the people of the Caribbean first took part in the Moomba Parade, jumping up in simple costumes to the music of the touring Amral Cavaliers’ Steelband on a Float.

Since then, we have been in Moomba Parades over a six year period. As Melbourne Masqueraders , Roger and Robyn Phillips with the help of the Caribbean Community have brought spectacular glimpses of Trinidad Carnival to the Moomba Parade.

Each year the group developed new themes and different colourful costumes were manufactured.

In 1995 we presented The Great Barrier Reef with bright and beautifully flowing costumes depicting all aspects of the Reef.

 In 1996 our presentation of Melbourne’s 4 Seasons was spectacular and televised world-wide in a documentary on the Discovery Chanel. We won Best Costume and Best Music in a float

of steelband music mixed with brass instruments.  The Herald Sun Arts & Entertainment section front page headlined “Calypso Caravan - move over Trinidad; Moomba’s where it’s at.”

Moomba at Night

In 1997 Moomba at Night was trialled and we presented Arabian Nights with its colourful Middle Eastern richness. We were Highly Commended for this entry.

In 1998 it was a View from Mars with oversized head pieces.  The use of Fluoro tubing made this an extraordinary entry in the Parade, for which we were awarded Best Overall Presentation.

In 1999 our tantalizing tribal Jungle Fever masqueraders hit the streets of Melbourne in the last of the Night Parades.

In 2008 the happy band of Pirates of the Caribbean were plundering the streets of Melbourne in the first Caribbean Association of Victoria - CaribVic’s -  entry in the Parade.

This year, in the 60th Anniversary of the Moomba Parade, CaribVic congratulates the Moomba Team for their tremendous efforts over the years as we bring Caribbean Fever to the people of Melbourne. Accompanied by the Marysville Pans on Fire Steel Band ensemble, we will bring vibrancy to the Parade that will be remembered by all.

Moomba, ah! Those were the days. Running along like maniacs, waving frantically, trying madly not to look like complete idiots. The cause of this craziness, was our darling daughter (now 50 years) perched high on a dancing version of a train, smiling and waving with all her fellow dancers, like they were all princesses of Moomba. I am sure lots of people would recall the Olive Wallace School of Dance's happy beaming faces, dressed in glittering costumes. The big thing was, would her Dad and I make it to the gardens before the Parade ended? May this celebration continue on for another 60 years or more, including everyone with a love of colour and our great City of Melbourne.

My birthday falls on Labour Day weeekend and as a girl, when money was a bit tight for my parents, I was led to believe that the Moomba parade was a party just for me. It was always a special day for my family, Mum would make a packed lunch and get my sister and I up early and in our Sunday best, even though it was Monday, and we would make our way into the city to be delighted the energy and frivolity of the floats and performers, I had the best birthday party ever - thank you Moomba!