Yarra Park will turn into a festival ground this December as the NRMA Insurance Boxing Day Test brings four days of music, food and family fun to Melbourne.
Cricket Australia, the Victorian Government and the City of Melbourne have joined forces to launch the Boxing Day Test Summer Fest, which will run from 26 to 29 December alongside the Ashes Test between Australia and England at the MCG.
The free event will feature live performers, local DJs, food trucks and bars, alongside family-friendly activities, giveaways and interactive cricket zones for fans keen to test their skills. Big screens across Yarra Park will ensure supporters don’t miss a ball of the match.
Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg said the festival will showcase Melbourne at its best. “The Boxing Day Test Summer Fest will be a highlight of a hugely anticipated event promoting the best of Melbourne and Victoria,” he said. “We are grateful to the Victorian Government and City of Melbourne for their fantastic support in helping to ensure the hundreds of thousands of locals and visitors who attend the match and travel into the city have an amazing experience. Melbourne has a wonderful history of producing world class events and we’re confident this Ashes Boxing Day Test Match, together with the Yarra Park festival, will be one its most memorable yet.”
Victorian Tourism, Sport and Major Events Minister Steve Dimopoulos said the event adds to the drawcard of the Test itself. “This summer, the excitement won’t be limited to the MCG – the Summer Fest will bring entertainment and activities for fans of all ages,” he said. “The Boxing Day Test is one of the most iconic days on the global sporting calendar, and we’re proud to have secured it to stay at the MCG. Victoria is Australia’s major events capital. We saw record crowds at last year’s Boxing Day Test and we’re looking forward to seeing visitors flock to the ‘G again.”
Melbourne’s Lord Mayor Nick Reece said the festival would underline the city’s reputation as the nation’s sporting hub. “Melbourne is the sporting capital of Australia, and there’s no place quite like the mighty MCG during an Ashes Boxing Day Test Match,” he said. “Yarra Park will be transformed into a festival of fun for the Boxing Day Test Summer Fest – the ultimate place for fans to follow the action, soak up the atmosphere and have a wicket good time. The Boxing Day Test is a key part of Melbourne’s sporting history, and this year could be the biggest Boxing Day Test of all time, as the Barmy Army prepares to swarm the city for their first proper taste of Ashes cricket in Melbourne since 2017, bringing a massive boost to the city’s economy as well.”
The festival is expected to attract thousands of locals and tourists, ensuring the Boxing Day Test continues to be one of the highlights of Australia’s sporting summer both on and off the field.
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