Midsumma returns to Alexandra Gardens

After three years at Birrarung Marr next to Federation Square, Midsumma Carnival is moving back to its former site at Alexandra Gardens.

The move was announced at the Midsumma AGM, and festival organisers hope the grassy lawns at the site will bring a “family-friendly picnic vibe” back to Melbourne’s major queer event.

Organisers also cited overspill crowds from Federation Square and Tennis Australia as a downside for Birrarung Marr.

The hope is that the move will create a safer, more secure event.

The venue change three years ago provoked strong reactions within Melbourne’s LGBTI communities, with many complaining that Birrarung Marr had drastically altered the feel of the day.

Even so, the new venue drew record crowds, with an estimated 100,000 attending this year’s event, held in January.

This year also saw Midsumma celebrate its 25th birthday, after humble beginnings as a street party in Collingwood at the height of the AIDS epidemic.