Midsumma Carnival 2013

There’s no better time to be in Melbourne than during the city’s premiere celebration of queer arts and culture, the Midsumma Festival. The 2013 program of events opens with a massive outdoor community celebration, Midsumma Carnival. It’s set along the picturesque banks of the Yarra River, at Birrarung Marr. We’ve got the low down and the set times on all the fantastic performances, entertainment and action on the day, as well as a map of the set up at Birrarung Marr.

Main Stage Schedule

11am            Dean Arcuri welcomes everyone to Carnival

11.05am     Dean Arcuri to perform solo piece from DEANlicious

11.15am      Women’s Circus

11.27am      Iron Man to strut the stage

11.32am     MC Dean Arcuri + Interview with Melbourne Queer Film Festival about Premier Event Movies Under The Stars 2013

11.37am     Dirk Hoult to perform a piece from Midsumma Cabaret show, Moulin Beige

11.45am     Performance from Confessions of a Drag Queen

11.51am     TheatreWorks presentation of Premier Event Psycho Beach Party

Noon          Welcome MC Dolly Diamond

12.05pm   The Archives’ 35th Anniversary Queer History Walk take the stage to demonstrate their fantastic and influential event

12.08pm   Performance from the Cost of Love

12.17pm     StripFest ‘Born to be Queen’ Performance

12.26pm    Interview with GoWest

12.31pm    Performance from Midsumma Premier Event The Prince’s Quest

12.42pm   Liz Skitch – Naked Accordionist of the Moulin Beige

12.50pm   MC Dolly Diamond to interview performers/ director of Vieux Carre, Midsumma Premier Event

1.32pm      MC Dolly Diamond interviews Team Melbourne about the Team Melbourne Midsumma Sports Day

1.38pm      Pollyfilla to perform a piece from her smash-hit show, Kitsch in Sync’

1.50pm      Midsumma Premier Event teaser from HAIR: The Rock Musical

1.58pm      Introduction to MC’s Joel Creasey and Em Rusciano

2pm            Welcome to Country and Official Speeches

2.41pm      MCs Em Rusciano and Joel Creasey to announce afternoon line-up on stage

2.43pm     Geraldine Hickey to perform from her show Turns Out I Do Like Sundried Tomatoes

2.49pm     Em Rusciano and Joel Creasey to interview Matthew Candeland and Benji Groenewegen from Fag Boy & The Married Guy

2.51pm      Nikki Aitken & Jamie Burgess in Gobsmacked! Showbiz and Dating

3.05pm     Mr Boylesque Australia 2012 presented by Bohemia Cabaret Club

3.10pm      Miz Ima Starr will wow you

3.21pm      Cock performance

3.30pm     Lori Farmer & Anne Edmonds of The Big LOL Comedy Night interview the cast of HAIR the Rock Musical

3.40pm     Em Rusciano and Joel Creasey host an interview with ‘Andy Warhol’ of Andy Warhol’s fifteen minute of fame

3.43pm     Welcome to MC PollyFilla

3.51pm      Drew’s Dirty Dozen, this 13 piece band is sure to get you on your feet and loving life!

4.10pm     Parralox, eclectic Melbourne two-piece

4.50pm    Last Mistress, lead by front-women Brihony Dawson

5.20pm    PollyFilla to close the stage for the night

Community Stage Schedule

11am  •  JOY94.9FM Live Broadcast

JOY 94.9 presents the sights and sounds of Midsumma Carnival live and loud from the Community Stage at Speakers Corner. See some of your favourite JOY presenters live on stage, showcasing LGBTIQ community groups alongside some very special guests, presenting all the fun in the sun for Midsumma Carnival Day. Come along or listen live at 94.9FM, online at joy.org.au or via the free JOY Apps to Australia’s only queer radio station, made in Melbourne for the world.

3pm  •  Hanging Rock Performance

The glistening heat of a Midsumma afternoon draws an ill fated party to picnic frolic and feast amongst the dappled shade and trees. The hedonistic whims of fancy turn swiftly from an afternoon of delight into something more sinister as the party soon sleeps, leaving for four others to play, explore and disappear, as if swallowed up by a glistening mirage, never to be seen again.

3:10pm  •  Dulcie’s Dog Show

In this high camp Midsumma institution, contestants battle it out in categories that include ‘cutest bitch’ and ‘best lookalike to owner’.

Kidz Zone Schedule

12.30pm  •  Ivana Blastoff’s Lost In Space!  •  Duration: 30min 

Are you ready to go to infinity and beyond? Are you ready to get lost in space?

Then join Ivana Blastoff (Number 47 woman in space) on a light speed journey through the galaxy on her search for new space cadets. 30 action-packed minutes of intergalactic silliness where you could the star! Suitable for cosmonauts of all ages.

1pm  •  Arts and Crafts  •  Drop in session

Drop in session where people have the opportunity to make something crafty! Possible activities include monster masks Alien wind puppets to tie in with the space themed performance and party hats and bunting making to tie in with the Midsumma birthday party. The range of activities will vary in difficulty. Simple colouring in sheets will be available for the very small!

2.30pm  •  Happy Birthday Midsumma

Midsumma’s very own child-sized birthday party includes 30 minutes of birthday party games with a twist. Old party games with added complexity (i.e. pass the parcel relay). Games will be aimed at 5-10 year-olds but parents will be encouraged to join in too.

Youth Space

11am – 5pm  •  Minus 18 and YEAH! Presents the Midsumma Youth Space at Carnival 2013

A safe space for those under 26, this drug and alcohol-free zone hosts an array of performances and DJs under the shady trees of Speakers Corner.