Up & Coming
Some Australian festivals and events not to be missed:March - April
Sydney Royal Easter Show
20 - 24 March
The country comes to the city with animal exhibits, shows and fireworks daily
www.eastershow.com.au
Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival
17 March - 13 April
Australia's top thoroughbreds race at various Sydney venues
www.ajc.org.au
2008 Formula Grand Prix Melbourne
13 - 16 March
The first round of the FIA World Championship at Albert Park Circuit
Rip Curl Surfing pro Bells Beach Victoria
18 - 28 March
The Rip Curl Pro at Australia’s world famous Bells Beach is the perfect way to spend the Easter long weekend.
www.surfingaustralia.com
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
19 March - 13 April
Laugh till it hurts with many comedy acts
www.comedyfestival.com.au
2008 Conrad Jupiter's Magic Millions Carnival Gold Coast
24 March - 3 April
10 Days of Horse racing and partying on the Gold Coast
www.magicmillions.com.au
May
Rosemount fashion week Sydney
The best emerging and established fashion designers from Australia and Asia-Pacific preview their collections
www.afw.com.au
Football Federation Australia Sydney
Socceroos friendly international and FIFA World Cup Preliminary Cup qualifier
www.footballaustralia.com.au
Loveday Long Lunch Hunter Valley
Gourmet food and wine set amidst the Hunter valley vineyards,
www.lovedalelonglunch.com.au
June
Sydney Film Festival
Two-week celebration showcases Sydney Art house theatre venue
www.sydneyfilmfestival.org
Whales and Blues Festival Port Stephens
Three-day festival coincides with the migration of the Whales to the North Coast
www.portstephens.org.au
Yulefest, Blue Mountains
Celebrate a winter Christmas in the Blue Mountains,
www.visitbluemountains.com.au
July
World Youth day Sydney
15 -20 July
Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims are expected to gather to celebrate Pope Benedict XVI's first visit to Australia
www.wyd2008.org
Gold Coast airport Marathon
6 July
16,000 people from around the world will parti8cipate in races over the 41 km track
www.goldcoastmarathon.com.au