An epic creative season is kicking off this October, with a bumper round up of creative festivals and events and a massive lineup of regional live music events set to attract 1 million people, made possible by the Andrews Labor Government.
Minister for Creative Industries Steve Dimopoulos today announced the lineup for Big Games Night Out, Melbourne International Games Week's new centrepiece event that will transform Fed Square and ACMI into a games wonderland with free activities, tournaments and performances for fans of all ages to enjoy for the Southern Hemisphere's biggest digital games celebration.
Drawing thousands of people into the city from twilight until late into the night, Big Games Night will kickstart Creative October on October 5 - a massive month of creative festivals and events taking place across Melbourne's CBD and in small communities across the state, boosting local economies and creating more jobs.
Gamers can put their skills to the test on the latest games releases, indie arcade games and vintage 80s games all available to play alongside games tournaments, a games Swap Meet and live music performances celebrating iconic games soundtracks.
Fans are invited to suit up as their favourite characters for the Cosplay Parade and Runway Experience hosted by Myf Warhurst and multi-talented musician and gamer Montaigne. Melbourne-made game Stray Gods will also be showcasing local fashion inspired by the game.
The action-packed Creative October season will offer something for everyone, from bigger than ever Melbourne International Games Week and Melbourne Fringe programs to Melbourne International Jazz Festival, Melbourne Fashion Week, The Wheeler Centre's Spring Fling and the inaugural Eighty-Six festival, alongside live music events that will bring flood impacted communities together and boost local businesses.
Alongside Big Games Night Out, the Government has boosted support for Melbourne Fringe to supersize this year's festival including adding dedicated programs in Melbourne's west and Queen Victoria Market.
Melbourne International Jazz Festival has secured the Australian-exclusive performance by US music superstars Chaka Khan and Nile Rodgers & CHIC at Sidney Myer Music Bowl alongside local acts Kaiit and Horns of Leroy.
October will also be a huge month for music with the government-backed Eighty-Six festival taking over Melbourne's northern suburbs, Sound Tracks taking music lovers on a music-fuelled steam train journey from Melbourne to Charlton and a line up of live music events in flood impacted communities in regional Victoria.
For more details about events taking place during Creative October, visit creative.vic.gov.au/October.
As stated by Minister for Creative Industries Steve Dimopoulos
"Big Games Night Out is set to be a spectacular night of free events across Fed Square, part of our biggest ever Melbourne International Games Week and a jam-packed line-up of creative events across the state this October."
"Between the AFL Grand Final and the Melbourne Cup, there's a creative festival or event happening every day in October, boosting our economy, supporting jobs and bringing to life our reputation as the creative state."
