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Melbourne’s big build puts Cup Parade on hold for 2023
The Melbourne Cup Parade is not dead.
That's the message from the Victoria Racing Club, which on Thursday confirmed that the popular cavalcade will not take place this year but is hoped to return in 2024.
But there will be a live site for the week of the Carnival with a gathering at Crown on the eve of the great race.
The work being carried out in Melbourne's CBD, much of which is being conducted on streets used for the parade, which dates back more than 40 years, is central to the VRC's change of plans.
"The Melbourne Cup Carnival draws thousands of visitors to our city from interstate and overseas every year, and while we hoped to run a traditional parade this year, we could not with the current Big Build activity in the city," VRC chief executive Steve Rosich said.
"The one-year challenge that we have with the Big Build activity created an opportunity to think differently and innovate to create a central spot for people to enjoy the festivities all week long in 2023, with plans to return the parade to city streets next year with the support of the City of Melbourne."
Petanque Social at Crown will be the scene of the live site, operational every day until late from Victoria Derby Day through to Champions Stakes Day.
The 2023 Melbourne Cup Carnival kicks off with Victoria Derby Day on Saturday, November 4, followed by Melbourne Cup Day on November 7, Oaks Day on Thursday, November 9 and Champions Stakes Day on November 11.
In the absence of the parade the day before the Cup, fans will be able to see the Melbourne Cup trophy up close and meet their favourite jockeys, trainers and participants at Crown from 11am.
All 37 races over the Melbourne Cup Carnival will be televised on the big screen at Petanque Social for the public to enjoy from midday every race day and 10am on Lexus Melbourne Cup Day.
The live site will offer eats from Crown's popular Gradi Restaurant, entertainment from Melbourne DJs and a bespoke beverage list that includes Flemington's signature cocktail, 1861.
"The Melbourne Cup Carnival is unique for the fact it showcases so many different elements that make Melbourne wonderful, from live sport to fashion, hospitality and entertainment and the VRC is thrilled to be working with Crown to deliver a taste of those elements in the middle of the city, creating more opportunities across Cup Week for the public to experience the magic of the Melbourne Cup Carnival," Rosich said.
"Crown is synonymous with major events and this will be the first activation of the year at Petanque Social, located on the Crown Riverwalk, which has hosted similar live sites for events such as Presidents Cup."
