The Melbourne Cup Carnival is the best event on the horse racing calendar in Australia. It is host to the four big races: Derby Day, the Melbourne Cup, Oaks Day and the Mackinnon Stakes all of which take place on the first week of November at Flemington Racecourse, although Derby Day can sometimes occur in late October.
Attend the race in person
The best way to enjoy the carnival is to get down to Flemington Racecourse to experience the thrill of the race for yourself. If tickets for the main day are sold out, you can attend Oaks Day, also known as Ladies Day or the Mackinnon Stakes which is also known as Family Day as a fun alternative. These events are still highly popular among racegoers so the best advice is to book your tickets early rather than at the gate in case they are sold out.
If you are at Flemington for the events there are different ways to experience the races. You can book a marquee and enjoy some gourmet food and drinks, or you can take a blanket and your own homemade food to enjoy a picnic on the grass. There are undercover areas in case it rains as well.
Celebrate from afar
If you can’t get to the event, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy the races. The most popular option is to have a barbeque at home with friends and family. You can create a theme for the barbeque to spice up the event if you are so inclined. Be sure to keep an eye on the time so you don’t miss any races you want to watch. The races are televised all over the country so check your local guides to see what channel they are on in your location.
Even if you have to work, you can still enjoy the races, depending on what job you have and where you are. If you work in an office you can spruce the workplace up by decorating your desk and lunchroom. You could organize lunch or afternoon tea and make it a casual dress day to allow workers to feel a bit more relaxed about the fact that they still have to work on this Melbourne public holiday. Perhaps set up some games like a race-themed trivia competition and check out the 2021 Melbourne Cup odds to put together a fun sweepstake in the office. A TV is a must, preferably a big screen. Perhaps if there is one in the conference room you could deck that room out with decorations and watch the races in there.
Experience fun activities
If you are not working but cannot get to the event, a visit to one of the many bars or restaurants around town that will be televising the races can be a great alternative. You might want to spend a day at the beach and watch the races on your phone while relaxing in the sun.
If you are not interested in the races but still have the day off, there are plenty of things to do around Melbourne that don’t involve horseracing. You could go to the Zoo with your family or just take a walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens. There are plenty of great ways to experience the Melbourne Cup. Which one will work best for you this year?
