The Royal Croquet Club Is Coming Back to Melbourne for 2016

Having established itself as a summer favourite across the country over the last few years, the Royal Croquet Club will return to Melbourne. Back for a third year, the outdoor festival is set to take over Birrarung Marr from December 8. The 16-day event promises all the fun and flavour of previous years, offering up a buffet of live entertainment, experiential arts, food, drink, and — of course — more than a few games of croquet.

The al fresco festival will see revellers of all ages and skill levels hitting the central croquet pitch, with some of Sydney's best food on hand for refuelling in between games. Expect noms from St Kilda's POW Kitchen, 8bit burgers, and barbecued things from Hoy Pinoy and Up in Smoke. Gelato Messina will once again bring back their ice cream creations in Campbell's Soup-like tins.

And the fun continues away from the mallets too, with a lineup of local and international artists dishing up live tunes, including Jarryd James, Hayden James, Touch Sensitive and, randomly, Angus Stone as Dope Lemon. This year they'll also be adding The Parlour, a 70-seat pop-up theatre that will showcase acts from Adelaide Fringe.

Previous years have seen as many as 60,000 people rock up, and this time 'round you can expect just as many. The Night Noodle Market regulars will need somewhere to go once that wraps up this week.

The Royal Croquet Club Melbourne will come to Birrarung Marr from Thursday, December 8 to Sunday, December 23. For more information as they announce it, check back here or visit royalcroquetclub.com.au.