Buddha's Day & Multicultural Festival

Overview

For the 28th year, Melbourne's incredibly diverse Buddhist community is throwing a huge three-day festival to celebrate Buddha's Day — aka Buddha's birthday.

Buddha's Day & Multicultural Festival — taking over Federation Square from Friday, May 3 until Sunday, May 5 — champions multiculturalism through the arts, music, performances, workshops and Buddhist ceremonies. In the spirit of light and celebration, expect a multimedia fireworks show happening on Friday at 7.45pm and Saturday at 8pm.

The festival begins on Friday, May 3 for the Light It Up Opening Ceremony, featuring cultural performances from the Chinese Youth Society of Melbourne, National Boys Choir, and Taiko Drumming, as well as traditional Buddhist Ceremonies with significant figures in the Australian Buddhist community.

Across the weekend festival, visitors can participate in a range of ceremonies, activities and multicultural performances — or just watch on from the sidelines. You'll be able to join guided meditations, including the popular Buddhist Ch'an Meditation in the pop-up Mindfulness Garden. But if that isn't your jam, simply venture into the Lotus Flower Sanctuary to find a little inner calm in Melbourne's inner city.

Kids (or adults who wish to let their inner child run free) can learn the art of dragon dancing, get their face painted or play with giant bubbles. Let's be honest: who doesn't love bubbles?

Every year, this is one of the largest multicultural festivals in Melbourne, to which everyone is invited, so you have no reason not to check it out.

Head to the Buddha's Day & Multicultural Festival website to see the full lineup of events running from Friday, May 3 – Sunday, May 5.