11 summer events not to miss

From major sporting matches through to multicultural street parades, the region is jam-packed with exciting events this summer and beyond.

Grab your diaries and start planning – these are the events you can’t miss!

CommBank Matildas vs Chinese Taipei

Saturday 7 December
GMHBA Stadium

The CommBank Matildas are back in Geelong for the first time since 2017!

You welcomed them with open hearts last time and so much has happened since then!

Don’t miss your chance to see Australia’s football stars take on Chinese Taipei at GMHBA Stadium, in their very last home game of 2024.

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BBL 14 Renegades vs Hurricanes

Thursday 19 December
GMHBA Stadium

Get the whole family together for an electric night out with the fast-paced action of BBL cricket on Thursday 19 December at GMHBA Stadium.

See the Renegades face off against Hobart Hurricanes.

The match kicks off at 7:15pm and tickets range from $7 to $35.

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The Rip View Swim Classic

Friday 3 January

Now in its 36th year, The Rip View Swim Classic is an open water swim that occurs annually in Point Lonsdale. It attracts over 1,000 swimmers to take on the open-water race that follows the curve of the bay.

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Super Saturday on the Coast

Saturday 4 January
Geelong Racing Club

Saddle up for Geelong’s ultimate summer race day spectacle!

Enjoy a fabulous family day out in Geelong with a 2000 sq metre kids zone with water slides, foam party and more. There’s plenty for the young adults too with a White Claw zone with bands, sound stage and beach volleyball.

Head down to Geelong Racing Club for the first ever metro grade race day of the year and a cracker summer event!

Portarlington Mussel Festival

Saturday 11 January
Portarlington Foreshore

A must-attend event on The Bellarine over summer, the Portarlington Mussel Festival will have a wide variety of music and entertainment for everyone’s tastes, from a headliner act to roving children’s entertainment.

Come hungry as there will be many stalls serving delicious mussels different ways and other local food available. Local Bellarine beer and wine, art shows, cooking demonstrations and market stalls will help you fill the day.

Geelong Beer Festival

Saturday 18 January
Johnstone Park, Geelong

Geelong Beer Festival returns to the picturesque and iconic Johnstone Park this summer, lined with palm trees, lush grass and a natural amphitheatre. The site lends itself to an event where you can choose your adventure – whether it be sipping and sampling your way around the plethora of local and national brewers, distillers, and wineries, or gathering your crew together for a party, a boogy and an all-round memorable day of social fulfilment.

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Festival of Sails

Friday 25 – Sunday 27 January
Geelong waterfront

The annual Festival of Sails in Geelong sees world-class sailing action combined with a fantastic waterfront festival!

Watch the largest keelboat regatta in the Southern Hemisphere from Wangim Walk or along the Geelong foreshore and enjoy free music performances with the new jam-packed entertainment schedule!

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Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race

Friday 31 January – Sunday 2 February
Geelong waterfront

The Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race returns better than ever in 2025 as the world’s cycling elite journey to Geelong and the Surf Coast for Australia’s greatest weekend of cycling.

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Vic Open Golf Tournament

Thursday 6 – Sunday 9 February
13th Beach Golf Links, Barwon Heads

A four day professional golf tournament for men, women and all abilities golfers.

The event is so much more than golf – including food and drink, music, golf activations, an animal farm, and much more.

Flying Brick Bellarine Sunset Run

Saturday 8 February
Portarlington

The Flying Brick Bellarine Sunset Run is celebrating the ninth edition of their light coastal trail event between Portarlington and St Leonards.

Pako Festa – A Celebration of Cultural Diversity

Saturday 22 February
Pakington Street, Geelong West

Pako Festa has been Victoria’s premier free multicultural festival for over 40 years. This annual community street festival celebrates cultural diversity and is the biggest of its kind in Australia! The event attracts crowds of over 100,000 people and is managed by Cultura and held on the last weekend of February in Pakington Street, Geelong West.

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Although summer technically wraps up in February, the lively vibes carry on with these unmissable events!

IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong

Sunday 23 March
Geelong waterfront

IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong has long been the best-kept secret on the Oceania circuit, with a stunning venue, world-class course, vibrant community and loads of local support. No surprise then that this race was voted #1 in the world in 2018 for Overall Athlete Satisfaction, it’s the ideal race to kick-start your year.

Avalon Australian International Airshow

Friday 28 – Sunday 30 March
Avalon Airport

The largest airshow in the Southern Hemisphere, Australian International Airshow returns to Victoria’s Avalon Airport!

The spectacular three-day aviation event kicks off on the Friday afternoon with the famous Night Alight Show, featuring night-time flying aerobatics, a spectacular laser show, fireworks and the renowned Wall of Fire.

Both Saturday and Sunday are day-only shows featuring extensive air displays from the latest thundering jet fighters, strike aircraft and heavy-lift giants as well as aerobatic performances.

There is more to the airshow than air displays, with plenty to see and do including walking through modern and historic aircraft, checking out classic cars and watching intense drone races! There is something for everyone.