Nine-day St Kilda Festival to celebrate summer

The much-anticipated St Kilda Festival will take place over nine days this summer from Saturday 2nd to Sunday 10th February 2013.

Now in its 33rd year, the St Kilda Festival continues to celebrate Australia's contemporary music and culture, and the free 2013 program is expected to attract more than 400,000 peopl.

The event kicks off with the Yalukit Willam Ngargee: People Place Gathering festival on Saturday 2nd February the outdoor celebration of indigenous culture and music. All are welcome to O'Donnell Gardens to experience the best in established and up-and-coming musical talent from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Showcasing emerging local talent, Live N Local puts new acts centre stage in this week-long celebration of Australian music from Sunday 3rd to Saturday 9th February.

The streets of St Kilda will be abuzz as the area's shops, restaurants, bars and clubs are transformed into live music venues presenting up and coming musicians to wider audiences.

The St Kilda Festival will culminate on Festival Sunday, with yet-to-be-announced music acts headlining Australia's largest free music festival. Leading lights of the Australian music scene and diverse local talent will be on hand for music lovers and families alike.

Held on the second Sunday in February every year, Festival Sunday sees the streets of St Kilda are closed to all traffic while the cream of Australian musicians play over five music stages, while people of all ages are entertained with a vast range of performances, workshops and events, from childrens' entertainment to extreme sports demonstrations, dance classes, community activities, buskers and a whole lot more.

First held in 1980, St Kilda Festival is one of Australia's oldest and the Southern hemisphere's largest free street festival. A Melbourne tradition, it is a celebration of summer, showcasing Australian artists and talents against the spectacular natural beauty of the St Kilda foreshore.

For more information about the St Kilda Festival, visit www.stkildafestival.com.au