The Queensberry Cup is a billy cart race and street festival that is returning for a second time this year in North Melbourne on Saturday the 21st of October.
Fifty billy cart daredevils will race down Errol St. on contraptions of their own design. Billy carts will line up near Queensberry St. and tackle a bendy course with a tricky right hand turn to finish. From ages seven to seventy, racers will compete for the coveted perpetual trophy, the Queensberry Cup, as well prizes including $1000 to spend at local shops, thanks to North & West Melbourne Precinct Association!
Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp will be riding a billy cart down the hill at about 3:30pm.
Across the North & West Melbourne communities, and beyond, individuals, families and community groups have been designing and building their speed machines. Last year’s 10 year old winner Orlando Furlong is back competing in a new cart, whilst his younger sister makes her debut in last year’s winning cart. Entries have come from as far afield as Castlemaine.
Beyond the billy cart track, this year's festival will include a stellar lineup of Melbourne’s most exciting, eclectic, emerging and talented musicians, with grooves from across the globe, with host and poet Zainab Farah. Performances will include:
Immy Owusu - Ghanaian highlife fused with surf coast rock-n-roll
Gusto Gusto - foot-stomping music
Jason Coleman's Ministry of Dance - stunning choreography
North Melbourne Primary School Parents Band - cool indie rock covers
The Zaahoos, Vietnamese, Eritrean and Chinese dancers
There will be a wide array of food stalls available on the day showcasing diversity of food and beverage options within North Melbourne. The Courthouse Hotel will be running a bar, plus Vietnamese, Pizza from Melrose Place 3051 and a classic sausage sizzle from North Melbourne Rotary. Plus everything Errol St. has to offer.
Plus a kids own adventure playground, a dog show, Tufting, community displays and the World Kitchen featuring Venezuelan MasterChef finalist Keyma Vasquez Montero.