Two cultural festivities are coming right up, beginning with the Tesselaar Tulip Festival this weekend (15 September ‘07), followed by the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival just another week down from there (25 September ‘07).

The Tesselaar Tulip Festival is officially held by the Tesselaar family in Monbulk Road, Silvan, and will feature unique events over four weekends. This Saturday begins with the Turkish Weekend, featuring a splash of Turkish cultural music, dance and cuisine - and of course, taking centre stage will be the vast arrangements of tulips on display. If you are into flowers (particularly tulips), or just love things pretty and colourful, clear your Saturday/Sunday for a short daytrip.

The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival is a great excuse to walk around town carrying a tiny lantern acting too young for your age (provided nothing catches fire). Also worthwhile to note are the traditional ‘mooncakes’ you can possibly find in good restaurants down in Chinatown (Asian supermarkets Laguna and Great Eastern will stock cheaper variants of them too) - something to possibly venture consuming if unfamiliar.

The Australian Federation of International Students (AFIS) has a daytrip bridging the two festivals - starting off with a Chinese lunch, followed by a trip to the Tesselaar Tulip Festival. You have to be a member and a student to join the daytrip, but membership is free and you do not have to be an international student (just sign up online).

AFIS Daytrip details:
15 September 2007
11.45 am - 6.00 pm
$30 per member (sign-up is free)
*covers Chinese lunch (mooncakes!), admission fees into the Tesselar Tulip Festival, transport (comfy mini-bus).

Click for AFIS - Turkish Tulip Festival & Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival event page.
(sign up as a member, then call Douglas Tsoi 0433 893 228 or email info@internationalstudents.org.au for the daytrip)

Related posts:

1. Chinese New Year!
2. Celebrate Chinese New Year
3. Autumn Rain
4. Melbourne International Arts Festival 2007
5. Festival Season has started