Festivals in Melbourne this weekend

Three of our favorite weekends of the year are coming up quickly – plan your stay now! The Melbourne Art Festival is the weekend of April 25-26, Founder’s Day in Melbourne Beach is celebrated on Saturday, May 2nd and the 30th Annual Pineapple Man Triathlon is Sunday, June 2nd.

(April 25-26) is held in historic, downtown Melbourne just across the causeway (a 5-10 min. drive from the Inn). The festival includes a 5k flamingo run Saturday morning and live music from 1-11pm Saturday and 12-5pm Sunday. The 5k run takes you over the Melbourne causeway and back, ending with a band or DJ and celebratory beer tent! In addition to the 5k and live music, the art festival also features art workshops, local craft and food vendors, and a student art competition. The man that created our beautiful Port d’Hiver map, shown to the left here, is always a cornerstone exhibit (thanks Mike!). Admission to the art festival is free. For a full schedule of events, click here.

Founder’s Day (Saturday, May 2nd ) in Melbourne Beach takes place on our street (Ocean Avenue), with most activities happening in Ocean Park and Ryckman Park. Founder’s Day includes an arts and crafts show, a fishing contest, historical presentations, a surf contest, kayak, canoe and paddleboard races, Hawaiian dancing, a performance by Gemini Elementary children’s choir, volleyball and basketball, beer and wine, and live music from 5-8pm by Hammerhead Lincoln, a classic rock and roll band with blues infusion. Lots of locals spend the whole day on Ocean Ave. celebrating all the reasons why we love our small town! Admission is free.

will be held on Sunday, June 2nd and takes place just down the street. Fortunately, registration is still open…however, it is a really popular triathlon and fills up quickly so please make sure to plan your visit soon! This sprint triathlon starts with a swim just off the pier at the end of Ocean Ave., the bike is down A1A and back, and the run is through the streets of the town. Port d’Hiver owners Linda and Mike Rydson have done all or parts of this race for several years. Whether you’re a participant or spectator, Port d’Hiver is the perfect place to make your ‘basecamp!’ We will set you up with a triathlete’s breakfast – coffee or juice, fresh fruit, and/or a power breakfast sandwich or egg white, veggie omelet. And we’ll have celebratory mimosas waiting for you after the race! Haven’t started training yet? You can come scout it for next year! For additional race information, click here.