The Melbourne Cup, Australia’s most popular horse racing event, is more than just a sporting spectacle—it’s a national celebration! On the first Tuesday in November each year, people come together in a festive atmosphere to let loose and have some laughs. This day can provide a great opportunity to get your friends, family, clients, or colleagues together.
Whether you’re planning a gathering at home, in the office, or at a local corporate venue in Brisbane or on the Gold Coast, hosting your own Melbourne Cup party is a terrific way to join in the excitement. To help you create an unforgettable event, we’ve compiled six fun Melbourne Cup party ideas, covering everything from decorations and themes to activities and luncheon ideas. So, grab your fascinator, and let’s begin!
When it comes to Melbourne Cup party ideas, setting the right theme is crucial. You might like to consider a “Glitz and Glamour” or “Red Carpet” event, encouraging guests to dress in their finest attire. Think suits, well-polished men’s shoes, fascinators, heels, and elegant dresses.
Another idea is to opt for a “Vintage Racecourse” Melbourne Cup theme, evoking the charm of early 20th-century horse racing. (Check out the Pharlap movie for inspiration.) Your Melbourne Cup decoration ideas can include black and gold balloons, feather boas, and vintage racing memorabilia to set the scene. If you’d like other horseracing-based ideas to consider, check out our article on spring racing carnival theme inspiration.
For Melbourne Cup party decoration ideas, the key is to create an atmosphere that captures the excitement and elegance of race day. You could hang streamers and balloons in traditional hues like white, gold, and black and add splashes of red to represent the iconic roses. Plus, create table centrepieces using tall vases filled with roses or gold-spray branches.
You might also scatter toy horses, mini horseshoes, or jockey figurines around the venue and use horse-themed tablecloths or runners. Also, a red carpet where guests can show-off their outfits is another perfect decoration touch. For an outdoor event, party hire options like large umbrellas and swing seats work well.
In this digital age, a photo booth is a must-have for any Melbourne Cup party. Set up a dedicated area with a backdrop featuring race-day motifs like horseshoes, roses, or a horse or racecourse silhouette. Our range of corporate event hire products includes many great backdrop options with round, arched, or geometrical designs. There are even pretty green wall backdrops you can use, which suit a Melbourne Cup theme perfectly.
You’ll also want to provide guests with props for their photos, such as wooden toy horses, special jockey-like hats, and golden “Winner” statues. Your photo booth will serve as a fun Melbourne Cup activity for the day and encourage guests to share their experiences online. In turn, this extends your event’s reach, gives you more memories to look back on later, and, if you’re running a business function, boosts your return on investment.
No Melbourne Cup celebration is complete without acknowledging the event’s famous focus on fashion. No matter the size of your party, you can host your own “Fashions on the Field” competition, encouraging guests to showcase their most stylish outfits or memorable lookalike creations. Set up categories like “Best Dressed”, “Most Creative Hat”, or “Most Dapper Gentleman”, and hand out special certificates or gag gifts to the winner of each.
This and other Melbourne Cup activities (such as “Pin the Tail on the Racehorse”, “Race-Call Karaoke”, a horse-shoe tossing competition, or Melbourne Cup-themed Bingo) will add an extra layer of excitement to your party.
When considering Melbourne Cup luncheon ideas, think light, elegant, and easy to eat, especially if guests will be eating while standing up or engaging in activities. Offer a selection of canapés like smoked salmon blinis, mini quiches, and cucumber sandwiches. For something more substantial, you could arrange a gourmet barbecue or a selection of gourmet pies or even opt for a formal, sit-down, Melbourne Cup luncheon. Don’t forget to include vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free options to cater to all dietary requirements.
Plus, be sure to mix up some signature cocktails. Offer a selection of race-day-inspired cocktails such as a “Flemington Fling” or a classic Mint Julep. You might include a non-alcoholic option such as a “Mocktail Derby”, too.
No Melbourne Cup party is complete without your own sweepstake for guests to participate in. Enable all attendees to draw one or more horses’ names from a hat for free or a small entry fee. You could use the fees to generate funds for the winner or to give away to your preferred charity. This traditional Melbourne Cup activity gives everyone a stake in the race results and works as a great ice-breaker for discussions between people who haven’t met before.
Hosting a Melbourne Cup party is an excellent way to celebrate one of Australia’s most beloved sporting events. By taking these suggestions on board, you’ll be well on your way to hosting a Melbourne Cup event your guests will talk about long after the last horse crosses the finish line.
When you’re ready to source props, furniture, and other items for your event, get in touch with Hampton Event Hire for all your party needs. No matter whether you host your party at a venue in Brisbane, the Gold Coast or Byron Bay, we have products to suit every space.
Are you looking to add a touch of green to your next shindig without the hassle of laying or maintaining real grass? Artificial turf at
Event planners and party-throwers: are you a little unsure about the different types of seating arrangements you could use for your upcoming shindig? Do you
The Spring Carnival racing season is always on during the lovely time of the year when the weather is warming, the flowers are blooming, and
