At a glance
- When
- Sunday 8 November 2026, 10am to 4pm (Melbourne time, daylight saving)
- Where
- Town Park and Civic Square, Croydon, with the ride area in front of Aquahub
- Getting there
- Free shuttle from Eastfield Park to Aquahub, a 2km walk along the Tarralla Creek Trail, or the Devon Street car park (500m)
- Rides
- Unlimited Ride Band $49.95 online until 11:59pm Saturday 7 November; tokens $5 each on the day
- Not allowed
- Alcohol, smoking, vaping and dogs (assistance dogs welcome)
- Who it’s for
- Families and anyone heading to the council’s festival in Croydon on Sunday 8 November
- What to do now
- Buy the ride band online before 11:59pm Saturday 7 November if you want one; it is not sold on the day
- Last checked
- Monday 26 October 2026, against the Maroondah City Council festival pages
- Not yet confirmed
- Shuttle timings, the wet-weather plan, and train and bus times for the day
Maroondah Festival is on Sunday 8 November 2026 from 10am to 4pm at Town Park in Croydon, and the council’s own way in is a free shuttle from Eastfield Park to Aquahub, one of the festival entrances. This guide pulls together the council’s festival pages, checked on 26 October 2026: how to get there, what the rides cost, who plays on which stage, and where the toilets, first aid and quiet room are.
How do I get to Maroondah Festival?
The council’s Getting to Maroondah Festival page lists these options:
| Option | What the council says |
|---|---|
| Park ‘n’ Ride | A continuous free shuttle runs from Eastfield Park to Aquahub; parking at Eastfield Park is on the horse trotting track |
| Park ‘n’ Walk | A 2km stroll from Eastfield Park along the Tarralla Creek Trail |
| Devon Street car park | A 500m walk to the festival |
| Croydon Main Street | Public parking in and around Main Street |
| Bike | Secure bike parking outside Aquahub; bring your own lock |
| Public transport | Plan your trip with Public Transport Victoria |
The council does not publish shuttle departure times or how often the shuttle runs, only that it is continuous. The council lists the Devon Street car park as a 500m walk; it does not say how many spaces it has.
Can I get there by train?
The council tells visitors to plan public transport trips with Public Transport Victoria and does not name a station or bus route. Croydon station is on the Lilydale line, operated by Metro Trains Melbourne, according to its Wikipedia entry. We have not been able to check Sunday 8 November train times or planned works, so check the journey planner for that day before you leave. Cycling and carpooling are the other options the council suggests to keep the event sustainable.
What does the Unlimited Ride Band cost, and when do I have to buy it?
The council sells an Unlimited Ride Band for $49.95, which covers participating rides from 10am to 4pm. It has to be bought online before 11:59pm on Saturday 7 November, because bands are not sold on the day. There is one wristband per person, collected from the blue and orange ticket box near the thrill rides in the Aquahub car park.
If you would rather pay as you go, tokens are sold on the day:
| Tokens | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 token | $5 |
| 15 tokens | $66 |
| 25 tokens | $110 |
One go on each of the 12 rides included in the band adds up to 28 tokens by our count, which is more than the 25 tokens in the $110 pack. If you plan to try most of the rides, the $49.95 band is the cheaper way to do it.
Which rides are included, and how tall do I need to be?
| Ride | Tokens | Height rule |
|---|---|---|
| Dodgem Cars | 4 per car | 90cm with an adult, or 130cm to ride alone |
| Whizzer | 3 | 120cm with an adult, or 130cm to ride alone |
| Cyclone | 3 | 120cm |
| Rock Climbing Wall | 3 | 100cm |
| Viking Ship | 3 | 120cm with an adult, or 130cm to ride alone |
| Candy Swing | 2 | 100cm, or ride with an adult |
| Surf’s Up | 2 | All ages |
| Crazy Cars | 2 | All ages |
| Treasure Island | 2 | All ages |
| Cup and Saucer | 2 | All ages |
| Merry-go-round | 1 | All ages |
| Super Heroes Super Slide | 1 per slide | 100cm |
The Bungee Trampolines are not included in the band; they cost 4 tokens per person and need a minimum height of 100cm. The council’s ride band page has the purchase link.
Separate from the paid rides, the council says there are free kids rides on and around Fred Geale Oval: a mini ferris wheel, a chair-o-plane, an inflatable jumping castle and a giant slide. The side shows, carnival games and thrill rides are in the carnival area in front of Aquahub.
Who is playing, and when?
The council says the Main Stage has local and touring artists from folk and indie to rock, ska and world music. The stage program on the council’s Airtable page lists these Main Stage set times:
| Time | Act |
|---|---|
| 10:00am to 10:20am | Hazel Walton |
| 10:30am to 11:00am | Catch 23 |
| 11:10am to 11:25am | Welcome to Country |
| 11:40am to 12:20pm | Malibu Spacey |
| 12:30pm to 1:10pm | Harry & The Ettes |
| 1:20pm to 2:00pm | Grace de Vos |
| 2:15pm to 3:00pm | The Kittyhawks |
| 3:15pm to 4:00pm | Calle Luna |
The Community Stage, sponsored by Community Bank Ringwood East & Croydon, is for local schools, choirs, dance groups and musicians. Listed so far are Croydon Wind Symphony (10am to 10:25am), Croydon Community School (11:40am to 12:15pm), The Salvation Army Brass Band Ringwood (12:30pm to 12:50pm), ROOM2 from Lilydale High School (2:35pm to 2:55pm) and StoneWilde (3:15pm to 4pm).
The council also runs a Goodstart Kids Stage, a Youth Stage, a Cooking Stage, a Cultural Demo Space and a Sporting Demo Space. We have not copied their full timetables here because the council updates them daily and says the map and stage program are subject to change, so use the council’s program page on the day.
What else is on besides the stages?
The council’s guide lists a Fun and Fitness Area presented by Eastland, where local clubs offer martial arts, volleyball, baseball, tennis and more, plus free circus skills workshops. Its Activity Passport Challenge starts at the Maroondah City Council Sport and Recreation site on Fred Geale Oval; you complete activities across the precinct, then visit the Eastland site to claim a prize. There are also market stalls, food vendors, a Kids Kingdom presented by Goodstart, face painting and henna, roving performers and a Festival Trail. The council’s online guide lets you browse food and drink options and find vendors that suit your dietary requirements.
Where are the toilets, first aid and water?
| What | Where, according to the council’s FAQs |
|---|---|
| Public toilets | Aquahub, the Community Hub and Croydon Library |
| First aid | Community Hub |
| Free drinking water | Near the Community Expo and Community Hub area |
| Parents’ room and baby change | Community Hub |
| Police | Civic Drive West, in front of Aquahub |
| ATM | Civic Square Shopping Centre; more on Main Street, Croydon |
| Free sunscreen | Information Tents, council activations and the Goodstart Kids Kingdom area |
| Information | Any Information Tent: maps, directions, child safety wristbands and Festival Trail details |
What if my child gets lost?
Free child safety wristbands are available from any Information Tent and in the Goodstart Kids Kingdom area. You write your mobile number on the wristband so the team can reunite you quickly. If a child goes missing, the council says to go to the nearest Information Tent.
What is the accessibility set-up?
The council’s FAQs and travel page list accessible parking at Norton Road, accessible toilets at Aquahub, the Community Hub and Croydon Library, and an electric mobility vehicle charging station at the main Information Tent. Two accessible change rooms with a ceiling hoist and a height-adjustable adult-sized change bench are inside Aquahub. The council warns that visitation at Aquahub is high during the festival, so there may be a wait; ask at Aquahub reception.
A Quiet Room is in the Glenn Frost Room next to Croydon Library, for people who feel overwhelmed by noise or crowds. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied and supervised by a responsible adult in the room, and the council says it is not a social space or a children’s play area.
Can I bring a dog, alcohol or a vape?
No. The council calls it a smoke, vape, alcohol and dog free event. Accredited assistance dogs and guide dogs are welcome, in line with the relevant legislation.
What is still unconfirmed?
The council has not published shuttle times, a wet-weather plan, or which trains and buses to take. Its travel page still says a site map “will be available soon”, while the program page links a map and stage program PDF, so check the program page for the latest. We will update this guide if the council adds detail.
Sources
- Maroondah City Council — Maroondah Festival (date, venue; checked 26 October 2026)
- Maroondah City Council — Getting to Maroondah Festival (shuttle, parking, accessibility)
- Maroondah City Council — Maroondah Festival FAQs (facilities, safety, free rides)
- Maroondah City Council — Unlimited Ride Band (prices, tokens, height rules)
- Maroondah City Council — Festival program and map (stages and activities)
- Maroondah Festival 2026 stage program (performer set times, linked from the council’s program page)
- Wikipedia — Croydon railway station, Melbourne (Lilydale line)
Featured image: Croydon Main Street, Victoria (photo: NatoV / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Maroondah City Council or Public Transport Victoria. Prices, times and the program can change; check the council’s festival pages before you go.