9 must-dos on Melbourne Day

1. Molly, bring your brolly

• Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly. But you already knew this.
• If needed, there is ample shelter from rain along Victoria Harbor Promenade (the Melbourne Day Concert site) and side streets, including Merchant St and Enterprize Way. The promenade is north-facing, which will help keep you warm.
• If needed, staff from sponsor Yelp will pause inviting you declare love to Melbourne at their letter-writing stand to distribute rain ponchos to help keep you dry.
• Get warm in The Dock Library, which hosts non-stop activities and performances from noon to 4.30pm. See what's on in the library.

2. Study the event map and plan ahead

It's a big event program, spread over a big area. We've got maps and all the details you need to plan ahead and see the action.

Water Plaza, in the centre of the love heart, is the Melbourne Day Concert and focus of the Melbourne Regatta. You'll be fine, you're a Melburnian!

3. Fill your heart with pride

Join MC Dr Sally Cockburn (“Dr Feelgood”), Deputy Lord Mayor Susan Riley, city councillors, 2015 Junior Lord Mayor Claire McDaniel, Melbourne Day chairman Campbell Walker and committee, invited guests, dignitaries and others as we hoist the city's flag at 9am.

• Hear the 35-piece Royal Australian Navy Band Melbourne.
• Meet the Enterprize's "first settlers" in period costume — including Gilbert, the Tassie tabby, Melbourne's first cat!
• Sing along to sea shanties by the Enterprize Shanty Band.
• See and hear roving town crier Brad Croft in full voice.

4. Hear Aussie anthems by music legends at the Melbourne Day Concert

Music giants Daryl Braithwaite and Russell Morris perform their Aussie anthems, including Howzat, One Summer, As the Days Go By, The Horses, The Real Thing, Wings of an Eagle and Sweet Sweet Love. Also:

• Open Door Singers / Docklands Community Choir, with Musical Director Shaun Islip, will perform crowd favourites.
• Soli Tesema performs Halo, her signature cover of Beyonce's pop ballard that wowed judges on The Voice Australia, and — for the first time — the all-new Melbourne Our Town, a tribute to our city!
• Pierce Brothers, Jack and Pat, appear on stage for the first time after a world tour.
• GOLD104.3 FM broadcasts the concert live.
• Auntie Di, elder of the Wurundjeri people, holds a Welcome to Country.
• Stan "Yarramunua" Dryden, Aboriginal artist and performer, plays the didgeridoo.
• Kinja, Ron Murray and Sarah James, celebrate the cultural heritage of their ancestors in a blend of indigenous Australian and Celtic music.
• Maria Forde, Irish-Australian singer and songwriter, performs.
• Cutting of a giant birthday cake, made by Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses.

5. Stock up on chutney

Open from 10am to 5pm

The Docklands Sunday Market becomes a special, Melbourne Day-themed variety market on August 30. And in a new location, just for Melbourne Day!

6. Take a free Victoria Harbour trip

Jump aboard classic steamboat Grower, river cruiser MV Barkoona and Fortune Favours the Brave, departing every 15 minutes (from 11am to 5pm) from and to three sites on Victoria Harbour (see a map):

• No 2 berth/Boating Hub (Alma Doepel dry dock)
• Water Plaza (Melbourne Day concert stage)
• Melbourne City Marina (New Quay)

The schooner Enterprize runs free sails at 2.30pm, 3.30pm and 4.30pm from Water Plaza (Melbourne Day concert stage).

7. Hear an exclusive preview of new song Melbourne Our Town

To be performed for the first time at the Melbourne Day Concert by Soli Tesema.

8. Visit The Dock Library for a puppet show workshop, history storytelling, Flamenco music, Aboriginal painting and more!

From noon to 4.30pm, the library hosts non-stop activities and performances.

9. Go on a free tour, and more

Lots more special offers and deals

You get the pressies in our 180-hour birthday celebration!