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UMSU After Dark: Opening Night Carnival

21/07/2026–21/07/2026
5:00 PM–8:00 PM
Amphitheatre + Market Hall (Building 189)
University of Melbourne Student Union

  • Free
  • O Week

Market Hall is transforming into a spiegeltent for three nights of circus, music and mind-bending entertainment, and Opening Night starts us off in style.

We open with Flash Poetry, a Melbourne-based poet and freestyle rapper known for turning crowd-shouted words and topics into rhymes on the spot. Shout out a word or prompt and watch them freestyle live, like a sport where the only rule is keeping up. 

Then catch an interactive magic act from Mark Mayer, an award-winning Melbourne magician with over 20 years' experience and credits including the Sydney Opera House, plus circus acts from Aleisha Manion, an internationally performed aerial and hula hoop artist.

Don't miss Gameshow: UMSU Mastermind, where 3 featured UMSU Clubs and Societies, SMART Consumers, Society for Transportation Enthusiasts (STEAM) and Society for Astronomy at Melbourne University, go head to head on their specialist subject for the prize.

Grab a drink from the on-site bar (18+, ID required) and an $8 whole pizza while you watch. While you're there, search for the UMSU lolly jar to guess how many lollies are in there to win the jar and surprise prizes.

Over in the Amphitheatre, it's lit up with more Clubs, Silent Disco (5:30–7pm), tarot reader Radha inviting you on a journey of this ancient arts, a carnival hat craft station and hot drinks, with free hot chocolate for the first 100 people.

Dress up if you're feeling it: best clown or carnival look encouraged.

OPENING NIGHT LINEUP
5:00pm DJ Lilly
5:10pm Flash Poetry: live rap & musical performance, audience prompts welcome
6:10pm Mark Mayer - Master Magician & Mentalist
6:25pm Circus: Miss Olivia Watts
6:45pm Gameshow: UMSU Mastermind
7:25pm Circus: Miss Olivia Watts
7:35pm Flare Dance Ensemble
7:45pm Closing DJ set

A note on sustainability: For those who can, we encourage you to bring your own mugs and food containers.

This event will include alcohol service inside Market Hall and Building 168 for attendees aged 18+ only.

UMSU is committed to the safe and responsible use and service of alcohol at our events.

 


Avoid FOMO by checking out all the other awesome events that are happening for OWeek@UMSU here.

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