More reasons to laugh your arts off

The Docklands, Arts, Laughs and Blues Festival is back again next month and promises to be bigger and better than ever.

Now in its third year, the festival aims to provide a major visitor attraction according to event organiser Melissa Head from Wonderland Fun Park.

Kicking off on October 1, visitors and locals will enjoy circus, cabaret, stand-up comedy, illusion, puppetry, burlesque, art and film over the five day festival.

Events will take place at a range of venues across Docklands, but the festival will be centred on Wonderland Fun Park’s “Salon de Elegance” spiegeltent.

“The festival has something for everyone and the Wonderland Spiegeltent is a stand-alone in Docklands, oozing with nostalgia and charm, and fun for one and all,” Ms Head said.

Supported by the City of Melbourne and a range of sponsors, plenty of work has gone into making the festival a great event for Docklands.

“Our ability to present a range of events and festivals enables an event such as the Docklands Arts, Laughs and Blues Festival to build a new audience for Docklands and multiple reasons to visit,” Ms Head said.

For the first time the Wonderland Spiegeltent will present a movie as part of the festival, with The Blues Brothers screening on the opening night of the festival.

The festival also includes a family fun day on Saturday, September 4 with a range of free events, including bubble workshops, balloon making, face-painting and puppet shows, according to Ms Head.

And the fun culminates on Sunday, October 5 with the annual Docklands Blues Music Festival.

According to Ms Head, the free blues festival will offer “a wonderland of rhythm” with 22 performances across five stages between 11am and 9pm.

And Ms Head’s one tip to ensure you get the most out of this year’s Docklands Arts, Laughs and Blues Festival: “Don’t see one show, see them all”.

For more information about the Docklands Arts, Laughs and Blues Festival see http://www.docklandsartsandlaughsfestival.com.au