FOUR days of festival fun kicks off today, with AFL Executive General Manager Customer and Commercial Kylie Rogers, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos MP and fans officially opening the first day of the 2022 Virgin Australia Footy Festival.

The festival, which runs until Saturday September 24, is a celebration of football, as fans soak up the excitement that comes with the 2022 Toyota AFL Grand Final returning to Victoria for the first time since 2019.

Located within the Yarra Park precinct outside the MCG, the 2022 Virgin Australia Footy Festival is full of FREE entertainment for all ages including player appearances, giveaways, music and some of Melbourne's best food trucks and bars over four days, culminating with the 2022 Toyota AFL Grand Final.

Fans are spoiled for choice within the festival's grounds as they explore the Chemist Warehouse Locker Room, Kayo Sports Inflatable Dartboard, AFLW Super Slide, the Hot Air Sherrin, Bunnings Warehouse Fanhouse, getting hairy with team Movember, Maccas Kick 2 Kick, a FREE giant Ferris Wheel, NAB AFL Auskick clinics and more.

For the first time, AFLW matches will be part of Toyota AFL Grand Final celebrations with games played at nearby venues AIA Centre and Punt Road, providing fans the opportunity to enjoy the best of women's football while soaking up the festival atmosphere of the live site.

ARIA award-winning Australian dance-music group Sneaky Sound System will perform a FREE concert for fans on the Main Stage from 12:30pm following the completion of the 2022 Toyota AFL Grand Final Parade on Friday, while several other artists will also perform throughout the festival including Mike Brady, Superband, B.H.B, Unlimited and Emerald Sea.

Fans can also get up-close and personal with the 2022 Toyota AFL Premiership Cup with one of the game’s most precious pieces of silverware making appearances at various partner activations across the four days.

AFL Executive General Manager Customer and Commercial, Kylie Rogers said the 2022 Virgin Australia Footy Festival was the biggest one yet.

"In partnership with the Victorian Government, we are thrilled to be welcoming footy fans to the 2022 Virgin Australia Footy Festival at Yarra Park," Ms Rogers said.

"Victoria has been starved of finals footy for the last few years, so we're delighted to provide four-days of free activities for footy fans of all ages to soak up the atmosphere ahead of the 2022 Toyota AFL Grand Final.

"With school holidays and back-to-back public holidays, there’s no better time for footy fans to come along and enjoy all that Grand Final week has to offer."

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos said "footy is part of this state’s cultural fabric and we’re backing the AFL Grand Final to be bigger and better, with a four-day festival that offers something for everyone in the beating heart of the nation’s sporting capital.
 
"The countdown to the big dance is well and truly underway, and we're making sure it's one to remember for all footy fans and all Victorians."
 
For more information on the 2022 Virgin Australia Footy Festival visit https://www.afl.com.au/footy-festival

Virgin Australia Footy Festival opening hours:

Wednesday, September 21, 10:00am - 5:00 pm
Thursday, September 22, 10:00am - 5:00 pm
Friday, September 23, 10:00am - 5:30pm
Saturday, September 24, 8:00am - 7:00pm

Virgin Australia Footy Festival Activations:

Live Entertainment
For the first time ever, the Virgin Australia Footy Festival will see two separate stages within the precinct with player signing sessions, giveaways and entertainment including Australian dance music group Sneaky Sound System to perform at the live site at various times across the four days.
 
Virgin Australia Footy Festival Photo Wall
Be sure to head down to the Virgin Australia giant photo wall to grab a pic with your mates and enter the comp for your chance to win tickets to the 2022 TOYOTA AFL Grand Final.
 
Toyota Good for Footy Clubhouse
Visit the Toyota Good for Footy Clubhouse to snap a photo with the Premiership Cup, meet your footy heroes and win a host of prizes including tickets to the 2022 Toyota AFL Grand Final!
 
Macca's Kick 2 Kick Zone
Head down to the Macca’s® Kick 2 Kick Zone where some of your favourite AFL and AFLW players will be dropping by for a kick. You could also win one of three ultimate Macca’s Kick 2 Kick experiences, including two tickets to the 2022 Toyota AFL Grand Final, as well as mini–Macca’s Sherrins and free Macca’s menu items.
 
Giant Kayo Sports dartboard 
The giant Kayo dartboard allows fans of all ages to test their skills by handballing, kicking, throwing, or hitting balls at the huge Velcro dartboard in an attempt to hit a bullseye and win a prize.
 
NAB Mini Mall
NAB celebrates 20 years with the AFL in the ultimate throwback arcade. Take a trip down memory lane with some of the most iconic arcade games. Challenge your mates on a game of Mario Cart, don’t get caught in Pacman, have a crack at our claw machine, and don’t forget to grab a bucket of free NAB popcorn! Explore the new faces of NAB Mini Legends and be sure not to miss the special appearances of the AFL’s finest talent!
 
Chemist Warehouse Locker Room
Prep for the big game via a free on-site massage, show off your footy colours with a photo in one of eight themed club lockers or see whether you’ve got the skills to match it in the commentary box with TikTok superstars Shepmates via the Shepmates Sharehouse Commentary Booth. 
 
AFL Store Retail  
Visit the AFL Store retail sites for all your Grand Final merchandise needs.
 
Bunnings Warehouse Fanhouse
Bunnings’ aisles are stocked, so show off your team colours with our face-painters, build your own D.I.Y. footy banner or take home a pack of seedlings to grow your own this Spring. Exhausted? Relax in the lounge zone or test your handball skills against some of your favourite AFL players, with great prizes up for grabs.
 
Movember
To get the Mini-Mo's excited, Movember will have a face-painter on-site ready to deck your little one out with a Mo in their team’s footy colours. Swing past and get hairy with team Movember.
 
Coles Healthy Kicks
Be sure to visit Coles Healthy Kicks where kids can challenge themselves and get active on our interactive fitness course. Coles Healthy Kicks coaches will guide you through a series of inflatables and challenge you to complete various exercises just like an AFL or AFLW player. Once you make it through, you’ll be rewarded with an awesome Coles Healthy Kicks merch pack and some fresh fruit from Coles.
 
Rebel #THEHOMEOFFOOTBALL Zone
Head over to the Rebel Catch to WIN Zone for the chance to score the ultimate Grand Final experience! Rebel is hosting daily appearances from some of your favourite players and legends of the men’s and women’s games. There are plenty of prizes to be won and all prize winners will go in the draw to win one of two double passes to the 2022 Toyota AFL Grand Final!
 
Telstra Mural
Check out the shipping containers that will be painted live throughout the duration of the festival, bringing to life the two best teams of the year - battling for the ultimate prize!