If your birth year starts with the number two, there's no chance you'll remember it – but back in the day, the Chapel Street Festival was a thriving community street party that celebrated all the elements of the buzzing precinct, from fashion to nightclubs.
Can't imagine it? Watch this gem of a YouTube video featuring an archived segment of a TV show documenting all the colour of the event. Noughties nostalgia aside, it looked like a great time. And in 2025, it's back bigger than before.
On February 23, the festival is expected to draw a whopping 100,000 Melburnians to the famed strip. Chapel Street will be divided into six separate sections, so attendees can easily seek out whatever their heart desires. At the Anthem Park stage there'll be live bands and DJs, and at the Pillars you'll find fashion and art showcases. Of course, there'll be a food court section with stacks of stalls, including some from top restaurants like Mr Miyagi and Hawker Hall. Plus, a classic car show will feature more than 50 hot rods, complete with Chap laps. There will also be a wellness area with yoga, pilates and a spiritual music show at sunset, and a kids zone with plenty of family friendly games.
The festival has come back to life thanks to $450,000 in funding from the Victorian government, with the hope that it'll grow to become as popular as the St Kilda Festival and generate more income for local businesses.
"The Chapel Street Festival was legendary back in the day – drawing hundreds of thousands to celebrate live music, food and fashion," says festival director Matt Lanigan.
Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.