Whether you’re heading to the race or avoiding it completely, here are the best things to do (or specials to take advantage of) in Geelong this Cup Day.
The Spring Racing Carnival is arguably one of the most exciting times of the year. With the fashion, food, social experience and the best from the racing scene, The bet365 Geelong Cup is a winning day out for everyone west of Melbourne. Held at the Geelong Racecourse, the Geelong Cup is traditionally held on a Wednesday, 13 days prior to the running of the Melbourne Cup. It is an open handicap race over 2,400 metres and forms the prolific Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
Held on Wednesday 19th October 2022, the bet365 Geelong Cup also means a public holiday throughout the City of Greater Geelong municipality. While not every business will observe the Geelong Cup as a public holiday, some certainly do.
So if you happen to have a public holiday tomorrow, here are some things to do with your precious day off.
Blush Bubbles Bar | Bottomless Sipping
Located in the outdoor space at the Pakington Street salon Blush Bar, Bubbles Bar is a rather fancy little wine garden serving up frivolous fun and a gorgeous array of your favourites for sipping pretty.
For Geelong Cup, the pastel-coloured bar will be hosting a bottomless sips and platter event. There’s two sittings available, one at 11am-2pm and one at 3pm – 6pm with delicious sweet and savoury platters, a Blush Bar Touchup Station, a Big Screen to watch the race/s, and a hand-selected menu for three hours of bottomless sips.
Thoughtful and delicious with an Instagram-ready exterior that calls for good vibes and summer fun, this is the perfect race-day space where everyone can feel beautiful with pink hues, festoon lighting, cosy couches and luscious greenery.
Tickets here.
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Rooftop After Party | Belmont Hotel
High above the hustle and bustle of the High Street is this relaxed rooftop oasis boasting killer views and tasty cocktails – the perfect formula for a memorable Cup Day. The
Embracing their art-deco interior with complimentary classic pub meal meets fining dining selection and their wide cocktail range, the Belmont will be serving lunch from 12pm and dinner from 5:30pm with a DJ on the rooftop from 4pm onwards for all your After Party shenanigans.
Oh and if you love an amaretto sour, these guys do the best in town!
Find out more here.
Geelong Cup After Party | The Elephant & Castle
Nestled on the eastern fringe of the City of Geelong, The Elephant & Castle Hotel has been part of the landscape in town for years now, with a history stretching back over 130 years. Owned by Geelong’s infamous Darryn Lyons, the last 20 months in and out of lockdown have truly made us appreciate the quirky, yet classic interior, the endless roster of live entertainment, the welcoming patrons and the generous pub feeds.
For Geelong Cup, the Elephant will be hosting an epic after party (whether you attend or not!) featuring DJs Jim Danza and Josh Tufino in The Main Bar from 5pm, plus, Luke Biscan in the Beer Garden from 6pm. For those attending the cup, the venue are providing free buses to and from the racecourse. Oh and the best part, this party is free entry!
Find out more here.
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2022 bet365 Geelong Cup
We probably should mention the actual Cup is also an event happening on the day. This year will see the 20 year anniversary of Media Puzzle winning the Geelong/Melbourne Cup double celebrated on what will no doubt be another outstanding day of racing – the form race leading into the Melbourne Cup.
With a range of hospitality packages to suit your budget, celebrate this year’s Cup in style. General admission is still available and there’s also tickets remaining at The Sporting Globe Geelong Beer Garden where you can also catch Peoples Poets playing live and you’ll also get entry and bus transfers to the Sporting Globe After Party.
A favourite of the event, Fashions on the Field will return once again with keen entrants invited to register on course on Wednesday 19th October Fashions Stage between 10:30 – 11:45am. Entrants must be 18 years and older with categories including McGrath Frock of the Day, McGrath Suit of the Day and Blush Bar Millinery of the Day.
Find out more about the Cup here.
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Official Geelong Cup After Party | The Sporting Globe Geelong
The Sporting Globe have been long term partners with the Geelong Racing Club, and so when it comes to a party on race day, they’ve got it well and truly covered. For those that miss your chance at partying it up with The Sporting Globe at their live site, or if you just want to party minus the race, follow the party back to the venue itself to continue the celebrations.
There will be a live band upstairs and special guest DJ in the beer garden, plus a tonne of member drink offers available including $9.5 Furphy Original Pints, $9.5 Furphy Crisp Pints, $10.9 Spring Sunshine Cocktail and $12.9 Pink Lemonade Cocktail.
It all kicks off from 6pm.
Find out more here.
Geelong Cup After Party | Piano Bar
It’s absolutely not a day out without a stop via Piano Bar!
Whether you’ve been revelling all day at the racecourse with us or you’re arriving fresh as a daisy for the home stretch, Piano Bar’s dance floor in central Geelong will be ready and waiting for you at this mid-week shindig.
The party will kick off from 5:30pm with requests flowing, the piano man and vocalist chomping at the bit to play your requests and a full bar and kitchen menus available. Tickets are just $10.
Find out more here.
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Post-Cup Drink, Food and Entertainment | Geelong Hotel
As with many of the pubs on this list, Geelong Hotel has had many names, including the unforgettable Bended Elbow, and seen many faces. With a much needed facelift, Geelong Hotel (better known to locals as GH), is a Friday and Saturday night go to for a classic pub meal, standout cocktails, beats galore and the occasional live music act in their dedicated upstairs bandroom.
For Geelong Cup, the team will be hosting live entertainment from 5pm with a slew of food and drink specials to keep the party going. Expect to find $5 Furphy schooners, 2 for $20 house cocktails, 3 for $40 sharing menu, oyster specials and cheese board and wine specials, because hell yeah!
Walk-ins welcome. Find out more here.
Pub Specials | Mount Moriac Pub
For those asking looking for something a little more chill Cup Day, text your crew and head on out to the Mount Moriac Pub for some epic Cup Day deals.
For lunch the beloved country pub will have $18 Beer Jugs (selected beer), $12 Wings and $14 Mac & Cheese balls, while dinner will feature a $24 Rump steaks with a FREE DRINK included.
There’s a lot of love about spending a day off here. Reservations are essential, book via 52661372.
Pancake Special | Hooley Dooley
Everyone’s favourite local gourmet ice cream business is jumping on board the race day fun by offering a super special deal.
‘Hooley Dooley Ice Cream’ is an ice-cream lover’s fever dream, stocking Apollo Bay’s Dooley’s Ice Cream – often referred to as Australia’s best. Alongside the classic and refined flavours, this place is renowned for its experimental or extravagant flavours, including the likes of Bailey’s, Cointreau, Cookies & Cream, Coffee Choc Crunch, Vovo, Chili Chocolate, Honey Malt, Jamaican Rum (chocolate rum & raisin) and licorice.
For Cup Day, the beloved Geelong venue will be dishing out two serves of Dutch pancakes for the price of one. Because everyone’s a winner here.
Find out more here.
If you’re just keen on hitting up a pub for a decent feed, check out our favourite pubs below:
