Hipster Pilgrimage walk and Sydney Rd Festival Frolic (11 km) - Moderate

Eat Drink Dance Melbourne: The Carlton‑to‑Brunswick Hipster Pilgrimage & Festival Frolic

When : Sunday 1 March
Meet: 10:45am
Start: 11:00am sharp-ish
Starting point: Brunetti Classico, Lygon St Carlton — outdoor tables near the gelato counter
Finish: The Green Refectory, Brunswick at ~2pm
Optional After‑Party: The Sydney Road Street Festival (aka hipster Mardi Gras)

So people who just want to come along just for the festival can meet us at the Green Refectory around 2pm. I won't be enforcing no show rules on this event, but please take yourself off the RSVP list if you can't make it and it would be nice if you can communicate whether you want to do the walk or just meet us at the festival. Get to the meeting points early otherwise we may leave without you.

Green Refectory Location
Green Refectory

Note event times and ETA are approximate, we walk at a relaxed and very social, chatty pace, parasol loving chatterboxes may slow the group down lol. Keep up to date in the comments section, I'll try to keep an eye on it, but this is hard when managing a group on the move.

** The Vibe**
Think:
A late‑summer flirt‑walk, a little classy, a little chaotic, a little “did Mark just lead us through a golf course?”
This is a social adventure, a romantic warm‑up, and a hipster anthropology field trip all in one.

‍♀️ The Walk (aka: The Scenic Zig‑Zag of Mild Mischief)
We begin at Brunetti, where the pastries are elegant, the coffee is strong, and the gelato counter is the perfect place for “accidental” pre‑walk eye contact.

From there, we wander north on a semi‑off‑track, semi‑on‑track, semi‑Mark‑is‑improvising route through:

• The leafy edges of Royal Park
• Past the Children’s Hospital (where we behave… mostly)
• Skirting the Melbourne Zoo (wave to the giraffes and monkeys, they love attention)
• Past the Netball Centre
• Across the golf course, where we promise not to get hit by a rogue 7‑iron

Eventually we emerge triumphantly at The Green Refectory — Brunswick’s beloved hipster canteen — for food, coffee, debriefing, mingling, and light flirtation.

The Festival Frolic
After the café, those with energy (or caffeine-induced bravado) can join us as we step straight into the Sydney Road Festival — a glorious inner‑city carnival of music, markets, street food, and people who own at least one vintage jacket.

We’ll wander, mingle, explore, and soak up the cultural smorgasbord.

✨ Choose Your Own Adventure (Three Delicious Options)

1️⃣ The Full Romance Package
Do the walk → Café hang → Festival frolic
For the adventurous, the social, the curious, and the “I’m here for the whole storyline” types.

2️⃣ The Strategic Socialiser
Skip the walk → Meet us at The Green Refectory → Casually pretend you were totally part of the walking group → Festival fun
Perfect for late risers, brunch purists, and those who want the social energy without the kilometres.

3️⃣ The Lone Wolf Hipster
Do the walk → Café → Then peel off to the festival or home
Ideal for those who love the journey but have their own mysterious Sunday arc.

Bring

• Comfortable shoes
• Clothing suitable for a longish walk through the hinterland of Royal Park
• Water
• Parasol, hat or sunscreen
• A sense of humour
• A willingness to flirt with life (and maybe each other)
• Curiosity for Brunswick’s finest characters
• Optional: a vintage tote bag to blend in at the festival