VIVA Youth Festival is back for another year of embracing youth culture in the City of Stonnington at the Princes Gardens in Prahran. Held in conjunction with National Youth Week, the all day event will feature a range of different experiences on offer, as well as prizes, food trucks, and more. To help you navigate what is sure to be a busy day if you decide to head down, we’ve assembled a list of seven unmissable happenings at the annual event, so you don’t have to miss any of the best things VIVA Youth Festival has to offer.
1. My Two Mums Ice Cream Sandwiches
Ice cream and sandwiches are quite possibly two of the best inventions we’ve developed in human history. Whichever genius first decided to put these two delectable delicacies together deserves a Nobel Peace Prize at the very least. Possibly the best ice cream sandwiches in Melbourne have been developed by Ellie Martin, the owner and operator of the My Two Mums food truck. Placing a phenomenal array of gourmet ice creams between two cookies, My Two Mums offers an unrivalled taste extravaganza that is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth. The whole idea is about mixing and matching your flavours, however you see fir – pick from red velvet, cardamom and pistachio or choc-chip cookies and pair those cookies with rock-salt caramel, jaffa or green-tea ice cream to construct your sandwich. All of the ingredients used by My Two Mums are free range and organic where possible, and the cookies are made to perfection by local bakers. You simply have to taste to believe.
2. I Scream Nails – Free Nail Art For Kids
If you manage to accumulate 173,000 followers on Instagram, no matter what your business, you must be doing something right – which is exactly what I Scream Nails have accomplished. This Australian company which was founded in 2012 as a nail art business, but soon developed in a multi-platform affair, with the group producing their own nail polish, opening salons and creating beautiful nail art videos. Their products are vegan and cruelty free, and their packaging is just so cute (see below.) At VIVA Youth Festival this year, I Scream Nails will be performing free nail art on kids – can you even imagine anything cuter than kids with fancy nails? If you have a little one of your own, or just want to see this amazing nail art live in person, this event is definitely one you should check out. 
3. The Bust-A-Move Dance Stage
Love to watch people get down and boogie? Or maybe you like to get down and boogie yourself? This years instalment of VIVA Youth Festival will feature the Bust-A-Move dance stage, will include performances, and workshops by Funkadelics, Indigenous Hip Hop Projects, BKODE, Melbourne High Soul Power, and Freestyle Fever. If you want to try out your moves with your crew against other dancers, then you’re in luck. Freestyle Fever will be facilitating a dance battle with a prize of $500 in cold hard cash going to whoever has the best moves. If you want to have a groove on the Bust-A-Move stage, you can register by emailing neda@nedalife.com
4. FReeZA’s Acoustic Flavours Stage
FReeZa have a long history of providing a platform for young musicians to do their thing in front of a wide audience. Along with Soundslike Productions, FReeZA have assembled a stage called Acoustic Flavour, which is being devoted to hosting young acoustic performers on a live stage. The line-up of these performers is yet to be announced, but you can be certain you will come across some young, fresh faced artists when you hit up the stage.
5. Toasties At Toasta
In addition to a bunch of other glorious food trucks, VIVA Youth Festival will be hosting Toasta, one of the best toasted sandwich makers around. It seems like a simple thing, a good toasted sandwich, but there is an art to it – and the team at Toasta are masters of that art form. There are a lot of phenomenal toasties that this little truck puts together, but the favourite on all accounts seems to be The Barry, which is a combination of cheddar, brisket, dill pickle and smoky barbeque sauce. Is your mouth watering yet?
6. VIVA Prahran Skateboarding Competition
The VIVA Prahran Skateboarding Competition is back again for this years VIVA Youth Festival, and will feature divisions in 16 and under skate, open street, pro-rider best trick street and open vert. Presented with the Australian Skateboarding League and the YMCA, the event will highlight some of the most talented young skateboarders around, and provide a platform for young people to test their skating skills. There is going to be $2500 worth of cash prizes in addition to over $8000 in product giveaways, and the best bit is that anyone who fancies themselves as pretty sweet on a skateboard can register to take part here.
7. VIVA Youth Jam Basketball Competition
The renowned crew at MSF Sports are joining up with VIVA Youth Festival to facilitate the first occurrence of the VIVA Youth Jam Basketball Competition. This event will have three divisions; 12 and under, 15 and under, and 18 and under. Kickz 101 have put prize packs up for grabs, and the competition is set to be utterly electrifying. There are very limited spots to take part in the tournament, and if you are interested, you can register your team right here. Get ready to throw down on the court!
