Emerald is a town in the Greater Melbourne area of Victoria, Australia, 44 kilometres (27 mi) south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the Shires of Cardinia and Yarra Ranges local government areas.

[3] FunFest is a day-long family street party event which kicks off the PAVE Festival which runs annually for 7–10 days in April.

[citation needed] The FunFest was preceded for many years by the Emerald WinterFest which was held annually in July.

The Puffing Billy Running Festival is an annual event held between Belgrave and Emerald Lake.

PAVE stands for "Performing And Visual arts in Emerald", which is an annual mid-April festival, started in 2006.

Such activities include the Emerald Arts Society art exhibition at the Environment Centre at Emerald Lake, a burlesque dance and circus performance, the popular "Women in Song" featuring four female singer songwriters, live comedy, a photography exhibition, an exhibition and demonstration of local art courses and lessons, The Emerald FunFest, Literary events such as Poet's Breakfast, Yarn Event and Golden Cow Literary night, Voice concert, classical performance by Dandenong Ranges Orchestra, storytelling, open gardens, a historic tour of Emerald and live music.

The 2011 festival featured Joe Camilleri and the Black Sorrows, The Ska Vendors and Kerri Simpson, Lloyd Spiegel, Lily and King.

Cardinia Reservoir is the designated place to hold water when the desalination plant is operating from a pipe from Wonthaggi.

The Emerald Volunteer State Emergency Service Unit is located at 277–287 Belgrave-Gembrook Road.

According to the 2001 Census, 17 people identified themselves as Indigenous persons (comprises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander).

The town has an Australian Rules football team competing in the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League[13] and a basketball team competing in the Knox Amateur Basketball Association.

Emerald is also home to Kreationz Cheerleading and Dance School where the local children and young adults compete statewide and nationally.

Filming for the ABC children's drama Come Midnight Monday was effected in and around Emerald, Belgrave & Cockatoo, depicting the fictional country town of Widgery.