Bloomsday in Melbourne was established in 1994 to celebrate the life and works of James Joyce. It annually runs the Bloomsday in Melbourne festival during the period around 16 June, the day in 1904 on which Joyce first 'walked out' with Nora Barnacle, his life-long companion, and the day on which his modern epic novel, 'Ulysses', is set. Bloomsday typically mounts an original play, runs a seminar on the same theme, and holds a dinner. In addition to the annual festival, Bloomsday mounts plays readings, reading groups ad runs courses on the writings of James Joyce.