You've got an extra day to take on the city, all because Queen Lizzie's turned 90. Make the most of it with the best bashes and events happening around the city this long weekend.
1. Party with Closet and Heaps gay to celebrate the one true Queen (whoever that may be for you)
Melbourne's Closet party people join forces with their Sydney counterpart Heaps Gay for a... well, heaps gay party to kick off the Queen's birthday long weekend on Friday. Queer queens of all sorts can look forward to DJ sets running into the wee hours (5am) and live art installations. Turn up and bring your best moves.
2. Eat these drool-worthy Greek doughnuts and other treats at Batman Night Market
Every Saturday in June and July, the Batman Night Market hosts food trucks, local food vendors and more for a foodie event to rival the Queen Victoria Night Market in the city. Rain, hail or shine, you can expect to sample winter-proof treats like this chocolate, ice cream and pistachio-topped Greek dessert from Lukumades, slow-cooked brisket buns from Fancy Hank's, Hong Kong-style waffles from Keep It Sweet, and so much you'll wish you have a bigger stomach to fit all the amazing food. This long weekend you can also expect live music to get the night going and plenty of local designers to spend some dosh on.
3. See all the lights at Federation Square
Every year Federation Square gets lit up for its Winter in Fed Square program and this year, the Light In Winter shines a light on the city with a series of illuminated projections and installations like the Sonic Light Bubble (pictured), a giant see-through inflatable dome with motion responsive LED lights that will react to visitors' movements. You can also visit artist Reko Rennie's light projections and don't miss Campfire on Friday – a tribute to the age-old universal method of storytelling that will be run every Thursday and Friday all winter.
4. See the Swan Lake, and swoon
Listen to a bit of Tchaikovsky and see a bit of classical ballet this long weekend. You can't go wrong with a classic and if it's been a while between shows or if you're going to see the ballet for the first time, Swan Lake would be a great place to start. Stephen Baynes production for the Australian Ballet pays homage to the tradition of Swan Lake, taking narrative and aesthetic cues from the lush, Russian romanticism of Tchaikovsky's score.
5. Cozy up to a killer barbecue spread at this northside pub
Looks like it's going to be a chilly one on Saturday and Sunday, so rug up, nab a table by the fire and tuck into Bluebonnet Barbecue's meaty spread at Loretta's (formerly known as the North Fitzroy Star). The meats will be smokey, the drinks at Loretta's will be hitting the spot (there's a lot of American whiskeys), and the vibe will be cozy. Bring a mate or three.