Things to do in Melbourne in March

No need to save your trip to the picturesque Victorian Alps for winter, when the region comes alive every summer for Falls Creek’s Feastival. Now in its third year, the epic three-day celebration of music, comedy, arts and food returns with a killer line-up this February to send off the summer.   From February 28 to March 2, you can dance along to the likes of The Cat Empire who are set to headline as well as a line-up of other amazing Australian artists including Slowly Slowly and Budjerah.  Purchasing a ticket will get you access to the concert which takes place on Saturday from 12-10pm. There’s also a host of free and ticketed activities that will be taking place over the course of the weekend. You could laugh out loud at the comedy night with Lizzy Hoo and Sam Taunton, start your mornings off with a pilates class, sauna session or a Paint and Sip workshop, participate in a heritage walks led by Falls Creek Historical Society or take the kids to any number of the activities at the Kids Space. The price of your ticket depends on what events you want to go to. This ‘pick your own adventure’ festival also offers plenty of free fun too, including a makers market, art exhibitions and circus activities for the kids on Sunday morning. Take advantage of the stunning location by exploring the hiking trails and mountain bike park and don’t miss the free DJ session on Sunday from 10am–4pm, complete with a recovery brunch to fuel up before you hit the road.  For the full weekend...

It's officially that time of year again when the Moonlight Cinema returns to Melbourne for the summer. There's just something special about snuggling into a bean bag and catching a film under the stars in the Royal Botanic Gardens – with an ice cream or wine in hand, of course.  Australia's favourite outdoor cinema has dropped its summer screening schedule, with blockbusters, nostalgic favourites and comedies on the program. Highlights include Gladiator II, The Substance, Better Man, A Complete Unknown and Wicked (and yes, there's even a sing-along session). Starting from February 11 to coincide with Valentine's Day, there will be a string of romcoms that are guaranteed to warm your heart. Grab your beloved or your bestie and catch everything from classics like Notting Hill and The Notebook to new releases We Live in Time and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.  Those looking to splurge can opt for either the Platinum Experience, which includes a deluxe double bean bed (including a blanket you can take home!) for two with waiter service or the Singapore Airlines Gold Grass, with a prime position in front of the screen and an exclusive menu of delicious treats. The Official Aperol Spritz Bar is also returning, so you can sip on that iconic orange cocktail all summer long. Screenings kick off at sundown and even your pooch is welcome. Tickets are now available via the website. Want more fun in the sun? Here are the best things to do in Melbourne this December.

The music and magic of Disney has been shaping childhood memories for generations. This March, you can relive all the nostalgia of Disney’s  timeless film scores – including songs from Hercules, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Frozen and more – with the full backing of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and an all-star cast of musical performers at Disney in Concert: Live at Arts Centre Melbourne. Following sold-out performances of Disney 100 in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth last year, this much-loved concert event returns Down Under, this time bringing the magic of four special shows to Melbourne.  “We will never forget the audience reaction when the iconic Disney castle appeared on the big screen at our premiere performance,” says vocalist and artistic director Amy Manford. “It warmed our hearts and we always look forward to recreating the magic of that moment. It is such an honour to be able to produce and perform in this concert, and to finally bring the magic of Disney in Concert to Melbourne is the icing on the cake.” Manford (who is best known globally for her performance as Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera, both in Australia and London’s West End) is joined onstage by vocalists Christine Allado (Hamilton, In The Heights), Joshua Robson (The Phantom of the Opera), Nick Afoa (Miss Saigon, Rent) and Ruva Ngwenya (Tina - The Tina Turner Musical, The Lion King, We Will Rock You). Under the baton of acclaimed conductor Jessica Gethin, bangers like ‘Let It Go’,...

Are you ready to laugh so hard it hurts? One of the largest comedy festivals in the world, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) returns next month with a program that promises to be as entertaining as it is expansive.  Since being launched in 1987 by Barry Humphries and Peter Cook, the festival has since grown to become Australia's largest cultural ticketed event offering both family entertainment and show-stopping adult performances. After Montreal's Just for Laughs and the Edinburgh Fringe, MICF is the third-largest comedy festival in the world and attracts the crème de la crème of comedians from across Australia and around the globe.  In 2025, you can expect a mammoth line-up of international performers such as Ruby Wax (UK/US), Amy Gledhill (UK), Jin Hao Li (Singapore/UK), Ahir Shah (UK), Melanie Bracewell (NZ), Anirban Dasgupta (India), Schalk Bezuidenhout (South Africa) and more.  As for local acts, you can see the likes of Bron Lewis, Claire Hooper, Geraldine Hickey, Gillian Cosgriff, He Huang, Jenny Tian, John Safran, Lous Wall, Nazeem Hussain, Zoë Coombs Marr and so many more. Much-loved annual events such as the 35th Annual Great Debate and Upfront return, alongside the Raw Comedy competition, Deadly Funny and Class Clowns. The new Asian Allstars Gala will return for a second edition, showcasing extroadinary talent from Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Singapore and more. Running from March 26-April 20 2025, the program is chock-full of stand-up comedy,...

Did you know that Ballarat is home to thousands of begonias, including more than 500 unique varieties? In fact, the impressive collection is the rarest in the Southern Hemisphere. They're all housed in the city's historic botanical gardens, and to celebrate this floral feat, the city has hosted the Ballarat Begonia Festival annually since 1953.  When is the Begonia Festival happening in Ballarat?  If you're keen to see the colourful (and highly 'grammable) flower fest in full bloom, make your way to the Ballarat Botanical Gardens on the Labour Day long weekend from March 8-10. How long is the Begonia Festival on for?  The floral festivities run across three jam-packed days, so you'll have ample opportunity to explore the vibrant floral displays that fill the historic botanic gardens.  What's on at the 2025 Ballarat Begonia Festival?  Alongside the colourful blooms, there will be a line-up of demonstrations, live entertainment, market stalls and food trucks. This year's headline act is 'The Last Numbat' – a large-scale, interactive performance installation that uses puppetry to explore connection, community and collaboration. Created by Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, it's the first time magical creation has been seen on Australia's East Coast. A roster of celebrity presenters and industry experts – including Costa Georgiadis, Liam Downes, Mindy Woods and Millie Ross – will host talks on the main stage, and there will be plenty of activities to keep the kids busy. Plus, there...

From the story’s origins hundreds of years ago, to its transformation into the classic 1991 Disney film, Beauty and the Beast really is a tale as old as time. In its musical form, the production hasn’t been seen in Melbourne since the ’90s, when Hugh Jackman famously performed as Gaston in his first professional role. Fast forward three decades and we’re once again seeing a Melbourne stage transformed into the provincial town and Baroque castle we know so well. Only this time round, the lavish set design is augmented with cleverly integrated digital screens. It’s just one of several updates that ensure this reimagined production of the beloved fairytale keeps up with the times. From the moment the curtain rises, it’s clear this is a large-scale musical with all the belles, whistles and big bucks. Visual splendour is the MO here – think kaleidoscopic costumes, gasp-inducing illusions and spectacular lighting – and it’s easy to see why this show broke box office records at Brisbane’s QPAC.  However, all that Disney investment would be useless without the gifted cast. Shubshri Kandiah exudes whimsy-with-a-backbone as bookworm Belle, charming us with her sweet songs and sassy moments – though the folks in her provincial town just don’t get it.  Brendan Xavier’s beast is alternately ferocious and boyish. His startled squeals and hair-twirling moments help make Belle’s dramatic change in feelings a touch more believable. Both leads shine in their solo numbers, with Xavier’s ‘If...

Arrive at the corner of Flinders Lane and Hosier Lane on pretty much any day of the week and you’ll run into a throng of tourists jostling to get ‘the shot’ of Melbourne’s ever-evolving street art hotspot. No two visits to this spray can alley are ever the same, but from December 12 there’ll be another more stable artistic delight to enjoy on the famous corner. To those in the know, Sandra Powell and Andrew King have become shining lights of the Aussie street art scene, known for supporting up-and-coming artists through acquisitions for their extensive private collection 15 years in the making.  Street art legend Rone says the pair, often known as ‘Sandrew’, have been “champions of Melbourne’s street art community for over a decade”. Now, they’re drawing on their personal collection to create a ripper of a free exhibition, running from December 12 until May 2025 at 167 Flinders Lane (right on the aforementioned iconic corner).  The Outsiders Melbourne will feature more than 100 works from Sandrew’s collection, including art never before displayed in public. Expect gems from local names like Rone, Adnate, Sofles, Vexta, Fintan Magee, Meggs, Kaff-eine and more.  On the international side, feast your eyes on art from Barry McGee, Vhils, Swoon, Invader, Shepard Fairey, Ron English, Elle and an entire room dedicated to Banksy himself. Fans of the mystery artist will be pleased to know that this exhibition will also see his new work ‘Firework’ on display in Australia for the...

Some films just don’t hit the same when you’re watching at home on the small screen, minus the cinema atmosphere and surround sound – Oppenheimer, anyone? We reckon true cinematic masterpieces deserve the proper big screen treatment, which is why we were excited to learn that IMAX Melbourne is bringing back its new film festival for a second edition, after a popular 2024 debut season. The Best Biggest IMAX Film Festival is focused on films that look best of the big(gest) screen.  This year’s festival is happening now and runs until early March, with a program curated to please everyone from Nolan die-hards to the Sci-Fi obsessed. If you’re in the mood to tick off multiple flicks on one go, you can catch Dune and Dune 2 or Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water as double features.  Other program highlights include 2001: A Space Odyssey, Inception, Interstellar, The Matrix and THe Dark Knight Trilogy.  It’s not often Melburians get the chance to revisit cult films on such a humongous screen, so visit the IMAX Melbourne website for more information, session times and tickets. Prefer some fresh air? Here are the best outdoor cinemas in Melbourne.

Dive into the discography of Fleetwood Mac and Country legends at a new pair of concerts that will transform Melbourne Town Hall into a starry, softly lit wonderland. The glowing, UK-based Concerts by Candlelight tour is bringing its top musicians and West End singers Down Under in March 2025.  Following a run of sell-out shows across the UK, Concerts by Candlelight will present two sparkling nights of nostalgia and anthemic tunes in Melbourne – one celebrating the music of Country legends and the other showcasing all things Fleetwood Mac. The two concerts will reimagine the greatest hits of its featured artists with a talented cast of West End singers and an energetic rock band, paying homage to their most famous songs. Pour yourself a cup of ambition and head down to Country by Candlelight from 7:30pm on Wednesday, March 12. The experience is sure to heal any achy breaky hearts with so many hits from artists including Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Shania Twain, Chris Stapleton and more.  The day before on Tuesday, March 11, the candles will begin to blaze at the same hour, except this time the songs of Fleetwood Mac will be in the spotlight for a concert straight from your dreams. This landslide evening will pack in hits including ‘Don’t Stop’, ‘The Chain’ and ‘Little Lies’, just to name a few. Tickets for both concerts are on sale now for between $90 and $150.  Nab tickets for Country by Candlelight here, or grab some for Fleetwood Mac by Candlelight here.

Picture this: a balmy summer night in Melbourne spent filling your belly and quenching your thirst from a selection of global street food stalls, carts, trucks and festival bars. If that sounds right up your alley, then mark November 20 in your calendar, because that's when the Queen Vic Market's much-loved Summer Night Market returns.  This year, more than 100 shops, stalls and bars will light up the open-air market sheds across a bumper 15-week season. Foodie highlights include the candied tanghulu fruit skewers from Swirle, gourmet meatball subs from Mr Baller, savoury Japanese-style pancakes from Kicca Okonomiyaki, lamb, chicken and halloumi-stuffed pita pockets from the Cypriot Kitchen and brownie gelato sandwiches from Lickt. When you get thirsty, head to the Happiness is Mojito Bar for refreshing Mojitos in loads of different fruity flavours. You can also grab a froff from Brick Lane, a vino from Rewine or a Spritz from Bella Spritz. As always, you can expect roving performers, pop-up activities (like sunset yoga!) and a rotating line-up of homegrown talent playing live music on the market's main stage. After sipping and snacking, be sure to explore the dozens of stalls selling locally sourced and handmade products including jewellery, art, skincare, books and homewares.  And for the month of December there'll be a whole lot of holiday cheer to soak up, with Santa and his trusty elf sidekick roaming around and posing for festive pics. Don't miss 'Snow Time', which...