Things to do in Melbourne this weekend (Nov 15-17)

As far as shopping sprees go, there’s nothing quite like rummaging through pre-loved goodies at a garage sale. Part of the joy is never knowing what bargain you’ll find (and not realising how badly you wanted a pair of neon pink parachute pants until you rescue them from a cardboard box). These days, a good garage sale is as rare as an original 1960s troll doll – which is where the Garage Sale Trail comes in. What started on the front lawns of Bondi in 2010 is now a nationwide campaign during which thousands of garage sales run across the country for two massive weekends. The aim is to reduce waste and encourage reusing among local communities, to stop tonnes of perfectly good stuff from ending up in landfill. To run your own garage sale, it's totally free to register. Garage Sale Trail will then send you promo materials to help put the word out, plus they’ll list your sale on the official website. Or if you're looking to score a pre-loved bargain, you can then use the website as a guide to all the sales in their area. So far, it looks like there's almost 300 garage sales registered in Melbourne alone, which is a whole lotta shopping. Plus, there are also group sales where multiple stallholders band together to make a one-stop-shop mega sale. Whether you're selling or buying, it's truly a win-win: finally declutter your wardrobe and make some extra moola, or get your hands on some new-to-you, sustainable treasures.  This year, there will be garage sales across Melbourne the w

Head to Federation Square for a three-day celebration of the very best of African music, culture and cuisine. From November 15–17, the African Music and Cultural Festival (AMCF) will enliven the city with everything from an outdoor cinema and live non-stop music to a swag of stalls selling African street food. This year is the eleventh iteration of the festival and it's set to be bigger and better than ever, with more than 27 food vendors offering tasty African dishes and 37 market stalls to shop from.  On Friday, an outdoor cinema will broadcast African Australian short films, spoken word performances and live jazz music. Plus, there'll be plenty of food for a lunchbreak feed or post-work dinner. The primary festival day is Saturday, with 12 hours of non-stop live entertainment, including bands, dance, music, market stalls selling African wares, free drumming lessons and some irresistible street food. And on Sunday, there will be more entertainment and a forum on topical African Australian issues with panellists.  AMCF is sure to be fun for all the family, with kids able to participate in free African drumming classes, AFL activities, face painting, jumping castles, African board games and more. Discover more about the African Music and Cultural Festival and which exhibitors and artists are taking part, visit the website here. Looking for more fun? Here are the best things to do in Melbourne this weekend.

One of the northside’s favourite food markets is throwing a giant fiesta this November. After a five-year hiatus, Preston Market will once again host Latin Day – a celebration of all things Latin American. The free, one-day festival has lined up loads of family-friendly activities, traditional entertainment and food to ensure all visitors have a bueno día. There’s no passport needed for this international adventure: countries represented in the day’s events include Mexico, Brazil, Guatemala, Colombia and more. Colourful Brazilian samba dancers will take to the stage just like a real Carnivale and salsa dancers will put on a show that's truly fuego. Plus, a three-piece mariachi band will bring plenty of musical fun to the event that will get crowds moving.  And of course, expect to feast on authentic Latin American dishes like Brazilian barbecue, Colombian pandebono, churros, Venezuelan pastelitos and tequenos and lots more delicious and authentic fare.  So for a fun-filled day that's free to attend, head to Latin Day on Sunday, November 17 at the Preston Market from 10am to 3pm. Find out more here. Looking for more things to do? Here is what's on this week in Melbourne. 

When Tony, BAFTA, Golden Globe and Oscar-winning star of stage and screen Maggie Smith departed this mortal coil on September 27, the wave of social media adulation celebrating her life’s remarkable work was tear-jerking, rabble-rousing and chuckle-inducing in equal measure. In the mix was, of course, her withering wonder as Mother Superior, trained on Whoopi Goldberg’s lounge singer on the run and in disguise as a nun in 1992’s cinematic Sister Act.     Joseph Maher’s Bishop O’Hara reminds her of her duty, “You took a vow of hospitality for all in need,” as she tartly replies, with only the most meagre hint of regret, “I lied.”   One of the wittiest lines in the film, directed by Dirty Dancing helmer Emile Ardolino, receives a show-stealing twist in the goofily splendid musical. Helpmann Award-winning actor Genevieve Lemon scored one of the biggest laughs of the night when she stepped into Mother Superior’s habit on opening night of the Melbourne staging, held within the hallowed hall of the Regent Theatre, opposite Australian Idol alum Casey Donovan as irrepressible singer Deloris van Cartier.   They’re a mighty double act playing off each other with abundant charm in this musical version that’s been transplanted from Reno/San Francisco in the ‘90s to Philadelphia in the ‘70s, replacing the original soundtrack with a funkier soul train thanks to mellifluous music from EGOT-winner – Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony – Alan Menken, cheeky lyrics by Glenn Slater and a sassy book by Ch

On November 17, East Malvern's leafy Central Park will be packed with stalls selling exquisite Victorian wines and artisan goods at the seventh annual East Malvern Food and Wine Festival. The highly anticipated event returned to its traditional format last year, meaning public entry to the festival is free – yippee! The festivities kick off at noon, and attendees can stroll through the open green spaces to wine, dine and recline in the picturesque surroundings. Expect to taste a vast range of vinos from wineries including Sutherland Estate, Mount Avoca and Petronio Wines, and meet the makers behind some of your favourite drops. For those who prefer their booze in a pint glass, local craft breweries Hop Hen Brewing and Two Doors Brewing will be on hand, with several local Victorian distillers also making an appearance. Peckish? The festival's set to be a globally inspired food truck paradise thanks to Nepal Dining, Amazing Calamari, Spanish Paella, The Famous Sandwich, Flaming Skewers and more. Sweets include ice cream from Billy Van Creamy and Luvlee, and unique Danish treats from Jamm'd.  All this gourmet goodness will be set to a back-drop of great live pop-up musical performances from the House of Voice.  When you're all tuckered out and it's time to make your way out, be sure to stock up on locally produced cheeses, gourmet condiments and other goodies to take some of the festival home with you.  Admission is free, but you can also opt for a $37.50 pre-sale wine tasting p

We're just as sad as you are that cherry blossom season is over, but the good news is that it heralds the start of the cherry-picking season. And if you can't get enough of those sweet and juicy red morsels, then make your way to CherryHill Orchards this summer to pick and eat as many cherries as your heart desires. This year's cherry-picking season kicked off early on November 2 at CherryHill's 40-hectare orchard in Coldstream. On November 25, CherryHill's original orchard in Wandin East will follow suit and open its gates to eager pickers.  Sessions last for two hours, and cherries are charged per kilogram – trust us when we say these are some of the largest, sweetest cherries going around. And the fun doesn't stop at picking cherries; the orchard will host on-site food trucks and stalls hawking food and cherry-flavoured products. On top of the famed cherry ice cream, you can also shop pantry goods like cherry vinaigrette, cherry syrup, cherry barbecue sauce and cherry glaze. You can also bring your own picnic, or pre-order a box of goodies to enjoy on the orchard grounds. The sweet specialists at Mary Eats Cake have created three different-sized packs featuring treats like shakshuka quiche, cherry delight doughnuts and a selection of cheeses. And if you visit on a weekend or public holidays, you'll be treated to the sweet sounds of live tunes performed by a rotating line-up of local musos. The cherry-picking festival will run until late December at the Coldstream orchard,

Tina Turner was the bread and butter of our household TV screen. She belted alongside Mick Jagger at Live Aid, leather-clad and big hair, raced her supercharged engine across Coober Pedy in Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome and assured the world that everything would be alright as David Bowie slipped out of the shadows during her Private Dancer Tour. She was one of music’s indomitable icons, a powerhouse; she was the Queen of Rock‘n’Roll. When Tina – The Tina Turner Musical finally rolled into Melbourne’s Princess Theatre after its West End debut and national run, it arrived with sky-high expectations. Having stacked up Tony and Olivier nominations as well as praise from Rolling Stone for its ability to simultaneously “entertain and enlighten”, I’m relieved to say that this Melbourne production did not disappoint. Leather, shoulder pads and sequins that would make Tina herself proud, danced across the red carpet on opening night with hundreds, including local Australian stars, paying homage. For someone like me, who never experienced Tina live beyond the glow of a television screen, the energy certainly made it feel like the real deal.  The musical, written by Katori Hall alongside Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins, and directed by Phyllida Lloyd, stays true to Tina’s journey – thanks, in part, to Tina herself. From her early days in Nutbush, Tennessee, with gospel choirs and dusty churches, to the St. Louis blues scene where she met Ike Turner, across the globe to the soggy streets of

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 I C

The curtain lifts on Peter and the Starcatcher at Arts Centre Melbourne, a sparkling concoction of puppetry, music, charm and stagecraft. If there’s ever been a time to pull out the word enchanting, this is it. Adapted by Rick Elice – known for bringing narrative depth to classic tales – and directed by David Morton, this smash-hit, five-time Tony Award-winning production partners with the Dead Puppet Society. And yes, they had us at "puppets". The show is sprinkled with shimmering, inventive puppetry that brings a delightful layer of magic to the stage.  Elice’s adaptation cuts the "S" in Starcatchers to make room for two leads: Peter Pan (Otis Dhanji) and Molly (Olivia Deeble), the Starcatcher herself. And while Peter is discovering his name and Molly is saving the world and her father, Lord Aster (Alison Whyte), Elice sneaks in light-hearted pokes at adventure tropes and British colonialism. There’s a magical substance called starstuff that gives people what they most desire, transforming a scotch salmon into a mermaid and a bird into Tinkerbell, and everyone’s after it. Including Colin Lane, who is memorable as Black Stache, a pirate with a peculiar politeness and a biting disdain for children. Lane’s timing is impeccable – especially when a fire alarm goes off mid-show, which he turned into an impromptu comedy break, riffing with the audience. Later, he added some extra banter that momentarily broke the production’s spell but earned big laughs from the school kids in the

Fans of sneaky street art, rejoice! The acclaimed works of Banksy, the mysterious master of graffiti, are coming to Australia, and you won't even need to scour the city's laneways to see them for yourself. The Art of Banksy: Without Limits is a blockbuster exhibition that will feature murals, sculptures, photos, mapping shows (aka images or animations projected onto irregularly shaped surfaces), installations (including an “infinity room” filled with mirrors) and a simulation of ‘Dismaland Bemusement Park’ (for those who’ve never heard of it, it’s a gritty, dark theme park that was created by Banksy in 2015). It will also include a mix of replicas and originals of some of the artist's most famous works, like 'Rude Copper', 'Flower Thrower' and the instantly recognisable 'Girl with Balloon'. But wait, that's not all: Banky's recent Ukraine murals will be referenced, and there’s even a space that pays homage to the MV Louise Michel, the high-speed boat that Banksy financially keeps afloat in the Mediterranean Sea to rescue refugees. The exhibition will take place at The Disctrict Docklands, and has just been extended until December 21. You can snap up a ticket here.  Will Banksy be in attendance? Is this the moment Banksy's real identity will be revealed? The artist hasn't endorsed the exhibition, but knowing him, anything could happen!  Get pumped for the Banksy exhibition by checking out the best street art in Melbourne.