The best things to do in Melbourne this weekend

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.

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...

Would-be detectives, can you solve this simple mystery? Which of British crime writer extraordinaire Agatha Christie’s 66 novels is her best seller?  If you’ve plumped for one featuring St Mary Mead’s most famous resident, Miss Marple, or her crime-fighting colleague, Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot, then you’re as busted as the many, many murderers they’ve flushed out of hiding.  In fact, it’s And Then There Were None (trust us, do not look up the original title), one of Christie’s handful of books featuring no recurring characters. That’s because there aren’t many left standing after a group of ten perfect strangers are summoned to a mysterious, storm-lashed island and promptly accused of murder most horrid.  As gripping a whodunnit as it’s possible to be, the tightly-plotted head-scratcher has long captivated readers the world over. Unsurprisingly, it’s been adapted oodles of times, including multiple films, radio and TV shows, including being spoofed on Family Guy.  Well, hold on to your alibis, because stage and screen luminary Robyn Nevin kicks off a new national tour of Christie’s play at Melbourne’s hallowed Comedy Theatre. Nevin has form, having previously steered Christie’s The Mousetrap, also produced by John Frost for Crossroads Live, to great success. And she has a spectacular cast on hand to bring the accused to (quite probably temporary) life.  Deadloch actor Mia Morrissey, who also depicted Mimi Marquez in Rent, is Vera Claythorne, a PE teacher at an...

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...

They say you should never speak 'Macbeth' while in a theatre, lest you invite tragedy. The cast of the Australian Shakespeare Company's latest foray into the Scottish Play need not worry about that particular superstition, however, as they will be performing William Shakespeare's Macbeth outside in the Royal Botanic Gardens this summer. From January 31 until February 28, Melburnians are invited into the gardens to see the Shakespearean tragedy unfold among the trees. Steeped in witchcraft, murder and the lust for power, Macbeth has become something of a timeless, cautionary tale for those who would blindly and ruthlessly chase ambition.   The Australian Shakespeare Company's production stars Hugh Sexton as Macbeth and Nicole Nabout as the real power behind the throne, Lady Macbeth. Macbeth is being held at night on the Royal Botanic Gardens' Southern Cross Lawn, to take advantage of the balmy summer evenings.  In the words of Australian Shakespeare Company artistic director Glenn Elston, Macbeth’s “themes of power, politics, and corruption remain as prevalent today as they did 400 years ago”. The play runs for an hour and 50 minutes, including an intermission. You’re encouraged to make yourself comfortable by bringing blankets, cushions, beanbags or camping chairs. Limited chair hire is also available for $5, while A reserve tickets come with pre-allocated low-rise chairs. Find out more and get tickets over at the Australian Shakespeare Company website. After more...

Flowers can brighten up any day, but what can make it even brighter is the simple pleasure of getting to pick them yourself. Beloved community garden CERES is spreading this blooming joy throughout the warmer months, welcoming visitors every weekend to come and harvest a fresh bunch.  On Friday and Saturday mornings from 9.30am, head to the Coburg site for the Festival of Flowers, where you can pick your own blooms at Joe's Market Garden. There are blossoming sunflowers, zinnias and cosmos to choose from, and you'll be able to build a beautiful bouquet with up to ten individual stems. Sessions are $30 and while walk-ins are welcome, bookings are recommended. You can book a spot here.  Plus, there'll also be special floral events held on some Saturdays, including workshops on how to put together the perfect bouquet, flower vase arranging with floral experts and even eco-dyeing tote bag classes for kids. Book your place in an upcoming workshop here.  And because nothing says romance quite like a beautiful bouquet, CERES is also hosting some romantic floral-themed events. Weed Dating is back, with a session running on February 1. On Valentine's Day, there'll be a special evening flower picking session, as well as drinks, wood-fired pizzas and DJs creating a swoon-worthy vibe.  The Festival of Flowers will run until the end of April, with U-pick flower sessions happening every weekend. Find out more on the CERES website.  Are you a floral fanatic? Here's a guide on where to...

You know what may have knocked out the previous iteration of Asia TOPA (aka the Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts), the vast multi-disciplinary festival combining theatre, music, dance and more from across the Asia-Pacific region. But as the ancient Chinese proverb from the Huainanzi puts it, “Bad luck often brings good luck.”  All good things come to those who wait, after all, and the 2025 program is absolutely stacked with astounding works of wonder. Radiating out across the city from the festival’s hub at Arts Centre Melbourne, the three-week celebration of cultural collaboration is spread across three key streams. Kicking off the festival is a free block party-style event in the heart of the CBD, in a crossover with Fed Square. Glass Beams are headlining a diverse night of live music, with their hypnotic mix of cosmic rock, jazz and psychedelic-funk that combines Indian and western sounds. The trio will be joined by Japanese born, Melbourne-based DJ Shio and Tokyo-based experimental pop band Tam Tam. Judging by the high vibes at other recent free gigs at Fed Square recently, it's sure to be a evening with big energy, find all the deets here.  Nightlife kicks off an exciting new focus on connecting younger audiences to the arts through a big Brat summer vibe, including a dedicated dance party space at the Arts Centre dubbed Club 8 after the floor on which it’s located and its luckiness in Chinese numerology.  The go-off nights will be curated by a revolving...

Melburnians, it’s time to get dotty, because NGV International is playing host to the largest collection of Yayoi Kusama’s work ever seen in Australia. The exhibition (aptly named Yayoi Kusama) will take over the entire ground floor of the gallery, with works from the artist best known for her unique use of dots. Opening on December 15, this world-premiere exhibition will feature more than 180 works, including an NGV-specific piece transforming the iconic Waterwall and an installation of giant balloons in the Great Hall called 'Dots Obsession'. Many of the works coming to Melbourne for this impressive exhibition have never been seen locally before, including the Australian debut of 'Dancing Pumpkin', a towering five-metre-tall bronze sculpture that visitors can view by walking underneath. As if five metres wasn’t tall enough, Melbourne will also score the Aussie premiere of Kusama’s six-metre-tall tentacle-esque sculpture, named 'The Hope of the Polkadots Buried in Infinity Will Eternally Cover the Universe'.  We’re particularly excited about the global premiere of a brand new Yayoi Kusama infinity room work, which will be part of a collection of immersive spaces included in the exhibition. Kusama’s infinity rooms employ the clever use of mirrors to create an illusion of never-ending space, making for a fun and mind-bending experience for visitors of all ages. Lucky for us, the artist has created a new room just for Melbourne!  Even more fortunately for Melburnians, it...

Merri-bek dwellers are spoiled for choice when it comes to musical talent, never more than during the annual Brunswick Music Festival, when international and local acts come together for a celebration of great music. This year, you can look forward to nine jam-packed days, featuring more than 40 gigs across the suburb and surrounds. Everything kicks off with the famous Sydney Road Street Party on Sunday, March 2. This mammoth, free one-day festival takes over Brunswick’s main road (which happens to be the longest continuous shopping strip in the southern hemisphere). Last year, the party caused absolute scenes on social media when multiple dance parties randomly erupted. So, who knows what will unfold at this year's edition. Over two huge nights at Gilpin Park, expect to see the powerhouse First Nations rapper that is Miss Kaninna co-headlining with Kenyan singer-songwriter and rapper Elsy Wameyo on March 7. Dream team, if you ask us. Then on March 8, hip-hop royalty Bahamadia hailing from the United States. What an honour to catch this legend in the Northern 'burbs.  For some free entertainment you can't go wrong with Bulleke-bek Journey, a day of live music across some of Brunswick's most beloved venues like Beast, the Lomond, Rubix, Stay Gold and the Moldy Fig. From bass-heavy beats to punk, hardcore, bluegrass, alt-country and New Orleans jazz, there is a rich variety of sounds to explore. For the first time, Brunswick Uniting Church will also be hosting an unexpected...