All posts tagged: what’s on

The Light in Winter

As the chill descends upon Melbourne, celebrate The Light in Winter’s 10th anniversary with a vibrant program of art, music and performance from dusk. The symbolic Indigenous Campfire will remain burning at Federation Square for the whole of The Light in Winter season. Go warm yourself by the campfire and enjoy the vibrant lights, music, dance and storytelling. When: Until July 17 Where: Federation Square Visit the website here. Directions from The Swanston Hotel: Take any of the trams going down Swanston St towards Federation Square (Tram No: 1, 3, 8, 16,  64, 67, 72,)

It’s Snowing on South Wharf

If you’ve never experienced snow before, you’re in for a treat as winter has come alive on South Wharf’s Duke’s Walk! For the next days (until July 10), Dukes Walk will be shooting our snowflakes from their artificial snow machines along with large ornamental fir trees supplied by the Mornington Peninsula Christmas Tree Farm and plenty of special food and drink discounts for the whole family to enjoy. Enjoy the winter wonderland sensory experience every evening between 5pm – 8pm before dining on family-friendly and wallet-friendly meals provided at South Wharf restaurants between 5.30pm – 7pm each night. Special winter drinks and dishes for adult dining will be also be available after 7pm, complete with beautiful waterside views and all within easy reach of the central city. When: July 1 – July 10 Where: South Wharf Visit the website here.

What’s On: July

Winter has well and truly set in, but the cold weather has never stopped Melburnians from having fun. We’ve found some of the hottest events for you this July which will make you want to embrace the cold and see you emerging from your winter hibernation. Laneway European Night Market | Fridays, July 2 – August 12 Pretend you’re travelling through a European winter at Madame Brussel’s Laneway European Night Market. Inspired by the Christmas markets in Germany and Switzerland, the market will be filled with  rich European spiced aromas of mulled wine, German sausages, freshly baked pretzels and live music. Melbourne International Film Festival | July 28 – August 14 Returning for it’s 65th year, everybody’s favourite film festival will see over 300 movies hit the big screen for a cinema extravaganza. Expect the best international cinema, documentaries and Australian cinema. The Finders Keepers Market | July 22 – July 24 Etsy lovers, your arts and craft dreams can be found here. More than just a market, there’ll be over 250 independent designer stalls plus live …

Celebrate Bastille Day in Melbourne

Celebrate France’s national day at  the Bastille Day French Festival with a weekend filled with French food and culture. Now entering it’s second year, the festival will once again offer a taste of France to Melbournians. Snack on the very best French food and goods displayed in a wide variety of stalls and be entertained by live entertainment, conferences, movie screenings and children’s activities. There’ll also be cheese and wine masterclasses, or our pick of the festival  a Champagne & French Pastries Masterclass. When: July 16 – July 17 Where: State Library of Victoria Visit the Bastille Day website.

Gertrude St Projection Festival

Gertrude Street Projection Festival are celebrating their eighth year this July with another spectacular show illuminated by the visions of talented projections artists. From Friday  15 July to Saturday 24 July, Fitzroy’s buildings, laneways, footpaths and tree trunks will be lit up with site-specific, curated projections. Celebrates and connecting our diverse community, the diverse arts program will allow  us to see familiar spaces and buildings in new, inspired ways. When: 15 July – 24 July Where: Fitzroy and Collingwood Visit the GSPF website.  

City Shapers Festival – Heineken®

Heineken®  are bringing their  City Shapers Festival to Melbourne on 4 August. Keeping it a secret to exactly where and what you’ll be doing, guests can expect to be taken on a worldly adventure through some of the most unique experiences Melbourne has to offer.  The festival will open your eyes through a series of striking murals designed to shape the way cities look, evoking more emotion into their environments. The journey will start at an iconic Melbourne train station where you will board an exclusive Heineken® train before being transported to a secret location, where Heineken® will transform an unassuming venue into a dynamic festival space, full of intrigue and worldly discovery. There will be a number of unique experiences at the event, from the vibe of bustling Asian cities to a trendy jazz club in New York and dazzling performances. Guests will be in for an epic night as Heineken® finishes with a performance from a surprise international act.  The evening will be filled with  exciting surprises and unexpected reveals so guests should prepare …

Winter Date Night at the Coburg Drive-Ins

Popcorn, cuddles under the blanket and a movie on the big screen! There’s nothing more romantic than a good old-fashioned date night at the drive-ins. This July, Coburg Drive-Ins are bringing  Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates & 2D Ghostbusters to the big screen for Winter Date Night! Tuck in to some of Melbourne’s finest food trucks (including Real Burgers, Senor BBQ, Street Crepes, White Guy Cooks Thai, Roadrunner Fried Chicken, Mr Burger, Greet Street Food, Mamma Van, Street Crepes) before getting cosy for your movie night! When: July 13 – July 14 Where: Coburg Drive-Ins Visit the website here. Want to find out more about what’s happening in Melbourne? Sign up to the We Know Melbourne mailing list here to stay in the loop.

Matcha Pop Up Bar

Supernormal are bringing a pop-up matcha bar to Melbourne this July for two weeks only. Throughout the two weeks Melbourne bar entrepreneur, Matt Bax will be hosting intimate tea ceremonies (groups up to 5) that will “break the rules”, in an idea he has been brewing for over fifteen years. With almost two decades of tea drinking and Japanese tea studies, Bax will educate the public on ceremonial grade matcha through Samu, a contemporary tea meditation. Experience real matcha like you’ve never before! Cost: $9 per tea, with accompanying wagashi sweet When: Lunch sessions 12 – 3pm, dinner service 6 – 10pm, July 18 – 29 Where: Supernormal, Flinders Lane Visit the Supernormal website.    

European Night Market

If you’ve ever travelled through Europe in winter, there’s no doubt that you’ll always tell your friends back home about the outdoor winter markets that they do so well! This year, you can save yourself the cost of the plane ticket as Madame Brussels Lane turns into an European Night Market for four Friday nights starting on July 18. Inspired by the markets in Germany and Switzerland, the European Night Market will be filled with  rich European spiced aromas of mulled wine, German sausages, freshly baked pretzels and live music. Treat yourself to delicious Polish dumplings, French crepes, scumptious Flammkuchen, melting fondue cheese plus so much more. There’ll also be a German Beer Garden with ales, Italian aperitivos and mulled wine to get you into the winter spirit. When: 5pm-10pm Fridays, July 2 – August 12. Where: Madame Brussels Lane Directions: Madame Brussels Lane is a 10 minute walk from The Swanston Hotel and Mercure Welcome Melbourne. Visit the European Night Market website.  Want to find out more about what’s happening in Melbourne? Sign up to the We Know Melbourne mailing …

School Holiday Fun for the Whole Family

Winter school holidays are coming up and if you’re looking for ways to keep the little ones entertained, these seven Melbourne activities will keep their boredom at bay. Whether they love learning about animals, watching shows or playing outside, these family-friendly events are the perfect way to spend a winter’s day out and about in Melbourne. Ice Skating at River Rink – Until July 17 Strap your skates on – Melbourne’s only outdoor ice rink is back for another year this winter. With a dramatic backdrop of the city and Yarra river, the River Rink will transform you into a fairyland of light and colour. For the young ones still learning to skate there’ll also assistants in the form of 70cm high penguins and seals which can be rented from the River Rink Box Office to help support them on the ice. Jurassic World Exhibition – Until October 9  Walk amongst the dinosaurs at Melbourne Museum’s Jurassic World Exhibition. Visitors of all ages can now learn all about these incredible prehistoric creatures, so whether you’re a T-rex lover, or more  of a …