25 things to do in Victoria this long weekend

From the official opening of the snow season to animals and Avengers galore, there’s plenty to see and do in Melbourne and beyond. Here’s what should be on your list over the long weekend.

It’s a long weekend so here’s the long and the short of it, 25 things to keep the cabin fever at bay.

1. HEROES JUST FOR ONE DAY

This picture below was taken atop the Manchester Unity building, where these heroes are protecting our fair city. Oz Comic Con features a Cosplay Parade anybody can enter, but if you’re nervous about it, attend the working with leather, pleather and vinyl workshops.

Pop culture guests include Colton Haynes (Arrow), Ricky Whittle (Hollyoaks) and Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica).

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf. Sat-Sun, 9am-6pm. $20 to $650. ozcomiccon.com

Cosplayers on top of Manchester Unity building Smile Solutions Tower for Oz Comic Con. Picture: David Caird

2. ANIMALS AND AVENGERS

This long weekend you can do two things you love on the same day at Gumbuya World. Get up close with macaws, kangaroos, koalas, dingoes and pythons, then see the Spider-Man show and meet Avengers such as Iron Man and Captain Marvel.

Oasis Springs now has Zorb Balls fun and the 300m Lazy River, or take the Gumbuya Nature Trail Tractor ride. There’s also giant Jenga, snakes and ladders, and Connect 4.

Also see the petting zoo and critter cave, plus Gumbo’s Wildlife Show, which will have the really little ones discombobulated as they try to work out what a giant koala is doing out of its tree.

Gumbuya World, 2705 Princes Hwy, Tynong. Sat-Mon, 10am-5pm. $22/$25. Under 3 free. gumbuya.com.au

Gumbuya World with the Gumbo mascot and kids.

3. BOW DOWN TO BOWIE

David Bowie’s final stage project was the musical Lazarus. The play features 18 Bowie bangers including Changes, Heroes, Absolute Beginners and arrives with rave reviews from London’s West End.

Playhouse, the Arts Centre. Sat, 2pm, 7.30pm, Sun, 3pm. $25 to $150. artscentremelbourne.com.au

Phoebe Panaretos playing Elly is seen during the media preview of David Bowie's Lazarus at the Arts Centre in Melbourne.

4. SHE SELLS SANCTUARY

Healesville Sanctuary’s new Wine and Wildlife event doesn’t exclude kids like Holly who want to play with Chantilly the lace monitor lizard.

Enjoy Yarra Valley wineries such as Innocent Bystander, a tipple from Detour Beer Garden or the mulled wine and gin bar.

Healesville Sanctuary, Badger Creek Rd, Badger Creek. Sat-Mon, 11am-4pm. $5/$12. zoo.org.au

Healesville Sanctuary has a new nature play area where you can get up close to nature like Chantilly the lace monitor lizard. Picture: David Caird

5. FEATHERS & FUN

Soul Brazil’s Matthew Younger and Tsambika George are doing the hard yards for Latin Day. Learn to dance Zumba style, see Latin showgirl stilt walkers, eat food from Cornutopia, Gringo Paella and drink sangria. Family-friendly activities include worry-doll workshops and piñatas.

Preston Market, 2/30a The Centreway. Sun, 10am-3pm. free. prestonmarket.com.au

Soul Brazil’s Matthew Younger and Tsambika George at Preston Market. Picture: George Salpigtidis

6. A DELIGHTFUL ODE TO MARION 

This enchanting exhibition brings together contributions from Melbourne’s women artists, writers, speakers, animators and architects to reflect on Mahony Griffin’s legacy. She was the first woman registered as an architect in America in 1898 and she took the bull by the horns and formed the Prairie School movement through Frank Lloyd Wright.

Incinerator Gallery, 180 Holmes Rd, Aberfeldie. Until Jul 28. Tue-Sun, 11am-4pm. Free. incineratorgallery.com.au

Ode to Marion exhibition at Incinerator Gallery

7. MUMBAI BINGE TIME

Hotel Mumbai is a thriller based on the real-life attack on the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in India by Muslim extremists, which had the misfortune of being released in cinemas in the wake of the Christchurch attacks and disappeared quickly.

It can be difficult viewing but the true tales of ordinary heroism and top-notch cast including Dev Patel, Jason Isaacs and Armie Hammer make it worth checking out.

DVD, Blu-ray, digital from Wednesday

Dev Patel in Hotel Mumbai.

8. KITTY FLANAGAN TIME

The Thursday Comedy Club is proving a great night to gobble food and let out LOLs between burps. Kitty Flanagan is headlining and she’ll have tales from playing in Tamworth last night.

See Mickey D and Nazeem Hussain warm up the room and try out slick new gear to the unsuspecting crowd. Except I guess you suspect it now — my bad.

European Bier Cafe, 120 Exhibition St, city. Thu, 8.30pm. $15. europeanbiercafe.com.au

Kitty Flanagan will tickle funny bones this weekend.

9. PARTY TIME: NORTHSIDE RECORDS FUNKY FUNKY TAKEOVER 

This is gonna be hot fun. Join Chris Gill, Sophie McAlister, Mike Gurrieri and Emelyne as they take a slice of funky Fitzroy, transplant it to the city and give The Toff a vivacious vibe. The DJs want you to dance to disco to Afro to Latin and everything else.

The Toff In Town, 252 Swanston St, city. Sun, 11pm. Free. thetoffintown.com

10. CONCERT: HERBIE HANCOCK

Jazz master, raconteur, survivor. Seeing Hancock is a bucket list moment. Hear the man and his band do Cantaloupe Island, Chameleon and Rockit. More tickets are being released. Get clicking with your jazz hands.

Hamer Hall, The Arts Centre. Sat-Sun, 7.30pm. $79 to $149. artscentremelbourne.com.au

11. ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND

Ballet style! See 350 costumes and 27 set changes as Alice enjoys the company of her crush Jack and friend Lewis Carroll before the latter transforms into a White Rabbit. Then, lettuce go down the rabbit hole.

State Theatre, The Arts Centre. Until Jun 22. Mon, 6.30pm, Tue, 7.30pm, Wed, 1.30pm, 7.30pm, Thu-Fri, 7.30pm. $58 to $314. artscentremelbourne.com.au

The Australian Ballet’s production of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland pirouettes onstage this week. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

12. BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL

See RJ Ripper, where mountain bikers rip through Kathmandu streets, and Reel Rock: Break Through, as Margo Hayes tries to become the first woman up epic mountains.

Regent Cinemas, 49 Lydiard St North, Ballarat, Wed, 7pm; Village Cinemas, 194-200 Ryrie St, Geelong, Fri, 6.30pm. $22.17/$32.58. banffaustralia.com

13, EXHIBITIONIST KIRK CETINIC

Design works to raise awareness and change the public perception of autism.

Toot Art Space, 17-19 Irwell St, St Kilda. Starts Thu until Jun 30. Thu-Sat, 11am-5pm, Sun, 12.30-2.30pm. Free. tootartspace.com

14. BEACHSIDE STORIES FOR YOU AND YOURS

Local stories. A flamboyant mayor who loves Lycra; a market vendor who can really sing. Community vibe.

Gasworks Studio Theatre, 21 Graham St, Albert Park. Until Jun 22. Thu-Sat, 7.30pm. $30/$45. gasworks.org.au

The snow season officially opens this weekend. Picture: Mt Baw Baw

15. MT BAW BAW

Opening weekend. Snowball fights, toboggans, free kids club.

Mt Baw Baw, Currawong Rd. Sat-Sun, various times/prices. mtbawbaw.com.au

16. WORLD OCEANS DAY

Join in the global clean-up mission.

Yarra River, Enterprise Park, Batman Park. Today, 10.30am-12.30pm. facebook.com/sealifeconservation

17. AUSTRALIAN MODEL EXPO

Tiny plastic scale modelling features more than 2000 pieces.

Sandown Entertainment Centre, Sandown Racecourse, Princes Hwy, Springvale. Sat-Mon, Various Times. $10/$15. modelexpo.com.au

Evangelina, 8, with models of a BV-222 Viking and Grumman Panther on display at the Model Expo. Picture: Tony Gough

18. MOONLIT SANCTUARY

Mammals, reptiles, birds, lantern-lit tours.
Moonlit Sanctuary, 550 Tyabb-Tooradin Rd, Pearcedale. Daily, 9am-5pm. $12/$24. moonlitsanctuary.com.au

19. DACHSHUND DASH

See the fastest, low-tummied puppies.
Southcombe Oval, Port Fairy. Sun, 9am-noon. $1. portfairywinterweekends.com.au

20. NICK OFFERMAN LAUGHS

Dry as the Sahara and as sarcastic as Judith Lucy with a savage hangover, US funnyman Offerman comes here with droll LOLs. Yes he’ll talk about Ron Swanson.

Palais Theatre, Lower Esplanade. Sat, 7.30pm. $81.40. livenation.com.au

Comedian Nick Offerman hits town Saturday.

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WEEKEND MARKETS

21. ST KILDA ESPLANADE

Ninotchka’s glass, mixed metal and acrylic jewellery, Australian Tea House, SiriusGrafik street wear.

Every Sun, 10am-4pm. Upper Esplanade

22. SISTERS MARKET

More than 60 stalls including Kumo fashion, Lucy Ceramics homewares, The Hunter’s True earrings, Olivia York greeting cards. Hot coffee.

Sat, 10am-4pm. 233 Sydney Rd, Brunswick

23. MORNINGTON

Vast array of stalls, including Davey’s Baked Potatoes, Nellie Mae Sweets, Yumm Tastes sauces, Crafted by Chris woodcrafts.

Sun, 9am-2pm. 320 Racecourse Rd

24. CRIB POINT

Life’s Creations, Peninsula Busy Bees, AK Designs Craft Supplies and lots of new stalls. Kids will love the Cribby Koala treasure hunt.

Sat, 9am-1pm. 7 Park Rd

25. TEMBO AWAKENING

Psychic, wellbeing and handmade goods. Donations made to animal rescue charities.

Sat, 10am-3pm. 975 Heidelberg-Kinglake Rd, Hurstbridge

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