What’s on in Melbourne this weekend
From festivals and fashion to art, exhibitions and family-friendly activities, we have your essential guide to all the events happening across Melbourne this weekend.
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From festivals and fashion to art, exhibitions and family-friendly activities, we have your essential guide to all the events happening across Melbourne this weekend.
BEST FREE THINGS TO DO IN THE CITY
FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES IN VICTORIA
WHERE TO EAT IN VICTORIA THIS WEEKEND
Music: Instant rock star
The Channel, the Arts Centre — Saturday, 10.30am $24.
It’s time for collaboration. Kids will compose their own music using a library of nifty samples and cook up a new jazz, house, rock jam. Then you get to shoot a music video for your song. Adults are free. Cool.
Theatre: Grace for Race
The Bowery Theatre, 1 Princess St, St Albans. Saturday, 7pm. Free.
This is great stuff. Western Edge Youth Arts (WEYA) presents an explosive, nuanced new adaptation of Romeo and Juliet created and performed by the newly formed St Albans Edge. Don’t be fooled by their school uniforms, these thespians know their Bard from their Coward. Catch the show for free next weekend.
Exhibition: Cleverman
ACMI, Fed Square. Until April 22. Starts Thursday. Daily, 10am-5pm. Free.
Recently name-checked in The Simpsons, this dystopian Aussie sci-fi series has a 90 per cent indigenous cast and crew. The show deals with political nuance touching on themes of class, racism and power. This smart exhibition will ask audiences to listen first.
Theatre: Tex Perkins — The Man in Black
The Palms, Crown, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank — Friday, 7.30pm $91.61.
Tex completely becomes deceased country music hero Johnny Cash in this remarkably well-told piece of musical theatre (without the cringe factor). Perkins nails songs such as A Boy Named Sue.
Circus: Qu’est-ce
39-59 Green St, Prahran — Friday, 7.30pm, Saturday, 1.30pm, 7.30pm $23/$30
Que C’est? Whodunit? You’ll have to watch Qu’est-ce Que C’est? to find out. NICA (National Institute of Circus Arts) presents a show of eccentricity with acrobatics, adagio (above), aerials and handstands, Cyr and more.
Music: Mako Road
The Penny Black, 420 Sydney Rd, Brunswick. Friday, 8pm. FREE
If you fancy Bootleg Rascal and Ocean Alley, then get your headphones wrapped around your melon and crank up Kiwi quartet Mako Road. The Local Safari EP is a good jump-off point and this week they jump off a plane to play for us.
Theatre: Evita
State Theatre — Starts Wednesday until February 16. Various Times.
If Madonna can do it, then Tina Arena can definitely do it. Arena will take the title role of Eva Peron (Jemma Rix is her understudy) and bring her sass and power to transport us to Argentina. No crying for Argy, please.
Christmas in Fed Square
Fed Square. Daily, 9am-Late. Free.
Ever-changing Fed Square embraces Christmas again. St Nick, aka Santa Claus, is in residence, under a 16m Christmas tree. Take a picture with him, tell him what you’d like for Christmas and how you’ve been good. See the Be Present Snow Dome and sing along to carols. Daily at 9pm, a stunning light show encompasses the 6m-high white bauble. It’s an Instagram dreamscape.
Theatre: Unfortunately Not Quite Yet Decided
La Mama Courthouse Carlton — Starts Wednesday until December 9. Various times. $20/$30.
The opposite of Victorian voters, then. This is a play about the male gender’s animalistic desire for total control of all he presides over, both real and fictional.
In-store: Peter Alexander
Level 3 Highpoint, 120-200 Rosamond Rd, Maribyrnong, Saturday, 1-2pm and Werribee Plaza, 257 Heaths Rd, Hoppers Crossing, Saturday, 3-3.45pm. Free.
The purveyor of incredibly comfy and vibrant pyjamas will be visiting his stores for meet ’n’ greets and promotion.
Market: The Pop-Up Collective
I73 Cromwell St, Collingwood. Today, 10am-4pm. Free.
Browse and buy ethical fashion and accessories, exquisite retro-style lingerie, men’s and women’s bespoke jewellery and bags, to artisanal chocolate and so much more. Pink Clay Mask? Why not! Don’t eat it though.
World Rice Festival
Birrarung Marr. Saturday and Sunday from noon. Free entry.
This sounds like a fairly plain sort of festival but use your imagination and think of all the times rice has been there for you. Choose from Rice Paper Scissors, Hoy Pinoy, Farang Thai Isaan BBQ, Red Spice Road.
Concert: Orchestrated
Margaret Court Arena, Olympic Blvd, City. Sunday, 7pm $49.90 to $109.90
Ministry of Sound’s Orchestrated will see your favourite old/new school club anthems brought to life by guest vocalists Sam Sparro, Crystal Waters and Alison Limerick and a symphony.
Adventure Park
1249 Bellarine Hwy, Wallington. Daily, 10am-5pm $27 to $44.50.
Gather up a big group and hit this incredible water park before school holidays kick in and it gets super busy. Ride The Tornado, zip down the Aqua Racer, get drenched at Bonito’s Bay Waterplay. Heaps of fun.
Exhibition: Museum of the Moon
Scienceworks, 2 Booker St, Spotswood. Until Apr. 28. Daily, 10am-4.30pm. Various prices.
English artist Luke Jerra is rather fond of the moon. See his “seven-metre-wide, hyper-accurate Moon sculpture.” The artwork uses NASA imagery and is a roughly 1:500,000 scale. More information
African Music Festival
Fed Square. Saturday, 10am-10pm. Free.
Embrace 35 different African countries and community organisations through music, food, fashion, dance, art and culture. Gobble on the Horn of Africa (figuratively speaking) with Eritrean Tastes, get into the free drumming sessions and find a dashiki for you.
Carols in Queens Park
Queens Park — Saturday, 5pm (Carols 7PM). FREE.
The Voice finalist Aydan Calafiore will get the crowd singing along at Carols in Queens Park. He’ll be joined by Moonee Valley Community Choir, Moonee Valley Brass and golden-tonsilled students. Lisa-Marie Parker has just joined the bill and Richard Thomas will return to host the evening. Free kids’ activities include Christmas crafts, face painting, photo booth, games and a pop-up library.
Concert: The Pleasure Garden
Catani Gardens — Saturday Noon-10pm $49 to $119
St Kilda needs some positive press. See ace music from The Temper Trap, Confidence Man, Jamie Stevens, Spoonbill, Haiku Hands, Harvey Sutherland and plenty more who will make you move that booty. Food trucks, views — it’s a winner.
Bogan Bingo Fundraiser
Tabcorp Park, 2 Ferris RD, Melton. Saturday, 7-11pm $35.
Kyllie is a Ballarat mother of two children who has multiple sclerosis. This is a fundraiser so she can afford HSCT (stem cell) treatment in Moscow in 2019. Get a big team together and dig out your best ‘Strayan bogan accessories.
Exhibition: Koorie Art Show
Koorie Heritage Trust, Yarra Building, Fed Square. Until Fed 24. Daily, 10am-5pm. Free.
Much needed exposure for artists such as Horsham-based senior artist Gail Harradine, who connects to culture and country. Emerging multidisciplinary artist Taylah Cole has recently released a mini-fashion line you can see. Deadly.
Livewire Park
180 Erskine Fals Rd, Lorne. Daily, 8.45am-5pm $8 TO $12
Get in before the school holidays kick off. Tackle the Shockwave Zip Coaster or take in Blue Gums on the Canopy Circuit. Serenity now.
Markets
Yarra Glen
Armstrong Gve — Saturday 3pm-8pm,
Love April & May baby mobiles, Kim Miatke Art, Deep Thornbury Potato Cakes, Curry Creations, The Cake Kings Xmas cakes.
Preston
2/30A The Centreway — Every Sunday 8am-3pm
Vast bakery, flowers, specialty grocery, seafood, hair, body and soul selections. Classic Car and Bike Show from 10am-2pm.
St Kilda Esplanade
Upper Esplanade — Sunday 10am-5pm
Farbe Design resin jewellery, Jolly Wagtails pet products, St Kilda-centric photography and digital art. Foodie zone.
Crib Point
7 Park rd — Saturday 9am-1pm
Cribby Koala Coffee, community barbecue,
Wood Grubs pens, Life’s Creations, Sandy’s Cards and a visit from Santa.
Bridge Mall
62a Bridge Mall, Ballarat — Saturday 9am-1pm
Best Avocados, Villa Pileggi Organic Olives, Dutch Cookies and Chai, Salami Shack, Enga Arabica Coffee. Free animal farm.
Things to do with kids this weekend
Carols by the Lake
Coburg Lake Reserve — Saturday 6-9pm. FREE
Michelle Nicolle, Gianni Marinucci and The Ukalypts sing sweetly.
The Gruffalo’s Child
Athenaeum Theatre — Open now until December 22. Various Times $19 to $35.
This scintillating sequel will have kids cheering for Gruffalo Jr.
Funfields Volcano Beach
2365 Plenty RD, Whittlesea. Daily, 10am-5pm $28 TO $46.
New wave pool. Try Kraken Racer, Gravity Wave, Typhoon and Voodoo.
Workshop: Tennis
Boroondara Tennis Centre — Saturday, 10am-Noon. FREE.
Daria Gavrilova and Sam Stosur give youngsters top tips and tricks.
Kidstown Adventure Playground
7287 Midland Highway, Mooroopna. Daily, 6am-Dusk. Gold Coin Donation.
Sensory fruit bin, dairy maze.
What’s on this week
Theatre: The Curtain Rises
Doncaster Playhouse, 679 Doncaster Rd. Wed-Fri., 7.30pm $17.50/$23.50.
Actor and good fellow Thomas Currie (above) is collaborating with the charity Bully Zero. This new cabaret show is a night of musical theatre and jazz and features Currie, a pianist and a few surprises. Get around them.
Storytime Ballet: Coppelia
Playhouse — Starts Wednesday until next Sunday. Various times. $44 TO $56.
Storytime Ballet’s version of Coppélia is created for audiences aged three and up and (you’ll like this, parents) it’s all done in less than an hour. Children are encouraged to come dressed in ballet-inspired outfits and they can dance along with the performers as Léo Delibes’ score follows lovers Swanilda and Franz, the enigmatic Dr Coppelius and his daughter, who is definitely not what she seems.
A Musical Fairytale
Orchestra Victoria studio, 77 Southbank Blvd, Southbank. Wednesday-Next Saturday. Various Times. $16.50/$61.60.
Start ‘em young. Kids aged three and up can bring their favourite stuffed toy and enjoy Peter and the Wolf — A Musical Fairytale by Orchestra Victoria. Composer Sergei Prokofiev would be mightily impressed with this production as artistic director Nicolette Fraillon narrates the story of Peter and his animal friends. They must outsmart the big bad wolf. This is interactive so it’ll be super engaging.
Exhibition: The Theatre is Lying
ACCA, 111 Sturt St, Southbank. Starts next sat Until March 24. FREE.
The inaugural Macfarlane Commissions explore ideas of smoke and mirrors, “trompe l’oeil”, phantasmagoria, red herrings, conspiracy theories and espionage.
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