Happy long weekend! There are lots of openings and fun events happening this weekend, including the official opening weekend for the Victorian snow season!
If you’re planning to head to the mountains then check out my Top 10 tips for a family snow holiday or ski trip. I’ve also written guides on how to make the most of your visit to Mt Baw Baw and Lake Mountain.
WHAT’S ON – MELBOURNE CBD/DOCKLANDS
- Terracotta Warriors and Cai Guo-Qiang (Fri 7 June – Sun 13 Oct) – Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality is a large-scale presentation of the Qin Emperor’s Terracotta Warriors. Presented in parallel, Cai Guo-Qiang: The Transient Landscape, will see contemporary artist, Cai Guo-Qiang, create all new art works inspired by his home country’s culture and its enduring philosophical traditions. Read my review.
- A Fairy Tale in Red Times NGV (Fri 7 June – Sun 6 Oct) – free exhibition of contemporary Chinese art from Sydney’s White Rabbit Gallery. Read my review.
- Oz Comic-Con (Sat 8 Jun – Sun 9 Jun) – celebration of movies, TV, comics, books, video games.
- Under 8s Ice Fun at Medibank Icehouse (Sun 9 Jun) – unique toddler experience in shoes or skates.
- The District Makers Market (Sun 9 Jun) – enjoy entertainment and shop fine arts, crafts, jewellery, artisan goods.
- Taste of Portugal Festival (Sun 9 Jun) – celebrate Portuguese cuisine, music and dance, history and language.
- The Winter Village (Fri 7 Jun – Sat 31 Aug) – ice rink, food & drink pop up bars, a mega igloo dining hall and an Igloo Village of 21 cosy igloos. Read my review.
- Alexander Calder Workshop for Kids (Fri 7 Jun – Sun 4 Aug) – Incorporating hands-on activities that explore the artist’s interest in inventing and constructing new artistic forms, this installation draws inspiration from Calder’s unique exploration of space using line, objects, scale and movement. Read my review
- Riverslide Skate Park Learn2Ride (Sun 9 Jun) – Riverslide Skate Park runs regular skateboard, BMX and scooter lessons for beginners as well as more experienced riders.
- Beneath Artplay (Fri 7 Jun – Sun 1 Sep) – Explore an underwater landscape created with recycled plastic. Surprising creatures and strange sounds are lurking on the ocean floor.
- Winter Night Market Queen Victoria Market (Wed 12 Jun) – crackling fires, mulled wine and a revolving line-up of roving entertainers and live music, over 30 street vendors and designer and artisan stalls. READ THE REVIEW.
WHAT’S ON – MELBOURNE’S NORTH / NORTH-EAST
- Dino Park Melbourne Zoo (Fri 7 Jun – Sun 14 Jul) – Get up close during this unique walkthrough experience with roving dinosaurs thanks to the creators at Erth Visual & Physical Inc. Read my review.
- Farmers Market at Collingwood Children’s Farm (Sat 8 Jun) – Shop local and seasonal produce and visit the Collingwood Children’s Farm for only $2 adult entry (kids free). FULL REVIEW.
- Teddy Bears Picnic Diamond Valley Railway (Sun 9 Jun – Mon 10 Jun) – miniature railway with playground next door. Every year on the Queens Birthday weekend teddy bears take over Diamond Valley Railway. All passengers are encouraged to bring along their teddy bear and children (under 18’s only) who bring along their teddy bear ride free! Read my review
WHAT’S ON – MELBOURNE’S SOUTH / SOUTH-EAST / BAYSIDE
- Prahran Market Kids’ Activities (Fri 7 Jun – Thu 13 Jun) – every market day Prahran Market offers face painting, an animal farm, kids dance classes and music – most activities are free and no bookings necessary.
- Intrude Bunjil Place (Fri 7 Jun – Sun 23 Jun) – stand in awe amongst giant sized rabbits that light up at night
- DUPLO Kids Club Legoland (Fri 7 Jun – Thu 13 Jun) – special activities every weekday for kids 2-5 years at the DUPLO Farm Adventure inside Legoland. Read the review.
- Children’s International Film Festival (Fri 7 Jun – Mon 10 Jun) – international films for kids 3+ years at Classic Cinema Elsternwick, Lido Cinema Hawthorn, Cameo Cinema Belgrave.
- Beauty and the Beast (Sat 8 Jun – Sat 15 Jun) – The award-winning Windmill Theatre Company bring the timeless Disney love story, Beauty and the Beast to Bunjil Place.
- Hank Marvin Market (Sat 8 Jun) – weekly Saturday market with an awesome playground at Alma Park.
- Winter Wine Weekend Mornington Peninsula (Sat 8 Jun – Mon 10 Jun) – Winter Wine Fest and  Cellar Door activities and events.
- Model Expo Sandown Entertainment Centre (Sat 8 Jun – Mon 10 Jun) – Over 2000+models, up to 30 traders and 20 club and other displays showcasing plastic scale modelling.
- Mornington Railway (Sun 9 Jun) – Climb aboard the Mornington Railway steam train for a fun-filled outing.
- Kids Mornings Westfield Southland (Wed 13 Jun) – Every Wednesday a different activity where your mini me’s can play, learn and be entertained.
WHAT’S ON – MELBOURNE’S EAST
- Megabeasts Healesville Sanctuary (Fri 7 Jun – Sun 14 Jul) – discover 10 MegaBeasts from Australia’s ancient past in an animatronic spectacular.
- Melbourne Tram Museum (Sat 8 Jun) – historic trams on display. Full review.
- Mt Baw Baw Opening Weekend (Sat 8 Jun – Sun 9 Jun) – free resort entry, face painting, performers, live music. Read my tips on visiting Mt Baw Baw with kids
- Wine and Wildlife Healesville (Sat 8 Jun – Mon 10 Jun) – weekend of food and wine against the backdrop of the Sanctuary’s stunning bushland setting.
- Belgrave Big Dreams Market (Sun 9 Jun) – discover original and bespoke design pieces, some of the yummiest and freshest produce the area has to offer, live music, bouncy castle and facepainting for the kids.
- Children’s International Film Festival (Fri 7 Jun – Mon 10 Jun) – international films for kids 3+ years at Classic Cinema Elsternwick, Lido Cinema Hawthorn, Cameo Cinema Belgrave.
- Yarra Valley Railway (Sun 9 Jun) – take a trip on the historic Walker RM22 Railmotor from Healesville to Tunnel Hill. Read my review.
- Auburn Kids Sunday Funday (Sun 9 Jun) – Petting zoo, Fairies, mermaids, superheroes, face painting and balloon animals galore!
- Heide Art Babies (Tue 11 Jun) – 30 minutes of sensory play in the gallery, looking, thinking and talking about art. Read the review.
- Brownie Festival Yarra Valley Chocolaterie (Wed 12 Jun – Sun 23 Jun) – line-up of different Brownie flavours, be tempted by Brownie Bites and Brownie Bombs and a specially churned brownie ice cream, plus a host of different brownie inspired desserts to try. Read my review.
WHAT’S ON – MELBOURNE’S WEST
- Moonbase ONE (Fri 7 Jun – Fri 28 Jun) – New planetarium show – Join a Virtual Reality game developer as she struggles to work out what is wrong with her new game.
- Jazz Out West (Fri 7 Jun – Sun 10 Jun) – experience global jazz stylings, laid-back beats, old-school funk and soul inflected grooves with these free events in Footscray, Moonee Ponds and Maribyrnong.
- Yarraville Markets (Sat 8 Jun) – indoor market full of delicious handmade,gorgeous products.
- Footscray Finds (Sun 9 Jun) – unique, boutique and handmade monthly at Footscray Library’s Carpark, Paisley Street, Footscray. Full review.
- Mini Makers Highpoint (Wed 12 Jun) – free kids activities every Wednesday.
- Brownie Festival Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie (Wed 12 Jun – Sun 23 Jun) – line-up of different Brownie flavours, be tempted by Brownie Bites and Brownie Bombs and a specially churned brownie ice cream, plus a host of different brownie inspired desserts to try. Read my review.
- Arty Tales Incinerator Gallery (Thu 13 Jun) – Introduce your pre-schooler to art with early learning program Arty Tales. Full review.
- Toddler Circus Footscray (Thu 13 Jun) – learn circus skills with aerials, balances, circus circuits and games. Read my review.
- Toddler Thursdays Werribee Zoo (Thu 13 Jun) – special program for 1-5 yo and their carers.
- Zoorassic Werribee Zoo (Fri 7 Jun – Sun 14 Jul) – Nine life-size dinosaurs come to life through animatronics and soundscapes. Meet a Dinosaur Ranger and find out what it is like to care for and train this species. Read my review.
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