Hey there Reader

Joyce is off enjoying school holidays with her kids this week, so I’m popping in to say hello – I’m Amy, Content Manager here at Tot Hot or Not 👋

I also run Seniors in Melbourne, a site helping retirees find fun things to do in and around the city. If you’re a grandparent who reads the Tot newsletters for family outing ideas, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy what we’re doing at SIM too.

And the timing’s perfect, because the Victorian Seniors Festival launches today. Don’t let the name fool you – it’s not all trestle tables and raffle tickets.

One highlight: from 3 to 11 October 2026, Victorian Seniors Card holders get 9 days of FREE travel across Melbourne and Victoria – reason enough on its own to start planning an outing.

We’ve put together guides to help you make the most of it:

• ​Metro Melbourne’s top picks – our curated pick of the festival events in the city and inner suburbs
• ​Making the most of regional Victoria – how to turn a festival event into a day trip or overnight getaway
• ​The best deals for Seniors Card holders – a rundown of the discounts and offers to grab throughout October.

Have a look, or pass it along to the grandparents in your life – they might just thank you for it.

Happy exploring!

Amy xx

P.S. We’ve also put it all together in a printable PDF, if you’d rather flick through it over a cuppa. Download the PDF here.

Looking for a spooky-but-sweet family film this October?

​Stitch Head is based on Guy Bass’s bestselling book series, and it’s landing in cinemas right on cue for the Halloween-holiday overlap.

In a castle laboratory high above a little town, a Mad Professor brings monstrous creations to (almost)-LIFE™… then promptly forgets all about them.

So who looks after the castle? Who takes care of the monsters? Who teaches them NOT to be monstrous, so the townsfolk don’t form an Angry Mob and burn the castle to the ground?

Meet Stitch Head – the professor’s very first creation.

Expect big laughs, a genuinely sweet story about belonging and kindness, and just enough spooky charm to suit the season.

We hosted an exclusive screening of Stitch Head for our Tot Perks members during the Children’s International Film Festival 2026. Everyone loved it, so we think you and your family will too!

In cinemas from Thursday 8 October.

🗓️ Melbourne CBD ➝ More CBD picks

​Memoir of a Snail: Behind the Scenes (Daily until Sunday 1 Nov) Get up close to the handmade puppets, sets and props from the Oscar-winning claymation film, free entry at ACMI. 📍CBD

​Stellar Nights (Mondays until 30 Nov) Peer through heritage telescopes dating back to 1861 with expert guides pointing out nebulae, moons and planets. 📍CBD

🗓️ Melbourne NORTH ➝ More north-side picks ​

​Rome: Empire & Power (Daily until Sunday 25 Oct) See original Roman artefacts in Melbourne for the first time, from gladiator gear to imperial jewellery. 📍Carlton

​Bloom Bendigo (Various dates until Sunday 1 Nov) Tulip fields, floral displays and a golden canola walk make this regional day trip worth the drive. 📍Bendigo

🗓️ Melbourne SOUTH ➝ More south-side picks ​

​Arca Arcade Round One: Control Freak Workshop (Saturday 3 Oct) Kids build a real, working arcade controller from a kit and take it home, no experience needed. 📍St Kilda

​Space Academy (Daily until Sunday 4 Oct) An immersive space mission through the launch tunnel, with hands-on zones for budding astronauts. 📍Chadstone

🗓️ Melbourne EAST ➝ More east-side picks ​

​Wyreena School Holiday Workshops (Various dates until Friday 2 Oct) Guided creative workshops where kids learn a new skill and take home their own masterpiece. 📍Croydon

​Disney’s FROZEN: The Broadway Musical (Various dates until Sunday 11 Oct) Anna and Elsa hit the stage for Melbourne’s non-professional premiere, complete with new songs and all the hits. 📍Nunawading

🗓️ Melbourne WEST ➝ More west-side picks ​

​Be Bold Festival (Saturday 3 October) Free entry to a day of live dance, a lantern parade, hands-on workshops and roving entertainment celebrating Brimbank’s diverse community. 📍St Albans

​Messy Club: Sunglasses (Sunday 4 October) The last school holiday session brings a creative workshop, magician, petting zoo and butterfly enclosure, plus free play areas all day. 📍Maribyrnong