What to do, where to go?

Weekend Bulletin

Curated weekend fun + latest posts, straight to your inbox

Hi Reader

As one of my treasured readers, you’re getting first dibs on two bookmark-worthy resources this week.

Whether you’re still figuring out how to fill two weeks or just need some fresh inspiration, we’ve put together our Autumn School Holidays 2026 guide โ€” a free downloadable packed with ideas to keep the kids entertained all season long.

Our Autumn School Holidays mega list is also now live and updated weekly with new events and activities as they’re announced, so it’s worth bookmarking now.

And if you’re already thinking about Easter in Melbourne, we’ve got you covered there too โ€” from egg hunts to family days out, there’s plenty to look forward to.

Joyce xx

Weekend Event Picks

๐ŸŒŸ Featured Event

โ€‹The Australian Ballet School Holiday Program (Monday 13 โ€“ Friday 17 Apr) Dance workshops and residencies for kids aged 3โ€“12 at Geelong Arts Centre, culminating in a special end-of-week performance. ๐Ÿ“Geelong

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Melbourne CBD โž See More

โ€‹Flavours of Autumn Festival (Saturday 21 Mar) A one-day celebration of seasonal produce and street food at Queen Victoria Market, in partnership with Melbourne Food & Wine Festival 2026. ๐Ÿ“Melbourne CBD

โ€‹Culture Connects Us All (Sunday 22 Mar) Celebrate Cultural Diversity Week at the Immigration Museum with multicultural performances, hands-on activities and Vietnamese cuisine. ๐Ÿ“Melbourne CBD

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Melbourne NORTH โž See More โ€‹

โ€‹LuliePalooza 2026 (Saturday 21 Mar) Melbourne’s favourite rock ‘n’ roll block party returns to Victoria Park with two stages, 12+ live bands, skate demos and showbags. ๐Ÿ“Abbotsford

โ€‹Multicultural Family Fun Festival (Saturday 21 โ€“ Sunday 22 Mar) Two days of multicultural food, performances and family-friendly activities celebrating culture and community. ๐Ÿ“Thomastown

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Melbourne SOUTH โž See More โ€‹

โ€‹Playable Streets (Saturday 21 Mar) A free drop-in workshop where kids mix and match to create quirky 3D characters and surrealist stories, running 10amโ€“3pm. ๐Ÿ“Mornington

โ€‹Stonnington Rhythm & Culture (Saturday 21 Mar) A free multicultural festival at Prahran Square with live music, dance, street food and roving entertainment for all ages. ๐Ÿ“Prahran

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Melbourne EAST โž See More โ€‹

โ€‹Dog’s Day Out (Sunday 22 Mar) A free family event welcoming dogs and their humans for pet market stalls, kid-friendly activities and food trucks. ๐Ÿ“Heathmont

โ€‹Culture Fest (Sunday 22 Mar) A free festival at Strathdon House celebrating Whitehorse’s diverse cultures through music, dance, food and hands-on activities. ๐Ÿ“Forest Hill

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Melbourne WEST โž See More โ€‹

โ€‹Lakeside Alive (Saturday 21 Mar) Live music, kids’ activities, market stalls, roving performers and twilight fireworks over Lake Caroline, headlined by The Vanns. ๐Ÿ“Caroline Springs

โ€‹Yarraville Festival (Sunday 22 Mar) The 46th annual Yarraville Festival brings live music, a Greek precinct, carnival rides, a dog fashion parade and local market stalls. ๐Ÿ“Yarraville

New + Noteworthy

WHAT’S HOT

โ€‹Easter Escapeโ€‹

Spacious rooms, free breakfast and family discounts for indoor sky-diving at iFly Melbourne – Hyatt Place Essendon Fields is the obvious choice for an Easter getaway.

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โ€‹Hunt Season is Onโ€‹

Melbourne’s best Easter egg hunts, all in one place, so you can grab your baskets and go.

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โ€‹MICF: The Kids Editionโ€‹

This year’s Comedy Festival has a huge family lineup. Here’s how to make the most of it with kids.

PARTNER PICK

โ€‹The Sale You’ve Been Waiting Forโ€‹

Princess Highway’s Afterpay Day Sale is on. 20โ€“60% off storewide, including all the cottagecore and florals you could possibly dream of.

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โ€‹Open for Businessโ€‹

From brunch spots to family attractions, here’s everything that’s open in Melbourne this Good Friday.

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โ€‹Night of the Dinosโ€‹

Dinos After Dark returns to Werribee Zoo this April for an evening adventure that’s hard to top.

Hot Off the Feed

FREE light festival coming soon

A free light festival is returning to Werribee this autumn, and it looks seriously magical.

LIT transforms Wyndham Park into a wonderland of glowing sculptures, giant bubbles, towering wildflowers and fantastical trees, running 6โ€“10pm nightly from 24 April to 3 May 2026 (with a Sensory Night on 27 April).

Perfect for an after-dark family outing โ€” pair it with dinner nearby in Werribee City Centre.

Comment LIT on the reel and we’ll send you the link to find out more.

About Joyce Watts

Joyce Watts is a former intellectual property, IT and media lawyer turned serial entrepreneur.

As well as being the founder of TOT: HOT OR NOT she helps businesses with their SEO, email marketing & social media as BrightSmart.com.au; she owns an online bike store CycleStyle.com.au and develops and produces creative experiences for families via WheelieGoodFun.com. She used to publish another popular lifestyle and food blog called MEL: HOT OR NOT The decisive guide to Melbourne.

She lives in inner-city Melbourne with her husband, two children and seven bikes.

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