This weekend we’re taking a break from the city and going glamping in the Yarra Valley! It’s camping without the hassle and mess, plus the Yarra Valley has lots of wonderful places to visit such as Healesville Sanctuary, our favourite Healesville bakery Habituel and the ice cream festival at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie!
You can follow all our adventures on Facebook and Instagram – and in the meantime here are my Top 22 things to do in the Yarra Valley with kids.
What’s on in Melbourne – CBD / Docklands
- South Wharf Pop Up Cinema (Thu 21 Feb – Thu 28 Feb) – riverside cinematic experience on Common Man’s bright green Astroturf.
- Summer Vibes Live Music (Fri 22 Feb – Sun 24 Feb) – acoustic tunes, DJs and bands.
- Destroy Artplay (Fri 22 Feb – Sun 31 Mar) – Can destruction be creative? Come and find out in this new exhibition. Full review.
- Sustainable Living Festival (Fri 22 Feb – Thu 28 Feb) – Earth-lovin’ activities including workshops, DIY-days, pop-ups and markets in both central and outer Melbourne.
- QV Outdoor Cinema (Fri 22 Feb – Sun 24 Mar) – live entertainment, free cocktails, special food, red carpets, instafamous dogs, charity screenings, a film festival and more.
- Reunion Island Pool Club (Fri 22 Feb – 30 Apr) – rooftop pool club with temperature controlled plunge pools, food, bar and views. Full review.
- Sugar Republic Myer (Fri 22 Feb – May) – 14 themed rooms with unlimited sweets and ice cream and a ball pit! Full review.
- Park Cinema (Sat 23 Feb) – Pack your picnic, rally your friends and get ready to reserve your free Park Cinema tickets. The twilight movies will be screening the 2004 blockbuster, Bride and the Prejudice.
- Sonic Labyrinth Artplay (Sat 23 Feb – Sun 24 Feb) – Come on an interactive journey through the mysterious and surreal Sonic Labyrinth maze.
- Lonsdale Street Greek Festival (Sat 23 Feb – Sun 24 Feb) – Melbourne’s biggest street party and longest-running Greek festival,
- Giant Garden Games Zone (Sat 23 Feb – Sun 24 Feb) – Relax and have a play with family favourites including giant connect 4, quoits, giant chess, naughts and crosses, jenga, bocce, dominos and more.
- Pregnancy Baby & Children’s Expo (Sat 23 Feb – Sun 24 Feb) – gain up-to-date, expert advice on conception, pregnancy, and the early years of parenting.
- Melbourne Japanese Summer Festival (Sun 24 Feb) – The River Terrace will host many vendors selling an exciting range of Japanese street food, while the main square will be providing Japanese traditional crafts and wares.
- Young Idea Makers Artplay (Sun 24 Feb) – Dream up big ideas for creative projects through games, brainstorming and mapping activities.
- The District Makers Market (Sun 24 Feb) – Each Sunday until 30 June enjoy creative and colourful market stalls showcasing a variety of art, craft, jewellery, homewares, gifts and artisanal produce.
- 3MBS Dvořák Marathon: From the New World (Sun 24 Feb) – dedicated children’s concert that will introduce our youngest music lovers to the ‘new world’ of Antonín Dvořák.
- Queen Victoria Night Market (Wed 27 Feb) – Eat and drink your way around the world one dish at a time with more than 50 street food traders cooking up a global feast plus specialty shopping and entertainment. Full review.
- Julie Opie NGV (Fri 22 Feb – 15 Apr) – interactive exhibition for families, featuring hands-on and digital activities developed in collaboration with Julian Opie. Full review.
What’s on in Melbourne – NORTH / NORTH-EAST
- Northside Summer Festival (Thu 21 Feb – Sat 23 Feb) – Celebrating everything unique about North and West Melbourne, the festival brings you a program that’s jam-packed with live music, comedy, delicious food, drinks and local trader events
- Corroborree Frog Fridays Melbourne Zoo (Fri 22 Feb) – learn all about the critically endangered Corroboree frog through stories, craft, games, and face painting.
- Skate and Play at Skaterz (Fri 22 Feb, Wed 27 Feb) – tots skating lesson, disco, playground, bouncy castle.
- Movies in the Park (Sat 23 Feb) – An outdoor cinema set amongst the eucalypts of Holden Street Reserve.
- Collingwood Wellness Market (Sat 23 Feb) – With a focus on wellness and an ensemble of Melbourne’s finest art, craft, jewellery, fashion & health stalls
- Eltham Jazz Food Wine Festival (Sat 23 Feb – Sun 24 Feb) – wide range of music, tantalising food and wine, fantastic local shopping, activities for the kids.
- Movies on the Move (Sun 24 Feb) – Enjoy the family fun with much-loved movies, free family activities before the screening and learn more about us and what Banyule can do for you!
- Diamond Valley Railway (Sun 24 Feb) – miniature railway with playground next door. Full review
- Hilarity in Print! (Sun 24 Feb) – Every Sunday in February and March write, draw or pen a poem to fill Melbourne Museum’s version of the Giant Funny Picture Book, as created for Melbourne’s Cole’s Book Arcade – the largest bookstore in the world during the 19th century.
- Tasmanian Devil Tuesdays Melbourne Zoo (Tue 26 Feb) – learn all about the endangered Tasmanian devil. Stories, craft, games, and face painting.
- Museum Playdates (Tue 26 Feb) playdate facilitated by a resident Museum learning expert for 2-5 year olds with a different theme every 2 months.
What’s on in Melbourne – SOUTH / SOUTH-EAST / BAYSIDE
- Sandsculpting Boneo Maze (Thu 21 Feb – Apr) – see themed sculptures made from the sand plus Sand Play Pit, Activity tent, Sand Sculpting Workshops, Face Painting and Pedal boats.
- Pixar Putt (Thu 21 Feb – Thu 28 Feb) – pop-up mini golf experience is inspired by some of Disney Pixar’s most adored films.
- Jurassic Unearthed by Silver’s Circus Fountain Gate (Fri 21 Feb – 3 Mar) – see one of Australia’s Finest Circus’s along with everyone’s favorite prehistoric creatures all in one 90 minute international show!
- Hank Marvin Market (Sat 23 Feb) – weekly Saturday market with awesome playground at Alma Park.
- Little Beauty Market (Sat 23 Feb) – over 140 of the very best makers and creators, live music, face painting.
- Berwick Show (Sat 23 Feb – Sun 24 Feb) – agriculture and horticulture displays, arts and crafts, performers and entertainers, carnival rides, show bags, food vans and interactive stalls.
- Big Bands Sunset Festival (Sat 23 Feb) – Melbourne’s premier big band festival.
- Summer Sounds Bunjil Place (Sat 23 Feb) – live music plus food trucks galore and frothy brews
- Como House Tours (Sat 23 Feb – Sun 24 Feb) – A Como house tour offers a glimpse into the privileged lifestyle of former owners, the Armytage family, who lived there for nearly a century.
- Bright n Sandy Festival (Sun 24 Feb) – entertainment and interactive activities.
- Clayton Street Festival (Sun 24 Feb) – food and market stalls, roving entertainment and displays by local traders and community groups.
- Rewild Your Family Lysterfield Lake (Sun 24 Feb) – regular weekend outdoor gathering, aimed to get families out into the bush to learn various bushcraft and bush survival skills that will inspire them to spend more time outdoors.
- Ashburton Free Community Festival (Sun 24 Feb) – Live Entertainment, Carnival Rides and Gourmet Food from local shops!
- Teddy Bears Picnic Ripponlea (Sun 24 Feb) – roving entertainment, performances, a treasure hunt and plenty of fun activities to keep the kids and bears occupied for hours.
- Bumblebee Market Mornington (Sun 24 Feb) – pre loved, handmade, and new goods at reasonable prices.
What’s on in Melbourne – EAST
- Lilydale Food Truck Festival (Thu 22 Feb – Sun 24 Feb) – The team behind The Food Truck Park launches a brand-new, food festival in Lilydale this February.
- Ice Cream Festival Yarra Valley Chocolaterie (Fri 21 Feb – Sun 24 Feb) – 144 special flavours of ice cream with tastings. Full review.
- Tomato Festival & Flavours of the Mediterranean (Sat 23 Feb) – music such as Tarantella, a range of delicious heirloom tomatoes, a gastronomic feast of organic sun-blessed ingredients, cooking demonstrations, saucy fashion parade, green tech display, tours, prizes & much more!
- Melbourne Tram Museum Open Day (Sat 23 Feb) – visit the museum which is home to 21 fully-restored trams. Full review
- Acoustic Afternoons Healesville Sanctuary (Sat 23 Feb – Sun 24 Feb) – Lay out your picnic blanket and settle in for an afternoon of live acoustic music while the kids are entertained by giant lawn games and bubbles.
- Mooroolbark Miniature Railway (Sun 24 Feb) – miniature rail running every 4th Sunday.
- Wallaby Wednesdays Healesville Sanctuary (Wed 27 Feb) – Dress up as wallabies with wallaby face painting, wallaby ears and wallaby tails for pouch races, hopping games and wallaby trails.
What’s on in Melbourne – WEST
- Melbourne Street Eatz Footscray Park (Thu 21 Feb – Sun 24 Feb) – food vendors, live acts, an outdoor cinema, amusement rides, food competitions. Full review.
- Sand Art Gallery (Thu 21 Feb – Sun 24 Feb) – Enchanted Forest sand art gallery with fairies, goblins and other creatures that young families love.
- Shadowfax Wines Friday nights (Fri 22 Feb) – Every Friday Night in February Shadowfax Wines are opening their restaurant for dinner and live music.
- Altona Family Fun Day (Fri 22 Feb) – kids’ activities and entertainment.
- Sunset Safari Werribee Open Range Zoo (Fri 22 Feb – Sat 23 Feb) – live music, African-inspired food, dancing, drumming and sunset safari tour. Full review.
- Water Play Saturdays Werribee Zoo (Sat 23 Feb) – Slip and slide down the giant inflatable water slides and run under sprinklers on the African Lawn and Cheetah Lawn every Saturday in February.
- Werribee Pop Up Park (Thu 21 Feb – Sun 24 Feb) – free program of live music, movies and family entertainment.
- Ice Cream Festival Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie (Thu 21 Feb – Sun 24 Feb) – 144 special flavours of ice cream with tastings. Full review.
- Nightjar Festival Geelong (Fri 22 Feb) – Central Geelong will be activated with musicians, street performers, food from around the world, emerging designers, a bar and a children’s area.
- Little Red Train Werribee (Sat 23 Feb – Sun 24 Feb) – Explore Werribee Park via miniature train. Full review.
- Sunshine Outdoor Cinema (Sat 23 Feb) – free outdoor screening of Life of Pi.
- A Day on the Oak (Sat 23 Feb) – homemade market and other activities plus outdoor cinema.
- Pako Festa Geelong (Sat 23 Feb) – A Celebration of Cultural Diversity on Pakington Street.
- Sustainable Living in Brimbank (Sat 23 Feb) – exhibits, workshops, demonstrations and presentations
- Essendon Traffic School (Sat 23 Feb) – Essendon Traffic School is a mini road set up for kids aged two to ten years, complete with road signs, railway bells and traffic lights. Full review.
- Laverton Festival (Sun 24 Feb) – food, drinks, children’s entertainment, market stalls, rides and more!
- Gozleme Workshop (Sun 24 Feb) – kids and parents learn how to make gozleme pastry but also tips and variations to make your own at home, with recipes and samples provided.
- Vernon Street Festival (Sun 24 Feb) – entertainment, food, drinks, children’s activities and much more!
- Food Fair Festival (Sun 24 Feb) – The first Food Fair of the festival celebrates the cannoli, with lots of tasty treats, cooking demonstrations, pairing sessions and live entertainment.
- Hippo Beach Party Werribee Zoo (Sun 24 Feb) – Enjoy kid friendly music, DJ and host, with dancing, sing-alongs and games.
- Village Market Werribee Zoo (Sun 24 Feb) – Stalls, performances, food, drink and craft activities will infuse each Sunday in February and March with all the colours and flavours of Africa in this brand new experience.
- STEM Sundays Scienceworks (Sun 24 Feb) – Lego Robotics and Coding workshops for children age 8 – 12 years.
- Moonee Valley Festival (Feb – Mar) – range of exciting community events popping-up across the Moonee Valley neighbourhoods.
- Toddler Circus Footscray (Thu 21 Feb) – learn circus skills with aerials, balances, circus circuits and games. READ THE REVIEW.
- Toddler Thursdays Werribee Zoo (Thu 28 Feb) – special program for 1-5 yo and their carers.