What’s On in Melbourne – Friday 8 to Thursday 14 February

It’s the first full week back to school and we’re ready for some fun! The weather looks like it’s swerving up and down on the mercury, so there are loads of indoor and outdoor options for family fun this week. This weekend I’m going to be busy with birthday party preparations for Baby 2.0 and pretending to be an adult-without-kids at NGV Friday Nights and Laneway Festival!

CBD / Docklands

• Fire Breathing Dragons Crown (Thu 7 Feb – Tue 12 Feb) – the banks of the Yarra River will be brought to life with the roar of the mighty fire breathing dragons designed by local artists.
• Zodiac Spectacular Crown (Thu 7 Feb – Mon 18 Feb) – Visit the dazzling zodiac exhibition at The Atrium at Crown Towers and be delighted by the vibrant display featuring the dog lantern.
• ArtVo at Crown (Thu 7 Feb – Sun 17 Feb) – Snap a photo at each of the five interactive ‘trick-art’ 3D murals.
• Park Cinema Docklands (Fri 8 Feb) – Park Cinema will be screening classic family films under the stars, in front of Library at The Dock.
• MSO Free Concerts at the Bowl (Fri 8 Feb) – Admission is free and gates open at 4.30pm, entry is on a first in, best dressed basis.
• Hawker’s Bazaar Crown (Fri 8 Feb – Sun 10 Feb) – 30 stallholders coming together for a Hawker-style food market.
• Chinese New Year The District Docklands (Fri 8 Feb – Sun 10 Feb) – traditional lion dancing, cultural activities with lantern making and calligraphy, live drumming performances, stilt walkers, giveaways and so much more.
• Lunar New Year Melbourne Central (Thu 7 Feb – Sun 10 Feb) – giant flying inflatable pigs, free piggy treats and a dumpling eating contest.
• Sustainable Living Festival (Thu 7 Feb – Thu 28 Feb) – Earth-lovin’ activities including workshops, DIY-days, pop-ups and markets in both central and outer Melbourne.
• Chinese New Year Festival (Thu 7 Feb – Sun 17 Feb)- Welcome the Year of the Pig with the sights, sounds and flavours of the far east in Melbourne.
• Lunar New Year SEA Life Melbourne Aquarium (Thu 7 Feb – Sun 17 Feb)- Luminous lanterns are adorning the aquarium, shedding new light on thousands of marine creatures that call Sea Life Melbourne home. There is a Wishing Wall to give guests the opportunity to record their greatest desire for the Year of the Pig. Full review.
• Lunar New Year NGV (Sat 9 Feb) – musical performances, workshops, tours of the NGV Collection, talks and food exploring Chinese art and culture.
• South Wharf Pop Up Cinema (Sat 9 Feb – Sun 10 Feb) – riverside cinematic experience on Common Man’s bright green Astroturf.
• Chinese New Year Dragon Parade Day (Sun 10 Feb) – Melbourne’s very own Dai Loong emerges from the Chinese Museum with onlookers in awe.
• Melbourne Book Market (Sun 10 Feb) – curated collection of more than 5,000 new and pre-loved titles selected and presented by 15 of Melbourne’s most experienced booksellers.
• Sugar Republic Myer (Sun 10 Feb – May) – 14 themed rooms with unlimited sweets and ice cream and a ball pit! Full review.
• Destroy Artplay (Thu 7 Feb – Sun 31 Mar) – Can destruction be creative? Come and find out in this new exhibition. Full review.
• Ink Play Artplay (Thu 7 Feb – Fri 8 Feb) – Make your mark using Boku-Undo marbling techniques. Full review.
• Queen Victoria Night Market (Wed 13 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.
• Movies Under the Stars (Thu 7 Feb – Sat 9 Feb) – Enjoy pre-movie entertainment and blockbuster films while you sit back and relax by the Yarra River this Summer.
• Julie Opie NGV  (Thu 7 Feb – 15 Apr) – interactive exhibition for families, featuring hands-on and digital activities developed in collaboration with Julian Opie. Full review.
• Rhythms and Grooves Artplay (Wed 14 Feb – Fri 15 Feb) – Join master drummer and multi-instrumentalist Kofi Kunkpe in a joyful music and movement workshop for toddlers under 2 years and their carers. Full review.
• QV Outdoor Cinema (Thu 14 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 (until 30 April 2019) – rooftop pool club with temperature controlled plunge pools, food, bar and views. Full review.

NORTH / NORTH-EAST

• Farmers Market Collingwood Children’s Farm (Sat 9 Feb) – Shop local and seasonal produce and visit the Collingwood Children’s Farm for only $2 adult entry (kids free). Full review. 
• Batman Summer Night Market (Sat 9 Feb) – food trucks, free entertainment, delicious food, stocked bar, and chill tunes. FULL REVIEW.
• Penders Park Cinema (Sat 9 Feb) – free and inclusive community screening of The Greatest Showman.
• Highlands Movie Night (Sat 9 Feb) – outdoor cinema screening of the Oscar-winning Disney Pixar hit, Coco.
• Eltham Street Food Festival (Sat 9 Feb – Sun 10 Feb) – food trucks, entertainment, family activities.
• Diamond Valley Railway (Sun 10 Feb) – miniature railway with playground next door. Full review

SOUTH / SOUTH-EAST / BAYSIDE

• Lunar New Year Legoland (Thu 7 Feb – Sun 10 Feb) – Use LEGO® Bricks to write up your New Year wishes on our LEGO® Wall, colour in and take home a LEGO® Pig Minifigure colouring sheet and take a photo of your little ones as a LEGO® Pig Minifigure!
• Sandsculpting Boneo Maze (Thu 7 Feb –  Apr) -Twenty sculptors carve out themed sculptures from the sand.
• Barefoot Cinema Rippon Lea (Thu 7 Feb – Sat 16 Feb) –  Enjoy food trucks, live music and a fully licensed bar before watching the sun go down and settling in for a feature film on the big screen.
• Lunar New Year The Glen (Fri 8 Feb – Fri 15 Feb) – the Lunar Lounge will be one of Melbourne’s hottest Instagammable pop ups, serving bespoke lychee cocktails on Thursday and Friday nights and delicious bubble tea on Saturdays and Sundays.
• Jurassic Unearthed by Silver’s Circus Fountain Gate (Fri 8 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!
• Chinese New Year Mary Martin Bookstore (Sat 9 Feb) – new store opening with Chinese Lion Blessing, snacks, face-painting and 20% off.
• Hank Marvin Market (Sat 9 Feb) – weekly Saturday market with awesome playground at Alma Park.
• Big Band Sunsets Mordialloc (Sat 9 Feb) – Melbourne’s premier big band festival, featuring performances from local and national swing groups and big bands.
• Saturday Night Live at the Park (Sat 9 Feb) – night of live music at Anniversary Lake, Wilson Botanic Park Berwick.
• The Classics Stonnington (Sat 9 Feb) – three-part series of free Saturday evening concerts throughout February.
• St Kilda Festival (Sun 10 Feb) – Australia’s largest free music festival with dedicated Kidzone Little Catani.
• Bumblebee Market Berwick (Sun 10 Feb) – pre loved, handmade, and new goods at reasonable prices.
• St Kilda Twilight Market (Thu 14 Feb) – artworks, vintage wear, craft, hand designed fashion and jewellery, exotic clothes, produce, emerging designers and foods of the world.
• South Melbourne Night Market (Thu 14 Feb) – street food, copious stalls, eclectic entertainment and music every Thursday night until 22 Feb. Full review. 

EAST

• Chinese New Year Forest Hill Chase (Thu 7 Feb – Wed 13 Feb) – roving Fortune Cookie Giveaways and lion dancing.
• Chinese New Year Tullamore (Fri 8 Feb) – Chinese-inspired food trucks with lucky $8 meal packages, take a selfie with the Earth Pig mascot and watch the much-loved awakening of the dragon performance.
• Heide Pop Up Cinema (Fri 8 Feb) – Enjoy an open air screening of the animated adventure comedy Ratatouille in the beautiful gardens of Heide.
• Soul in the Park (Sat 9 Feb) – concert is part of Boroondara Arts’ Summer in the Park series of free outdoor events across February and March. Burgers, sweet treats and coffee available.
• Melbourne Tram Museum Open Day (Sat 9 Feb) – visit the museum which is home to 21 fully-restored trams. Full review
• Heide Makers Market (Sat 9 Feb) – eclectic mix of art, design and handcrafted goods.
• Lunar New Year Eastland (Sun 10 Feb) – lion dances, firecrackers, and traditional arts.
• Belgrave Big Dreams Market (Sun 10 Feb) – 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.
• Yarra Valley Railway (Sun 10 Feb) – take a trip on the historic Walker RM22 Railmotor from Healesville to Tunnel Hill. Full review.

WEST

• Sunset Cinema (Thu 7 Feb – Sun 17 Feb) – outdoor cinema with blockbusters, family flicks and a few VHS Classics!
• Shadowfax Wines Friday nights (Fri 8 Feb) – Every Friday Night in February Shadowfax Wines are opening their restaurant for dinner and live music.
• Summer Sounds (Sat 9 Feb) – Come prepared with a rug and a picnic and enjoy the free music and an easygoing outdoors vibe.
• Drag Story Time Incinerator Gallery (Sat 9 Feb) – fun, free and inclusive Story Time with a special guest drag artist.
• Werribee Pop Up Park (Thu 7 Feb – Sun 24 Feb) – free program of live music, movies and family entertainment.
• Nightjar Festival Geelong (Fri 8 Feb – 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.
• Summersault Melton (Sat 9 Feb) – performances, rides, food trucks.
• Chinese New Year Sanctuary Lakes (Sat 9 Feb) – Chinese Cooking Demonstrations, Cai Shen Stilt Walker, Lion Performance, FREE craft workshop.
• AFLW Bulldogs Football Festival (Sat 9 Feb) – food trucks, kids zone, live music, kick to kick.
• Little Red Train Werribee (Sat 9 Feb – Sun 10 Feb) – Explore Werribee Park via miniature train. Full review. 
• Essendon Traffic School (Sat 9 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.
• Footscray Finds (Sun 10 Feb) – unique, boutique and handmade monthly market. Full review.
• Village Market Werribee Zoo (Sun 10 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.
• Chinese New Year Sovereign Hill (Sun 10 Feb) – visitors have the opportunity to watch, participate and learn about Chinese culture and the experiences of Chinese miners during Ballarat’s goldrush.
• Sunset Safari Werribee Open Range Zoo (Fri 8 Feb – Sat 9 Feb) – live music, African-inspired food, dancing, drumming and sunset safari tour. Full review.
• Moonee Valley Festival (Feb – Mar) – range of exciting community events popping-up across the Moonee Valley neighbourhoods.
• Toddler Circus Footscray (Thu 14 Feb) – learn circus skills with aerials, balances, circus circuits and games. READ THE REVIEW.