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What’s On in Melbourne – April 2024

Get yourself organised in April with a huge roundup of events happening in Melbourne and surrounds this month.

Also coming up in April are the Autumn school Holidays (Friday 7 April – Sunday 23 April) and Easter (Friday 7 April to Monday 10 April) Because of the huge number of events happening during these two periods, you’ll find separate posts for Autumn school holiday events and activities in Melbourne CBD plus Easter events in Melbourne and surrounds.

The rest of the month still offers fantastic family fun – so check out the best events below!

This post is updated regularly, so check back in to see what’s on in Melbourne today, this weekend as well as what’s happening for the whole month. 

Featured Event

With a global audience of 10+ million and earning spot on CNN’s “must-see” list, The Art of the Brick arrives in Melbourne! This immersive LEGO® exhibit by Nathan Sawaya promises an unforgettable experience. Explore original collections, over 100 sculptures created from 1 million+ bricks, a LEGO® safari, dynamic installations, 360° projections, and much more!

Highlights:

  • Explore the new version of the popular LEGO® sculpture exhibition
  • Dive into Nathan Sawaya’s colorful world with moving sculptures, bright lights, cool videos, and awesome sound
  • See famous animals made of LEGO and watch them on a big screen
  • Find 7 lifelike human sculptures in every color of the rainbow
  • Check out more than 250 moving LEGO® skulls with cool lights and sounds
  • Have fun and learn, suitable for guests of all ages

The Art of the Brick Immersive Experience, Melbourne Showgrounds, Epsom Rd, Ascot Vale VIC 3032 (Entrance via Gate 5 on Langs Road)

Prices starting at $31.90 for adults and $22.90 for children. Kids under 4 enter for FREE!

Until Sunday 30 June 2024

Kabloom flower festival

Melbourne Events April

What’s on in Melbourne CBD / Docklands

  • Marshmallow Laser Feast: Works of Nature (Thu 23 Nov – Sun 14 Apr ) – See the world from a new perspective. A hypnotic, immersive experience that explores the rhythm that cultivates and connects all life – breath.
  • BBC Earth Experience (Mon 1 Jan – Sun 28 Apr) – The BBC Earth Experience at the MCEC is an all-ages interactive journey through the seven continents powered by state-of-the-art technology never before seen in Australia.
  • Exhibition: Wild City At ArtPlay (Sat 20 Jan – Sun 16 Jun) – Come and visit a mini city landscape that has been transformed into a wild, thriving, green metropolis – where humans and animals share their habitat.
  • Punting on the Lake (Fri 1 Sep – Fri 31 May) – Settle back in an elegant wooden punt to enjoy a unique view of one of the world’s finest gardens as a professional guide tells you about its history and wildlife.
  • Leonardo Da Vinci (Sat 16 Mar – Sun 16 Jun) – Leonardo da Vinci – 500 Years of Genius promises to be THE LUME Melbourne’s most ambitious, immersive and breathtaking experience yet.
Marshmallow Laser Feast ACMI
  • Stellar Nights (Mon 18 Mar) – Embark on a captivating journey through time and space with our guided tours at the Melbourne Observatory.
  • Cirque du Soleil (Sun 24 Mar – Sun 5 May) – Cirque du Soleil is celebrating its 25th anniversary in Australia with critically acclaimed and jaw-dropping production LUZIA, opening in Melbourne on 24th March 2024.
  • I’m a Refugee… Get Me Out Of Here! (Tue 9 Apr – Sun 21 Apr) – Hailing from Ethiopia via New Zealand, Melbourne’s freshest comedy voice brings a critical and fresh view to Australia’s comedy scene.
  • Australasian Quilt Convention (Thu 11 Apr – Sun 14 Apr) – Australia’s premier quilting event is back! Experience a magnificent quilt show, all the latest fabrics, patterns and machines and an amazing lineup of classes!
  • The Pet Show (Sat 13 Apr – Sun 14 Apr) – Back by popular demand, Australia’s First National Pet Show is returning to Melbourne promising to be bigger and better than ever before.
Possum Magic Clare Hawley
  • My Cousin Vlad – DIS/DAT (Sat 20 Apr) – My Cousin Vlad debuts at his first ever Melbourne International Comedy Festival with his Festival show DIS/DAT.
  • The Vegan Market (Sun 28 Apr) – The Vegan Market is back with an epic lineup at Fed Square this April! Bring the whole family with kids activities, product tastings, fun creative workshops to unleash your creative self.
  • Young At Art (Tuesdays) – With the guidance of an experienced early childhood educator, participants work on a different hands-on creative activity every week, using materials from the take-home art materials box supplied each session.
  • The NBA Exhibition (Various dates from Wed 3 Apr – Sun 2 Jun) – The NBA’s first and only global touring exhibition takes you on a journey through the lifestyle, culture, and rich history of the NBA with rare items on display, unique activities and much more.
Lume Monet
  • Sonica Botanica: Stories and Sounds from the Gardens (Tue 31 Dec) – Weaving together interviews, field recordings and a musical score, this evocative listening experience responds to collectors’ passions, botanical knowledge, favourite memories, childhood impressions, historical anecdotes and cultural viewpoints
  • Seek and Find Nature Cards (Until Tue 31 Dec 2024) – Set your young ones on an adventure exploring nature with Seek and Find Nature Cards to be used at Melbourne Gardens or download the cards and explore your neighbourhood.
  • The Explorer – Melbourne Gardens (Until Tue 31 Dec 2024) – Discover the beauty of this inner-city oasis and enjoy live commentary in the comfort of an open-air minibus.
  • Sonica Botanica: Stories and Sounds from the Gardens (Until Tue 31 Dec 2024) – Weaving together interviews, field recordings and a musical score, this evocative listening experience responds to collectors’ passions, botanical knowledge, favourite memories, childhood impressions, historical anecdotes and cultural viewpoints
  • Arts Centre Sunday Market (Until Sat 31 Dec) – find unique, quirky and handmade items at the stalls. There are always some yummy treats too!
  • Aboriginal Heritage Walk (Until Tue 31 Dec 2024) – Journey into Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, a significant cultural site for the local Kulin Nation, with a First Peoples guide.
Imaginaria 4
  • Melbourne Book Market (Saturdays & Sundays) – a curated collection of more than 5,000 new and pre-loved titles selected and presented by 15 of Melbourne’s most experienced booksellers.
  • Docklands Community Market (2nd & 4th Sunday of each month) – Grab your early morning coffee, enjoy a lovely stroll & support your local producers at this lovely market.
  • The District Makers Market (Last Sunday of every month) – enjoy entertainment and shop fine arts, crafts, jewellery, and artisan goods.
  • Shrine Kids (ongoing) – The Shrine of Remembrance is the National War Memorial of Victoria and it makes for an educational (and sobering) outing for families. 
  • The Story of the Moving Image (ongoing) – Journey through the past, present and future of the moving image through interactive experiences, digital innovation and captivating stories. Read the Story of the Moving Image ACMI Review.
Leonardo Da Vinci The LUME
  • Night on the Reef (ongoing) – A kaleidoscope of tropical fish, sharks, rays, and turtles captivating the beauty and diversity of the world’s coral reefs.
  • The LUME (ongoing) – Immerse yourself in the work of Monet and Friends at Australia’s digital art gallery
  • Into the Music – Composition Workshop 2024 (ongoing) – Participants in Into the Music – Composition Workshop will explore technology and techniques used to create the music they hear every day.
  • SEALIFE Melbourne Aquarium (Ongoing) – See some of the world’s most incredible animals, including penguins, a 6-metre-long crocodile and thousands of tropical fish, plus the newly reopened oceanarium.
Stellar Nights
  • Soft Play ( Ongoing) – Play with your child and make community connections in a safe and fun indoor environment at Soft Play.
  • Kids Passport Queen Victoria Market (Ongoing) – Collect your passport, then journey around the Market collecting stamps from our friendly traders, before making your way to the Queen Victoria Market Visitor Hub to claim your prize.

What’s on in Melbourne North / North-East

  • Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show (Wed 20 Mar – Sun 24 Apr) – See the best landscape and floral talent from Australia and around the world alongside an extensive array of garden retail products.
  • IT’S ‘GAMEON’ AT TIMEZONE WITH $20 BONUS VOUCHER (Mon 13 Mar – Tue 30 Apr) – Until April 30, Timezone is giving guests $20 bonus credit. To claim the bonus credit, download the Timezone Fun App and enter the code GAMEON.
  • The Listies Make Some Noise! (Fri 12 Apr – Sun 14 Apr) – Join the award winning Listies as the maestros of mirth, Rich and Matt,belt out a bunch of songs with the LOLs turned up to 11!
  • Heide Gallery Kids (Fri 19 Apr & Fri 26 Apr) – Join Art Therapist Tanis Douglas, who supports pre-school children and their carers to gain confidence observing artworks in a small group
  • Eid Community Celebration (Sat 20 Apr) – Join us for a vibrant community celebration in honor of Eid, with cultural performances, delicious food, and fun activities for all ages.
  • ACF20 Community Open Day (Sat 27 Apr) – Free event celebrating 20 years of vibrant activity at Abbotsford Convent.
Triceratops Melbourne Museum
  • Diamond Valley Railway (Sundays) – miniature railway with a playground next door. Read the Diamond Valley Railway Review
  • Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs (ongoing) – An immersive voyage into a lost world, where visitors will explore the landscapes of the Cretaceous and get to know the creatures that thrived there.
  • Dinosaur Walk (Ongoing) – Check out the real dinosaur bones at Melbourne Museum’s permanent exhibition featuring ten dinosaur skeletons, three pterosaurs, and other select megafauna artefacts such as huge teeth!
  • Pauline Gandel Children’s Gallery (Ongoing) – A world-class immersive learning and play experience – and a wonderland for little learners! The exhibition combines hands-on exploration and discovery, open-ended play-based learning, extraordinary immersive environments, and unique museum collection objects at the Pauline Gandel Children’s Gallery.
  • Sensory Tray Session (Ongoing) – Pour, scoop, splash, and more at our sensory tray sessions!
samg hero
  • Keeper Kids Melbourne Zoo (Ongoing) – Educator-led daily activities that promote learning through storytelling, craft, and play at Keeper Kids Melbourne Zoo.
  • Mini Twitchers Heide (Ongoing) – Be a twitcher for a day and spot some beautiful birds in the Heide Sculpture park! Use a map to locate each area where the twelve painted birds are hidden in trees in the sculpture park.
  • Gandel Gondwana Garden (Ongoing) – Explore Victoria’s ancient landscapes and learn about creatures that once walked this land, from dinosaurs and megafauna to the ancestors of today’s iconic Australian species.
  • Tiny Tours (Ongoing) – A 45-minute tour created for early year audiences that will invite them to wonder, discover and be amazed.
  • Under 5s Art Classes (Ongoing) – Sessions will explore the elements of art such as colour, shape, texture and pattern through material exploration and experimentation

What’s on in Melbourne South / South-East / Bayside

  • Metartworld (Thu 7 Mar- Sat 4 Apr) – Get ready to be blown away by the mesmerizing metal art wonders of Metartworld! Be amazed as you step inside a massive 2,500-square-meter space filled with incredible, one-of-a-kind statues crafted from recycled materials and scrap metal.
  • Possum Magic (Fri 5 Apr – Sun 7 Apr) – Possum Magic, a magical live show for 3-8 year-olds, features magic, puppetry, and music, enchanting 170,000 audiences in Australia. Playing at alexander Theatre 5 – 7 April.
  • Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience (Sat 6 Apr – Sun 19 May) – Don’t miss Harry Potter™: A Forbidden Forest Experience! Walk into the depths of an illuminated forest and discover magical creatures and iconic Wizarding World moments. Get tickets!
  • Polite Mammals (Thu 11 Apr) – Polite Mammals is a wild, neo-vaudevillian variety show the whole family can enjoy. Celebrate animals of all kinds: real, imaginary, sparkly, stinky, polite and rude!
  • Melbourne Pedalthon 2024 (Sun 21 Apr) – Have fun and raise money to help fight below-the-belt cancers and ride with us on our closed circuit away from the cars and potholes.
  • Trust Makers’ Market (Sun 21 Apr) – Shop lovingly handmade art and design on the sprawling lawns of Rippon Lea Estate.
  • Bumblebee Kids Baby Market Berwick (Sun 28 Apr) – pre-loved, handmade, and new goods.
Polite Mammals Event web banner xpx min
  • Skyline Attractions (Until Sun 12 May) – Take in the breathtaking views of the St Kilda foreshore and pier at the KIIS Eye Ferris Wheel which makes its debut this Summer!
  • Gasworks Farmers’ Market (Until Sat 21 Dec 2024) – On Saturdays soak up the vibrant atmosphere and sample the very best of local Victorian produce, directly from Victorian farmers and specialty makers.
  • Little Play Squad Legoland (Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays) – An interactive parent-child Play & Learn session based on LEGO® DUPLO®. Read the  DUPLO Farm Adventure Review.
  • Prahran Market Mini Marketeers (Tuesdays) – Enjoy free, guided activities teaching toddlers the fundamentals of eating well and putting the ‘yum’ in healthy food choices
  • Nature Play (Tuesdays during school term) – Come along to Alex Wilkie Nature Reserve for Nature Play, an outdoor, child-led playgroup session facilitated by a qualified ranger.
  • Stories and Songs in the Square (Mondays and Wednesdays) – Stories help children to discover the world around them. Nurture your child’s early literacy skills by joining in to read aloud stories and sing action songs and rhymes.
  • The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne (Wednesday – Sunday) – A dedicated, fully fenced space for families featuring plants, water, structures, and pathways that reflect Melbourne’s changing seasons.
Space Jam vs Goons px
  • Bentleigh Sunday Market (Sundays) – plants, clothing, cosmetics, jewellery, books, videos, tools, antiques, crafts, pre-loved goods, and more! Every Sunday. 
  • Mornington Railway (Sundays) – Climb aboard the Mornington Railway steam train for a fun-filled outing.
  • Camberwell Sunday Market (Every Sunday) – secondhand retro, vintage, antique, fashion and collectible goods you just can’t find anywhere else
  • National Steam Centre (Every Saturday and Sunday) – A visit to the National Steam Centre will delight a wide audience from the pre-schooler obsessed with Thomas and train rides, to train enthusiasts of any age!
  • Lilydale Rotary Craft Produce Market (First Sunday of the Month) – craft stalls, food, and fresh produce on the first Sunday of the month.
Afternoons of Awesome at LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre.
  • LEGO Friends (Ongoing) – Visit LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Melbourne to meet your new Friends, receive fun show bags, join in a scavenger hunt activity and more!
  • Little Lunies at Luna Park (Ongoing) – Discover a fantastic world of rides, attractions, and games to suit Little and Big Lunies! There’s something for everyone from old favorites like The Great Scenic Railway, Ghost Train, & Carousel to the big thrill rides like the Power Surge, Sky Rider, Twin Dragon, and more!
  • St Kilda Breakwater (Ongoing) – Spot the Little Penguin colony just before dusk coming ashore from the promenade. FREE.
  • WIIILD Wednesdays, Gumbuya World (Ongoing) – Dive into Wildlife Wanderers, the trail of free-roaming wildlife, savor two interactive shows, and hop on junior rides! Get up close with exotic animals, connect with nature, and enjoy exciting entertainment every week!

What’s on in Melbourne East

  • Afternoons of Awesome at LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre (Mon 26 Feb – Fri 6 Dec) – Young builders can blast out of the classroom into a world of creativity, hop on electrifying rides, and set off on epic afternoon LEGO adventure!
  • Kabloom (Sat 23 Mar – Sun 21 Apr) – Come and enjoy our flower fields bursting with a sea of colour with over a million flowers. A wonderful day out with all the family Read the. Kabloom Review
  • Dandenong Ranges Open Studios (Sat 13 Apr, Sun 14 Apr, Sat 20 Apr, & Sun 21 Apr) – An exciting annual weekend event that promotes the work of local artists and gives you the opportunity to have a sneak peek into the private world of our artists’ working studio environments
  • Bumblebee Kids Baby Market Ringwood (Sun 28 Apr) – pre-loved, handmade, and new goods.
Tesselaar Kabloom 9 8
Yarra Vally Railway
  • Heide Art Babies (Tuesdays) – 30 minutes of sensory play in the gallery, looking, thinking and talking about art Read the Heide Art Babies Review.
  • Yarra Valley Railway (Sundays) – take a trip on the historic Walker RM22 Railmotor from Healesville to Tunnel Hill. Read the Yarra Valley Railway review
  • Auburn Kids Sunday Funday (Sundays) – Let the kids roam with the barnyard animals at the FREE petting zoo while you enjoy a Sunday roast! What could be better?
  • Bounce Playdates (Weekdays During Term Time) – Extended toddler sessions offer little adrenaline hunters time to explore and play, while parents can choose to join in, or watch on from nearby.
Kids explorer
  • ECOSS Valley Market (Fridays) – Experience the vibrant Valley Markets, connecting local growers, artisans, and musicians in the heart of the Yarra Valley.
  • Spirits of the Sky (Ongoing) – See the natural behaviours of a variety of native birds which may include the Wedge-tailed Eagle, Black-breasted Buzzard, Barking Owl, magnificent parrots and more.
  • Eastland (Ongoing) – Sign up to the free mini & me kids club at Eastland (for kids 4 and under) and receive exclusive offers, invites to free events, and $5 valet parking! FREE.

What’s on in Melbourne West

Pet Show
Rocky Road Festival
  • Incy Wincy Babies (Fri 26 Aor) – Barking Spider Creative artist guides carers with their babies through a visual art experience at the Gallery.
  • Western Edge Presents – Open Stage: Muses (Sat 27 Apr) – Join in at The Annex for an evening of conscious R&B, hip-hop, and poetry produced by Nomad222 and hosted by spoken word poet Akwal Magek.
  • Eynesbury Market (Sun 28 Apr) – monthly community market in Eynesbury.
  • Fulldome Flicks (Saturdays) – A spellbinding cinema experience for the whole family is returning to the Melbourne Planetarium this autumn.
ToddlerJam
Grazeland Meadow Bar.jpg
  • Sunday Funday Station Hotel (Sundays) – Every Sunday, The Station Hotel prepares an animal farm and other entertaining activities to keep the little ones busy while you sit back and relax. Read the Station Hotel Review
  • Enterprize One Hour Day Sails (ongoing) – sail from five locations in Port Phillip Bay and occasionally in other ports along the southeastern coast of Australia.
  • Werribee Open Range Zoo (Ongoing) – Stroll through the Zoo spotting lions, hippos, cheetahs, monkeys, gorillas and more, catch the safari bus tour or explore the Ranger Kids indoor play space and Village Kids outdoor playground.
  • Air Playground (Ongoing) – Air Playground has launched at Scienceworks. Levitate objects, engineer paper planes, & learn the physics of airflow.
Grazeland Launch Event Credit SDP Media
  • Melbourne Planetarium (Ongoing) – Sit back and enjoy the wonder of the stars regardless of the time of day – or the weather!
  • Ground Up: Building Big Ideas, Together (Ongoing) – An exhibition for babies to five-year-olds where curiosity is rewarded around each bend with surprising and intriguing sights, sounds and touch sensations.
  • Playnastics (Ongoing) – Casual open play sessions using a selection of Preschool Gymnastics equipment and resources, as well as puzzles, blocks and more. ​Read our review here.
SUPERCHEAP LAUNCH LR
  • Toddler and Kids Art Classes (Ongoing) – The Fun In Art’ provides art classes for toddlers and kids where they’re more about the fun of creation and less about the outcome of the artwork.
  • Clocktower Centre Children’s Space (Ongoing) – Parents and carers can sit back and relax with a coffee and a snack from the Clocktower Café while the kids explore the space, watch the trams go by or listen to their favourite book with the interactive Storytime Pod.

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What’s on in Melbourne in April – PIN this picture to save this post!
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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