Melbourne consistently offers opportunities to unwind after a hard week of work and with those perfect balmy summer evenings there are endless opportunities to dig into. If you’re looking for a pre-dinner aperitif or an exhibit to get lost in, this weekend’s hit list is sure to steer you in the right direction.
Here are 10 awesome things to do in Melbourne this weekend:
Boiler Room x Sugar Mountain 2023
One of the most coveted boogie events on the calendar, Sugar Mountain always provides a good time. Taking place once again at the Seaworks Maritime precinct, the summertime dance-music event has just announced its lineup for January 2023 led by powerhouses DJ Bone and John Talabot who’ll take to the Boiler Room stage alongside Darwin, Roza Terenzi, Collette and more. Tickets for the Sugar Mountain are still available, so head over fast if you’re ready to boogie
THE DETAILS:
When: 2pm until late, Saturday 21 January
Where: Seatime Maritime Precinct, 82 Nelson Place, Williamstown
For more information, click here.
Australian Open
The best part about January, hands down, has to be the Aus Open. It’s the ultimate culmination of all things Melburnians love: food, drinks, music, free goodies, oh and a side of sports. This year, the food scene is looking more decadent than ever, with various vendors including cult-favourite Supernormal, Elsies and their succulent butter chicken, Charcoal Fish with an innovative yellowfin tuna cheeseburger, Ca Com with their famed Bahn Mi, and Oasis with their killer Falafel. There’s also a heap of live music to catch, with everyone’s favourite childhood pop-star, Vanessa Amorosi performing at the KIA Arena, and Gen-Z fav BENEE set to perform as well.
THE DETAILS:
When: 11am until late, from now to Sunday 29 January
Where: Melbourne Park, Melbourne
For more information, click here.
Sunset Cinema
There’s no excuse to park yourself on the couch and chuck on Netflix to watch the silver screen, summer’s here and that means one thing: outdoor cinemas. Sunset Cinema in Mount Martha has almost come to an end, but they’ve still got a few nights left for you to enjoy this week, up until Friday. They’re going out with a bang, with a screening of the Whitney Housten biopic ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’, so bring a blanket, some pillows or a lawn chair and get cosy under that sunset glow.
THE DETAILS:
When: 6:30pm until late, from now to Friday 20 January
Where: The Briars, 450 Nepean Highway, Mount Martha
For more information, click here.
Lunar New Year Celebrations
It’s the year of the rabbit, so to hop into the lunar new year (excuse the pun), there’s a whole-day festival taking place in Chinatown on Sunday. The festivities include the famous Lion Dancing showcase, the dance having been known to duck in and out of restaurants in the area. There’s also a millennium dragon parade at 12:30pm, and if you’re in the mood for some art, there’s a giant inflated rabbit tucked away at Parer Studio on Burke Street. This year is also the year of the water rabbit, which will hopefully bring a little luck, wealth and happiness to all of us.
THE DETAILS:
When: 10:30am until 9pm, Sunday 22 January
Where: Chinatown, Melbourne
For more information, click here.
District Live At The Docklands
If you’re a fan of live music, food and drinks, and a bit of pub trivia, feel free to mosey down to the Docklands this Saturday, as District Live has returned to the precinct. This weekend, they’re hosting free pub trivia sessions at 2:30pm and 4pm, so make sure to brush up on your general knowledge. There’ll also be a few musical acts to bop along to, including old-school legend Ross Wilson as well as a few DJs to spin you into the night.
THE DETAILS:
When: 2pm until 8pm, Saturday 21 January and Saturday 28 January
Where: The District, Docklands
For more information, click here.
EMERGE_melbourne Pop-Up Exhibit
Designed to showcase the best up-and-coming Melbourne artists, musicians and the like, EMERGE_melbourne is a brand-spanking new pop-up, packed the rafters with creative locals. The aim of the pop-up is to promote the emerging talents of our inspiring city, bringing them all together into a collective community. Talents include Nunzio Miano, whose visually contrasting works reflect his Sicilian heritage and Melbourne upbringing, and Zetti Jewellery, a local off Lygon Street that focuses on bold shapes and designs with Australian-sourced materials.
THE DETAILS:
When: 12:30pm until 8pm, from now to Thursday 2 February
Where: 163 Bourke Street, Melbourne
For more information, click here.
Midsumma Festival
While you won’t find Florence Pugh here (it’s not that kind of Midsommar), you will find an absolute explosion of events for the 22 days that Midsumma Festival is spread across, all centred around queer culture. Art, music, history and performance are at the forefront, kicking off with the Midsumma Carnival in Alexandra Gardens. It goes from 10am until 11pm and features over 180 stalls and drag performances and DJs to keep the energy up. There will also be a huge dance party held across the main stages, so it’s sure to be a vibe.
THE DETAILS:
When: Various times, Saturday 21 January to Sunday 12 February
Where: Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne
For more information, click here.
Summer Of Play At Melbourne Museum
If you’ve ever wanted after-hours access to the exhibits at Melbourne Museum, you now have your chance this summer with their Summer of Play celebration. In the outdoor plaza, release your inner child on the illuminated playscape, with board games, ping pong, and handball, and there are even museum-inspired ice cream flavours from 196 Below. Of course, there’s after-hours access to the Tyama exhibition, which is super to be even more immersive at night. Friday and Saturday nights will see DJs and cocktails aplenty, plus art always looks better with a cheeky bev or two.
THE DETAILS:
When: 9am until 11pm, now to Sunday 26 February
Where: Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton
For more information, click here.
Punting On The Lake At The Royal Botanic Gardens
This one is for the romantics out there who can’t afford a trip to Venice to be propelled along the canals on a gondola; it seems a bit superfluous really, when you can head to the Royal Botanic Gardens to be serenaded on the lake there. Ornamental Lake is famously beautiful, so sit back and relax as you glide through the bays and islands, donning a parasol if you’re feeling particularly fancy. Up to 6 people can fit on a boat, and you can even bring your own food and drinks. All aboard.
THE DETAILS:
When: 10:30am until 5pm, now to Tuesday 23 May
Where: Royal Botanic Gardens, South Yarra
For more information, click here.
Saboteurs Interactive Game
You probably haven’t forgotten that particularly unhinged time during one of our many lockdowns when the whole world became obsessed with the online game, Among Us. Well, you can now relive that game in real life, because 11 shipping containers have been converted into a moonbase-themed world of sabotage and suspicion. Similarly to Among Us, you try keep your base running smoothly as you’re being sneakily hunted down, so vote, eject and try your best to survive.
THE DETAILS:
When: 10:30am until 5pm, now to Saturday 25 February
Where: Queen Victoria Market Testing Grounds, Melbourne
For more information, click here.
Make a day of it and hit up some of Melbourne’s best spots for breakfast, lunch and dinner:
Melbourne’s best restaurants
Melbourne’s best cafes
Melbourne’s best bars
Melbourne’s best breakfast
Image credit: Paul Macallan (Unsplash)
