What's On This Weekend in Melbourne: The Sitchu Edit
Looking for things to do in Melbourne this weekend? We've got you covered.
We love to romanticise our lives a little—and to us, there’s nowhere quite like Melbourne in spring. The city and its surrounds are buzzing with new activities, events, and pop-ups at every turn, making it a season of endless fun. Yes it's mightily cold, but rolling out the door dressed in all your woollies is more than worth the reward.
This vibrant atmosphere calls for a good dose of inner-city food, wine, arts, and culture over the weekend. Enjoy wining and dining at the best CBD restaurants, then explore cosy gallery hops or unique events and festivals.
These are just a few of the many ways to make the most of what’s on this weekend in Melbourne.
Celebrate the end of Negroni Week
Melbourne’s cocktail scene is buzzing with Negronis this week! Swing by Johnny’s Green Room for Matt Bax’s spicy twist, featuring Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin and a hint of exotic spices. Stokehouse Precinct is mixing things up with the Australian Negroni and a White Negroni at Stokehouse Pasta & Bar from the 16th to 22nd September—and all Negroni's ordered will go into supporting Slow Food.
Shane Delia’s spots are brewing up a coffee Negroni for just $18, while Lucas Restaurants are shaking things up with playful and classic Negronis at Baby Pizza, Grill Americano, and Society. For a seaside sipper, Sebastian’s classic Negroni with Iris Rojo Vermouth is a must-try.
Raise your glass and join the Negroni festivities!
September 16th to 22nd
See here for more bars joining in on the fun
Multiple locations around Melbourne
Le Grape Escape
A French-filled adventure await you at Le Grape Escape, presented by So Frenchy So Chic at St Kilda Town Hall. Partnering with Australia’s leading French wine importers, this immersive event offers a chance to taste over 110 exquisite wines from France’s iconic regions, from Burgundy to Bordeaux and Champagne to the Loire Valley.
You can also indulge in a gourmet food experience with dishes from Pinchy's Lobster & Champagne Bar, Hotel Gitan, and L’Artisan Cheese. Expect lobster rolls, caviar sandwiches, duck leg cassoulet, and an array of curated French cheeses—perfect for food and wine lovers seeking an elegant escape.
Buy tickets here
Friday 20th and Saturday 21st September, various times
St Kilda Town Hall, St Kilda
Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition
A tribute to travel, photography, community, and adventure, "Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition" takes you on a captivating journey through over 200 of the world's most beautiful and idiosyncratic places, straight from the whimsical world of Wes Anderson.
With 10 themed areas, this exhibition offers a passport to visual inspiration, featuring stunning photography and immersive experiences. Get ready to explore a world of symmetry, warm colours, and enchanting moments.
Arriving in Melbourne in September, this one-of-a-kind exhibition invites you to see the world through a new lens, making it a must-visit for any travel, photography, or Wes Anderson enthusiast.
From 18th September
Book here
Level 1, 360 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Enjoy a High Tea Fit for a Beauty (and a Beast)
Eastland Shopping Centre wants you to be their guest this weekend, as Mrs Potts pays the centre a visit to deliver a wonderful high tea. This pop up is for one weekend only, and you'll have the opportunity to meet and greet your favourite stars from the musical, try specialty cocktails and enjoy a high tea fit for a princess! The sweet and savoury delicacies are from Laurent Bakery, too, so you're guaranteed a day of Parisian luxury.
Friday 20th September to Sunday 22nd September
Book here
175 Maroondah Highway, Ringwood
Oktoberfest Celebrations at Hofbräuhaus Kick Off
Don your dirndls and lederhosen, because Hofbräuhaus' Oktoberfest celebrations kick off this weekend.
Running from 21st September for five weeks, the festivities coincide with the official Oktoberfest launch in Germany and are set to welcome over 15,000 revelers. Expect yodelling, polka dancing, stein-sinking, bratwurst-eating, live music from the Haus Band, and traditional German bands. Plus, 100 lucky guests will win free beer for a year!
From 21st September
18-28 Market Lane, Melbourne
Kic x STAX. 'I Can and I Will' Wellness Workshop
A feel-good wellness workshop is coming to Melbourne, hosted by empowering wellness brands Kic and STAX. to celebrate the launch of Kic’s V2 STAX. Collection. Join Kic co-founders Steph Claire Smith and Laura Henshaw for an afternoon of uplifting panel chats and mindfulness activities inspired by the new affirmation, “I can and I will.”
Expect a fun panel with Steph, Laura, and STAX. co-founders, Don and Matilda Robertson, intention setting and breathwork with Ella from the Breath Haus, and a journaling and meditation workshop hosted by Steph and Laura.
Don’t miss the pop-up STAX. store to shop the collection!
Book here
Saturday 21st September, 11am to 3pm
Clarendon Auditorium, 2 Clarendon Street, South Wharf
Taste the Flavours of Spring at the Prahran Market
A Taste of Spring is blooming at Prahran Market, celebrating the season and the market’s upcoming 160th anniversary! Enjoy stunning floral installations, live entertainment, and a series of curated events perfect for all ages. Stroll through the Taste of Spring Market Trail (1st to 30th September) to sample gourmet delights from over 30 vendors.
Come along for the Taste of Spring BBQ Series (weekends from 14th September–20th October) for sizzling demos and tastings with BBQ experts and chefs. Or, you can indulge in the Taste of Spring Picnic Trail (1st–30th November) with specially curated hampers from market traders. Celebrate spring in style at Australia’s oldest market!
Sitchu Tip: Visitors who share their Taste of Spring Market Trail adventures on Instagram and tag @prahranmarket will enter the draw to win one of three exclusive Spring Bounty gift boxes in early October.
1st September to 30th November
Prahran Market, 163 Commercial Road, South Yarra
FUSE Festival
Immerse youself in FUSE Festival from 14th–22nd September with a dazzling array of art and culture across Darebin. Dive into the festival’s opening event, Ganbu Gulin: Grandmother Spirit, at Bundoora Park Farm, where vibrant live music, striking visual art, and engaging workshops await.
There will be an exciting array of artists showcasing their work, dances and performances to immerse yourself in. It's the perfect weekend festival to head on over to!
14th to 22nd September
Multiple locations in Darebin
CherryHill Orchards Blossom Festival
The beloved CherryHill Orchards Blossom Festival returns from the 14th September to 6th October at its brand new Coldstream location. Wander through the stunning cherry blossoms and enjoy live music, workshops, and a range of cherry-themed food and drinks.
Plus, for this weekend only, you can enjoy a Mary Eats Cake’s ‘High Tea in the Blossoms’, offering a luxurious tea experience among the blooms. New workshops this year include candle making, cake decorating, and more, while the Kids Hub promises fun activities for little ones.
14th September to 6th October
739 Maroondah Highway, Coldstream
Friends of Fromage: Cheese Toastie Takeover at Maker & Monger
Cheese lovers, this one's for you! Starting this weekend, Maker & Monger launches the fifth instalment of their "Friends of Fromage" series, and it’s all about epic toastie collaborations. Each Saturday in September, a guest chef will take over the sandwich press to create their version of the ultimate cheese toastie—because there’s no such thing as too much melted cheese.
Here's the line-up:
- 31 Aug / 1 Sept: The Mischa - A riff on a Bombay veggie sandwich.
- 7 / 8 Sept: The Rosheen - Tuna Sambal toastie with a kick.
- 14 / 15 Sept: The Shannon - A Mexican Cobb loaf with a cheesy twist.
- 21 / 22 Sept: The O.My - Textures of Artichoke toastie.
- 28 / 29 Sept: The Chae - Cashew doenjang Comté toastie.
Expect flavour-packed creations, crispy golden crusts, and all the cheese pulls your heart desires. Get your toastie fix at Maker & Monger—don’t miss out on this cheesy goodness!
Beauty & The Beast
Disney's stunning new production of Beauty and the Beast the Musical has arrived in Melbourne, promising a feast for the eyes, heart, and soul.
This timeless tale is reimagined on stage in a breathtaking production that will captivate audiences like never before. The original creative team reunites to bring this enchanting musical to life, featuring all the spellbinding songs by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, and Tim Rice, including "Belle," "Gaston," "Human Again," and "Be Our Guest."
A much-loved classic, this tale as old as time will enchant a new generation, filling hearts with magic and wonder.
Book here
Her Majesty's Theatre, 219 Exhibition Street, Melbourne
Pharaoh: Winter Masterpieces at NGV
This weekend, don't miss the chance to immerse yourself in ancient Egyptian magnificence at the NGV's "Pharaoh" exhibition. This landmark showcase features over 500 remarkable artifacts, including monumental sculptures, exquisite jewelry, papyri, coffins, and a rich array of funerary objects, celebrating three thousand years of Egyptian art and culture.
The exhibition is divided into seven thematic sections that explore the multifaceted roles of the pharaohs, from high priests and military leaders to heads of administration and royal families. It's NGV's blockbuster Winter Masterpieces experience and you need to see it to believe it.
180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
Africa Fashion at the NGV
The NGV is always filled to the brim with fun and exciting exhibitions, and this latest one is no exception. Africa Fashion features an incredible collection of designs and designers from over 20 countries, all borrowed from the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. This exhibition has almost 200 works, ranging from ready-to-wear fashion all the way to bespoke and couture pieces. Celebrating the creativity and innovation of African fashion from the mid-twentieth century to today, this exhibition is an explosion of colour, texture and patterns, and the perfect thing to go and see if you're a fashion enthusiast.
31st May to 6th October
180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
SIX The Musical
Following sensational sell-out seasons, the pop phenomenon SIX the Musical returns to Melbourne's Comedy Theatre!
Globally celebrated and winner of 35 major international awards, including two Tony Awards and a Grammy nomination, SIX offers a high-octane 80-minute experience where feisty Tudor Queens boldly rewrite history.
Don’t miss this "Herstoric" musical, an unforgettable production that promises to have you losing your head!
Until 20th October
Book here
Comedy Theatre, 240 Exhibition Street, Melbourne
LUME Melbourne - Leonardo Da Vinci
The LUME is known for putting on captivating exhibitions that celebrate the world's greatest artists - and their latest digital art gallery is doing exactly that. Leonardo da Vinci – 500 Years of Genius will take over The LUME from the 16th of March, mesmerising audiences as his most famous and lesser known works are projected across the open space, such as the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.
Getting out of town this long weekend? Check out our guide to the best travel destinations near Melbourne, or stick around for some of Melbourne's best new restaurants, bars and cafes.
