Girl looking out at mini village display in the garden.

The best free and cheap family activities

Need to keep your little mates entertained? Check out these awesome free events and fun adventures for an epic day of fun. Some age limits may apply, check with venues before visiting.

When are the school holidays?

The school holidays in Victoria are from Friday 3 April to Sunday 19 April 2026.

Driving in?

With more than 70,000 car spaces in the city, you’re never far from ³Ô¹ÏÍø’s best events. Book ahead at key parking providers to get the best deal.

Deals, discounts and pop-ups

Twinkle Dance Party

Use code TWINKLE10 to get 10% off your tickets.

Special offer

Port Phillip Ferries

Kids aged between 4 and 16 travel free on Tuesdays all year long, T&Cs apply.

Special offer
Performer wearing a hat and waistcoat, with rope.

Magic, Mirth and Mystery

Enjoy discounted rates: kids $35, adults $45, family of four $145

Special offer
A hand holding an open fan upside-down.

Illusionaire Family Magic Show

Enjoy discounted rates: kids $35, adults $45, family of four $145

Special offer

Free family-friendly events

An adult and a few primary-school aged children standing at a table that holds a potted plant and a red watering can, with slightly obscured signage in the background that reads 'Little Food Festival'.
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Little Food Festival

Australia's iconic food festival created for kids is free for all to attend.

The foyer of the ³Ô¹ÏÍø Convention and Exhibition Centre, with balloons and banners overhead, and a large sign above a doorway with the words 'good friday appeal' written on it.

Kids Day Out

A family fun festival day out, hosted by The Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal.

A tan jacket made of squiggly fur on a white dummy torso.
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Let's Party: NGV Fashion for Kids

Step into a vibrant world of colour, creativity and celebration.

Three people interacting with a neon light installation in a gallery.
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Distraction

An exhibition that plugs into the torrent of content and places we go when craving distraction.

Market stallholder with her puppet toys, beside the Yarra River in the CBD.
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The Sunday Market at Southgate

Explore the Sunday Market at Southgate and meet the makers.

A child and an adult with sporting medals around their necks, one of them holding a table tennis paddle, standing in a room.
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Table Tennis

Play a game of table tennis with the local world champion, Chau.

Animator and filmmaker Adam Elliot working on a claymation set, adjusting characters.
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Making Memoir of a Snail

Explore handmade sets, props and characters from Adam Elliot's claymation film Memoir of a Snail.

Young children walking through tall reeds in a a garden.
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Nature Play ³Ô¹ÏÍø

Delight your child’s senses with free nature play experiences on Oak Lawn.

A young child wearing a dressing gown, looking at an open picture book in her lap, blurred twinkling lights behind her.
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Bedtime Storytime

Hop into your pyjamas, grab your favourite teddy and enjoy bedtime stories.

Two women in fitness clothes enjoying a walk at a football oval.

Free Fitness in the Park: Family Fitness

Stay active with free community fitness classes in parks and gardens across your neighbourhoods.

Young children and their parents listening to a story book being read aloud in a colourful environment with large dinosaur cutouts.
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Dino Days

Young dinosaur enthusiasts, aged 3-5 years, are invited to explore all things dinosaur.

Play School exhibition with signature teddy and toys.
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Play School: Come and Play

A hands-on, playful exhibition where families can discover how the beloved TV show comes to life.

A group of tradtional Turkish muscians in red costumes, two with large drums.
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Turkish Pazar Festival

The Turkish Pazar Festival recreates a traditional street market at the Queen Victoria Market.

Group of children seated on the floor while adults look on.
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Auslan Storytime

Bringing stories to life through visual language and movement, 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month.

Free kids activities

Young children walking through tall reeds in a a garden.
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Nature Play ³Ô¹ÏÍø

Delight your child’s senses with free nature play experiences on Oak Lawn.

A woman holding a picture book titled 'Ruffles' and also holding a dog toy in a library reading area.
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Songbirds

Come along to East ³Ô¹ÏÍø Library on Thursdays for Songbirds: songs, rhymes and stories.

A smiling woman with a ukulele seated at a desk with two picture books on display.
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Stompers

Join in the Stompers fun with your toddler at narrm ngarrgu Library every Friday.

Illustrations of two children with clipboards in (real) garden setting.
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Fitzroy Gardens Outdoor Adventure

A free fun outdoor seek and find adventure around the Fitzroy Gardens.

Events under $20

A family seated at an outdoor table in a grassy park, eating takeaway food from the food van parked behind them, the Skyline Ferris wheel in the background.

Skyline ³Ô¹ÏÍø

See ³Ô¹ÏÍø's unbeatable city view from the Skyline ³Ô¹ÏÍø Ferris wheel.

A group of people dressed at pirates posing on an old ship.
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Pirate Day at Polly Woodside

Come along and experience the pirate life aboard ³Ô¹ÏÍø's tall ship.

Three cartoon kids in a a real park setting.
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Then and Now Time Detectives

Join a fun and educational kids activity exploring the beautiful Fitzroy Gardens.

A DIY kids craft project of a cardboard gladiator helmet, inspired by ancient Roman designs.
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Creative Lab: Rise of the Gladiators

Enter the world of ancient Rome in ³Ô¹ÏÍø Museum’s Creative Lab workshop, Rise of the Gladiators.

A person with blue hair at a vending machine as another person directs them on how to use it.
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Loopy Lab

See how plastic waste is a resource by making your own pen or carabiner from plastic bottle tops.

A portion of an ancient Roman colonnade at an archaeological site, against a blue sky.
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Mosaic Monuments

A drop-in activity that invites families to step into the world of ancient Rome!

A decorative purple illustration of an ancient Greek amphora featuring a Pegasus, or winged horse, set against a yellow background.
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Hooves, Horns & Wings: Unicorns & Other Horsey Things

Meet the many horse-like creatures of Greek mythology in this school holiday activity.

Special occasion activities - $20 and over

Performer wearing a coat with striped lapels, with a large bubble wand.
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Dr Hubble's Brilliant Bubbles

A fun, funny and (slightly) educational show for all the family by Australia’s favourite bubble man.

Purple-lit dark room with screens.
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Game Worlds

ACMI's new playable exhibition features more than 30 videogames from the 1970s to today.

Portraits of six First Nations comedians, each within an orange or yellow box laid out in a grid pattern, with three on the top and three on the bottom.

Aboriginal Comedy Allstars for Kids

First Nations comedians present laughs, singalongs, dance and an education for all.

Man wearing a tuxedo performing sleight of hands tricks with a glass in front of a seated audience.
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³Ô¹ÏÍø Magic Show

Enjoy a theatrical magic experience like no other.

A plate of fluffy pancakes with ice-cream and chocolate over the top.
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Chocolate Family Adventure Day

Enjoy an all-inclusive, stress-free family outing filled with fun, creativity, and delicious treats.

Picnic spread of dishes, boxed food and drinks on a blue gingham tablecloth.
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Family Mystery Picnic: ³Ô¹ÏÍø Laneways

Solve clues, taste and collect pre-paid gourmet food on this unique foodie adventure.

Two people standing on the 'ceiling' of an inverted living room.

House Down Under

Australia’s favourite inverted house photo experience brings topsy-turvy fun to ³Ô¹ÏÍø.

Painted bears of various sizes standing on a wooden ledge.

Bear With Us

Unleash your inner artist in this therapeutic and fun experience.

Two people standing in an immersive room at Dreamskape surrounded by a virtual reality projection of interior of a spaceship.

Dreamskape

Explore the District Dockland's multi-media sensory entertainment complex.

A still image from the Disney film Beauty and the Beast showing the Beast and Belle dancing.
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Disney's Beauty and the Beast in Concert

Experience this spellbinding story backed by the full might of the MSO.

A smiling young girl seated as a table in front of a pile of slime.

Slime Lab

A play and retail space offering awesome and creative slime workshops for kids.

An illustration of a tan coloured deer with antlers and a grey kola, with the human faces of Kirsty Webeck and Ivan Aristeguieta superimposed on the animal's heads.
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The Big Animal Quiz with Kirsty Webeck and Ivan Aristeguieta

A family-friendly live show is an hour of laughs, education and banter about animals.

A man in a dinner suit and glasses upside down against a blue and black sun ray striped background.
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The Tricky Nick Magic Show

Strap in for an unpredictable rollercoaster ride through the weird mind of Tricky Nick.

A male magician in a top hat and suit on a smoky stage, holding a yellow and green fan and performing a trick.
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Illusionaire Family Magic Show

Sam Angelico is back in ³Ô¹ÏÍø performing his family-friendly show Illusionaire.

A Hawthorn AFL player with arms outstretched in a celebratory fashion, on the footy field.

AFL Round 6: Hawthorn v Port Adelaide

Hawthorn plays Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium for AFL's Round 6.

Children's performer, Mr Snotbottom, posing with thumbs up in a suit and Mickey Mouse ears, holding a doctors bag filled with small creatures.
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Mr Snotbottom/Mark Trenwith: P.Gee!

Clean but chaotic, harmless but hectic, innocent but edgy physical comedy for all ages.

A male circus performer in a purple jacket and black pants stands on a stage in a circus tent under bright lights, holding a flaming torch, with an audience watching and a large CIRCUS sign in the background.
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Circus The Show

A family circus spectacular that families are raving about.

Jungle Book bear character, paw raised and smiling, against purple background.
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The Jungle Book

Join Baloo and Mowgli as they reunite in this heart-warming and high-energy stage musical.

A man wearing safety goggles bends down to cook with two small children - all wearing white shirts.
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Signor Baffo

Don’t miss this laugh-out loud treat for young children and their families.

A family of four wearing pyjamas and sleepmasks lying on mattresses in a museum with lamps, dinosaur skeleton in the background.
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Family Museum Sleepovers

Explore the museum after dark in this unique overnight experience at ³Ô¹ÏÍø Museum.

Three children looking at colourful pamphlets while standing on the stairs inside the Old ³Ô¹ÏÍø Gaol.
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Billie B Brown and the Case of the Missing Treasure

Join Billie B and the Secret Mystery Club as they take on one of their trickiest cases yet.

Two performers wearing bright costumes on a stage.
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Magic, Mirth and Mystery

Enjoy a family magic show these school holidays.

A male performer dressed in a red ringmaster-style jacket and black trousers on a stage with blue and red lighting, holding a stick and gesturing with his other hand during a circus and magic show.
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The Greatest Magic Show!

The Greatest Magic Show is a spectacular packed with magic, comedy and larger-than-life fun.

A male performer operates a large, yellow, barrel-shaped smoke cannon, which fires a large, blue-lit smoke vortex across a dark stage during a live science show.
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Kaboom!

See Australia’s favourite family science show.

A crowd of ³Ô¹ÏÍø Victory supports holding up banners in the stands.

A-League Men: ³Ô¹ÏÍø Victory vs Wellington Phoenix

³Ô¹ÏÍø Victory take on the Wellington Phoenix at AAMI Park.

A scene from a Studio Ghibli anime film, with humans and creatures on a green rooftop.

Mina Yu Quartet with Strings: Studio Ghibli

Immerse yourself in the melodies and soundscapes of Studio Ghibli films.

Care Bears themed high tea treats, including bear-shaped cookies with pink icing alongside cups of tea and juice.
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Care Bears Afternoon Tea

Step into a world of colour, sweetness and nostalgia with an enchanting Care Bears afternoon tea.

A child engaging in an immersive augmented reality adventure game standing in front of a brick wall and holding a digital device up high.

Hunters and Raiders

A world-first AR treasure hunt filled with clues, mystery and real-world adventure.

A dessert buffet, featuring a central chocolate fountain, at the Easter high tea buffet at Stamford Plaza Hotel ³Ô¹ÏÍø.

Easter Holiday Chocolate High Tea Buffet

Enjoy a family friendly Easter holiday chocolate high tea buffet at Stamford Plaza ³Ô¹ÏÍø.

Two female tennis players both wearing yellow sports gear and white visors.
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Billie Jean King Cup

Your chance to see the best of Australian tennis take on the might of Great Britain.

Three smiling workshop participants in a studio space, holding up jewellery they have made.
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Polymer Clay Earring Workshop

Create beautiful jewellery in this fun workshop.

Two smiling workshop participants holding up jewellery they have made.
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Polymer Clay Workshop

Create beautiful pairs of earrings and necklaces using polymer clay in this fun workshop.

A woman and child sit in a museum, looking up at a glass case displaying a preserved human body posed in a dramatic leap, with exposed muscles visible.
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Body Worlds: The Anatomy of Happiness

Discover what lies behind the skin to reveal how our health, emotions and environment impact us.

For teens and older kids

Two people seated below a neon sign.
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The Story of the Moving Image

A permanent exhibition that journeys through the past, present and future of the moving image.

A group of smiling participants in a studio workshop setting, holding glass-domed terrariums.
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Serene Terrarium: Workshop for Beginners

Create your mini plant world while enjoying a soothing cuppa and a calming environment.

A crowd of people celebrating inside a decorated ferry during a Taylor Swift-themed singalong cruise.
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Swiftie Singalong Cruise

The Taylor Swift Singalong Cruise returns this April with live music, fun and family‑friendly vibes.

Seven people in coloured aprons holding up kokedama balls in a workshop.
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Kokedama Workshop

Enjoy a beginner's workshop and learn how to make a little moss ball plant.

Side view of a child typing on a laptop.
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STEM Holiday Workshop for Young People: Auslan and English

Young people are invited to experience a free hands-on STEM workshop at Science Gallery ³Ô¹ÏÍø.

Two smiling workshop participants holding up jewellery they have made.
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Polymer Clay Workshop

Create beautiful pairs of earrings and necklaces using polymer clay in this fun workshop.

Three smiling workshop participants in a studio space, holding up jewellery they have made.
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Polymer Clay Earring Workshop

Create beautiful jewellery in this fun workshop.

A sophisticated music store with guitars hanging on the wall.

The Music Gym

Drop in to The Music Gym, ³Ô¹ÏÍø's most playable pit stop!

Person on a skateboard at Riverslide Skate Park.

Riverslide Skate Park

The city's biggest skate park, overlooking the Yarra River and Birrarung Marr.

Small brick building illuminated at night, housing Signal creative arts studio.

Signal

Signal is the ³Ô¹ÏÍø's creative studio for young people 14 to 25 years.

People skating in an indoor ice rink with disco lighting.

O'Brien Icehouse

An ice arena for public skating and ice sports events, located in Docklands.

Brightly coloured singing booths arranged around the walls in a large room, with bench seating in the central open space.

Kono Coin Karaoke

Enjoy a karaoke experience at a singing booth.

The exterior of Hardrock climbing in the city, surrounded by other buildings.

Hardrock Climbing

The ultimate indoor rock-climbing experience in ³Ô¹ÏÍø is at Hardrock Climbing.

A family of two adults and three children gathered around and looking at their strip photos outside a vintage style photo booth on Flinders Street in ³Ô¹ÏÍø city.

Flinders Street Photobooth

Have your photo taken at a vintage black and white photobooth.

Looking into the interior of a studio space, with a row of five small booths on the left and shelves of props and equipment on the right wall.

Life4Cuts Chinatown

A Korean-inspired self-photo booth studio in Chinatown.

Three girls posing and holding up their hands in peace signs while wearing flower headbands.

Hama Film Self Photo Studio

A self-photo studio where you can take amazing photos in special concept rooms.

A giant ball pit with brightly coloured geometric patterns and neon shapes on the walls.

Hijinx Hotel

No beds here. Just ball pits, bold colours, brain-teasing challenges and a lot of laughter.

Interior of Archie Brothers games venue, showing a candy counter, and a central bar area.

Archie Brothers

Archie Brothers delivers circus themed arcade charm, whimsical cocktails, and big-kid energy.

People enjoying tenpin bowling.

Strike Bowling

Tenpin bowling plus laser tag and escape rooms - great fun for everyone.

Exterior of Holey Moley mini golf venue at night.

Holey Moley Golf Club

Holey Moley offers a mini golf course and bar with 27 themed holes plus a karaoke room.

School holiday workshops

A standing and seated row of children in a large bright room, all holding up artworks they've created.
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Rainbow Art Class

A guided art class for children, led by an artist and educator.

A child wearing a plastic coat, squirting paint with a paintgun at a pink canvas on a wall splattered with paint.
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³Ô¹ÏÍø Paint Lab Art Workshop

At ³Ô¹ÏÍø Paint Lab you can splash, splatter and drip paint to unleash your inner artist.

The shopfront of a Japanese-style craft workshop with brightly coloured craft materials on shelves and a neon sign.
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DIY Craft Workshops

Unleash your creativity at these workshops where everyone is a designer.

Child adding details to artwork on the back of a skateboard deck.
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School Holiday Street Art Workshops

Learn spray-painting techniques from a renowned street artist this school holidays.

Child's hands using a rolling pin to roll out roti on a stone benchtop.
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April School Holidays Kids Cooking Workshops

A relaxed way to introduce children to new flavours while building confidence in the kitchen.

A teachers bobs down next to a seated student and listens intently.

Cursed: Holiday Program

A full-day creative story writing workshop for ages 10-14 years.

A teacher kneeling down beside a student at a desk, chatting.

Enchanted Library: Holiday Program

A full-day creative story writing workshop for ages 8-12 years.

Family-friendly attractions

Baby looking in a mirror.

Children's Gallery ³Ô¹ÏÍø Museum

This is a wondrous place for young children to explore, play and learn.

Koala in a gum tree at ³Ô¹ÏÍø Zoo.

³Ô¹ÏÍø Zoo

Journey through a world of wildlife in the heart of ³Ô¹ÏÍø.

A museum visitor in an exhibition space using a screen, surrounded by display objects.

Australian Music Vault

A celebration of Australian contemporary music – past, present and future.

Child looking over right shoulder with delighted smile, dark dinosaur model behind.

³Ô¹ÏÍø Museum

Explore history, culture, science and nature at this popular ³Ô¹ÏÍø attraction.

Three women joining hands and fooling around against a fantasy backdrop.

ArtVo

An interactive 3D art gallery with optical illusions that visitors can touch and explore.

Family in a glass tunnel looking up at a very large stingray.

SEA LIFE ³Ô¹ÏÍø Aquarium

Discover thousands of aquatic animals in four enchanting worlds at this top ³Ô¹ÏÍø attraction.

Two children resting their hands on the glass water wall at NGV International.

NGV International

NGV International houses a whole world of international art.

Large, rectangular building of Ian Potter Centre at Federation Square.

Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia

The world’s first major gallery dedicated exclusively to Australian art.

Smiling vendor selling a range of pastries, dips and spreads at Queen Victoria Market.

Queen Victoria Market

This beloved ³Ô¹ÏÍø landmark is the largest open air market in the southern hemisphere.

The geometric exterior of ACMI at Federation Square in ³Ô¹ÏÍø.

ACMI

Museum dedicated to the moving image through events, film screenings and exhibitions.

People browsing a museum with paper lanterns and artwork.

Museum of Chinese Australian History

Museum preserving and displaying the history of Chinese immigration.

Double-storey ArtPlay building with city skyscrapers in the background.

ArtPlay

A creative arts centre for children to share unique experiences with professional artists.

More family-friendly ideas

Last updated on Thu 19 Mar 2026

Only In The City

Only in this City of Ours
A crowd of people sitting on picnic blankets at an outdoor cinema at sunset.

The best pop-up and outdoor cinemas in ³Ô¹ÏÍø

Find the best outdoor cinema, pop-up theatres and free movies.

People milling around Fed Square at night.

³Ô¹ÏÍø's essential night-time events

From hidden laneway markets to epic pop-ups, ³Ô¹ÏÍø gets lit once the lights go out.

People sitting on cushions on a vast lawn in front of a large outdoor movie screen.
Until

Moonlight Cinema

Kick back with a film under the stars at ³Ô¹ÏÍø’s most spectacular open-air cinema.

Discover more

A young boy and girl pointing to triceratops bones in the Museum.

Free things to do with kids in ³Ô¹ÏÍø

Get the kids out and explore these free events and adventures for an awesome day of fun.

Three cute Japanese-style cartoon animals, including a cat, bunny and dog, dressed in clothes and standing in the front yard of a cute cottage, behind a picket fence.
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PomPom Art Market: Sweet Cottage

A cute art and stationery market featuring 100+ talented local and international artists and makers.

People enjoying a twilight session at ³Ô¹ÏÍø Flowers & Garden Show in the illuminated Carlton Gardens with the ³Ô¹ÏÍø city skyline, including the distinctive tall buildings, in the background.
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³Ô¹ÏÍø International Flower and Garden Show

Australia’s top horticultural event, showcasing creativity, sustainability, and design.

People crowded into the Royal Exhibition Building for a market.
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The Makers and Shakers Market

Enjoy 185 top-tier makers of homewares, food and fashion.