The Best Things to Do in Melbourne This Weekend
This weekend, you can catch live gigs across the state, shop at a pop-up market full of independent brands and drink your way through a huge wine festival in the city.
Weekends are precious — that's why we've curated a special selection of the best things to do in Melbourne from Friday through to Sunday. We want to make sure no one spends their days off doing something dull or unnecessarily expensive.
Luckily, Melbourne's got plenty happening for those looking to have a damn good time. Those seeking to fill their weekend with food can join Baby Pizza's aperitivo sessions, tackle the all-you-can-eat charcoal chicken challenge at Henrietta or score unlimited wine and snacks while swimming at W Melbourne's WET on Sunday afternoons.
Culture vultures are also spoilt for choice. Be the Disney Beauty and the Beast musical's guest or visit exhibitions Leonardo da Vinci: 500 Years of Genius at THE LUME, Honk! Untitled Goose Exhibition at ACMI or SCI-FI: Mythologies Transformed at Science Gallery Melbourne.
And if you'd prefer something a bit more low-key, you can always sift through our guides to the city's best bars, pubs, restaurants, cafes, bottomless brunches, late-night diners and cheap eats. The list of things to do in Melbourne this weekend is almost endless, so read on to figure out how you'll be spending the next few days.
Recommended Reads:
The Best Things to Do in Melbourne This Week
The Best Films and TV Shows to Stream This Month
What's On in Melbourne This Month
The Best New Restaurant Openings for 2024
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Etta's Summer Seafood Towers
Fri, 22 Nov - Sat, 21 Dec 2024
Etta, Brunswick East
This incredible wine bar and restaurant is serving decadent seafood towers for just $75 per person every Friday and Saturday afternoon.
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The Rose Street Market
Sat, 23 Nov - Sun, 24 Nov 2024
Rose Street Artist's Market, Fitzroy
Fitzroy's weekly artisan design and art market is a must-hit if you're up for some weekend shopping and wandering.
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Smith Street Studio Christmas Market Pop-Up
Sat, 23 Nov, 2024
Smith Street Studio, Collingwood
Find the perfect Christmas gifts from a stack of independent lifestyle, fashion and beauty brands.
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Sun Chasers Sunday Sessions
Sun, 10 Nov 2024 - Sun, 2 Feb 2025
W Melbourne, Melbourne
Pair your sky-high swim sesh with bottomless wine and snacks at W Melbourne.
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British Film Festival
Wed, 6 Nov - Sun, 8 Dec 2024
Select cinemas in Melbourne, Various locations
This year's showcase of UK cinema features Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield's new romance 'We Live in Time', not one but two Saoirse Ronan movies and Barry Keoghan's latest.
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Peter and the Starcatcher
Fri, 8 Nov - Sat, 30 Nov 2024
Arts Centre Melbourne, Melbourne
This Tony-winning and Neverland-set hit is finally making Its Australian debut, including a season in Melbourne.
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Always Live
Fri, 22 Nov - Sun, 8 Dec 2024
Various venues across Victoria
17 days of leading live music on stages all over Victoria.
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Pinot Palooza
Fri, 22 Nov - Sat, 23 Nov 2024
Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton
Red wine fans, rejoice: this vino festival is showcasing up to 100 wineries over two spring days at the Royal Exhibition Building.
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CherryHill Orchards Cherry Picking Festival
Sun, 10 Nov 2024 - Sun, 5 Jan 2025
Cherryhill Orchards, Wandin East
Hit this Yarra Valley orchard for cherry picking, picnicking, live tunes and cherry ice cream.
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Home Truth
Wed, 13 Nov 2024 - Sun, 27 Apr 2025
NGV International, Melbourne
A house-within-a-house labyrinth has popped up outside the NGV International to get everyone thinking about small-scale architecture.
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Melbourne Queer Film Festival
Thu, 14 Nov - Sun, 24 Nov 2024
Select cinemas in Melbourne, Various locations
This year's MQFF boasts a 42-feature lineup stacked with LGBTQIA+ must-sees — and a celebration of music videos.
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Upstairs @ The Rochey
Multiple single dates
The Rochester Hotel, Fitzroy
The Rochey is hosting intimate electronic gigs every Saturday night in its upstairs bandroom.
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Long Live Longnecks at BANG
Wed, 20 Nov 2024 - Fri, 28 Feb 2025
BANG at The StandardX, Fitzroy
You can get two-for-one Melbourne Bitter Longnecks and $1 homemade dumplings during this happy hour deal.
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Apéritif v Aperitivo Arvos at Molly Rose Brewery
Wed, 16 Oct 2024 - Fri, 31 Jan 2025
Molly Rose Brewery, Collingwood
Sample Molly Rose's new small-batch gins, pastis, vodkas and vermouths at its aperitivo sessions and masterclasses.
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Jewish International Film Festival
Sun, 27 Oct - Wed, 4 Dec 2024
Select cinemas in Melbourne, Various locations
2024's JIFF is opening with Jesse Eisenberg's 'A Real Pain' — and there's plenty more highlights across its 41-film program from there.
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The Fans Strike Back: A Fan Exhibition
Sat, 23 Nov - Thu, 31 Oct 2024
The District Docklands, Docklands
This 'Star Wars'-worshipping showcase is making its Australian debut, bringing one of the planet's largest private collections of replica memorabilia from the franchise to Melbourne.
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Bottomless Brunch at Ming Dining
Fri, 4 Oct 2024 - Sun, 23 Feb 2025
Ming Dining, Melbourne
This CBD fine-diner is pairing a seven-course Asian-fusion feed with bottomless cocktails, beer and wine for only $69 per person.
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Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned Week
Fri, 1 Nov - Sat, 30 Nov 2024
Various Melbourne venues, Melbourne
Snag a sip of a cocktail classic without spending a cent this November at these participating bars.
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Sister Act: A Divine Musical Comedy
Sun, 3 Nov - Sun, 15 Dec 2024
Regent Theatre, Melbourne
Your prayers have been answered: this smash-hit Broadway musical is finally bringing its screen-to-stage show to Melbourne.
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BEAST Meat Masters
Mon, 1 Jul - Sat, 30 Nov 2024
Beast City, Melbourne
Everything served at BEAST's Meat Masters takeover series is heavy, meaty and heartburn-inducing. Bring on the food coma.
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Leonardo da Vinci: 500 Years of Genius
Sat, 16 Mar - Sun, 8 Dec 2024
THE LUME Melbourne, South Wharf
Hello 'Mona Lisa': Melbourne digital art gallery The Lume's big multi-sensory 2024 exhibition is dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci.
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Baby Pizza's Spring Aperitivo
Mon, 23 Sep - Sat, 30 Nov 2024
Baby Pizza, Richmond
Richmond's Baby Pizza is bringing the Euro holiday vibes, serving up spritz, beer, wine and cocktail specials from 4–6pm daily throughout spring.
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SCI-FI: Mythologies Transformed — Science Gallery Melbourne
Sat, 3 Aug - Sat, 14 Dec 2024
Science Gallery Melbourne, Parkville
It's time to learn about the ancient history and diverse future of science fiction.
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Honk! Untitled Goose Exhibition
Tue, 17 Sep 2024 - Sun, 16 Feb 2025
ACMI, Melbourne
Start honking: this free world-premiere 'Untitled Goose Game' celebration at ACMI showcases everyone's favourite horrible goose.
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All-You-Can-Eat Charcoal Chicken
Sat, 13 Apr - Sun, 29 Dec 2024
Henrietta Windsor, Windsor
Featuring hot chicks, crispy chips, creamy toum, fattoush salad, Henrietta’s signature hummus, and pickles.
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Disney's Beauty and the Beast: The Musical
Thu, 27 Jun - Sun, 24 Nov 2024
Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne
You'll want to be this delightful Disney musical's guest at Melbourne's Her Majesty's Theatre from late June.
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Non-Stop Noods at New Quarter
Sat, 20 Jan - Sun, 29 Dec 2024
New Quarter, Richmond
Sip and slurp your way through bottomless margaritas and never-ending bowls of Vietnamese noodles.
The best things to do in Melbourne this weekend — spend each day discovering bars, absorbing art and feasting your way through food markets.
Top image: ALWAYS LIVE.