Luminous at 206 Bourke Street

Overview

As if Melbourne's spring vibes weren't radiant enough, Bourke Street is getting an extra dash of luminance with Luminous at 206 Bourke Street — sure to be a lit celebration of the traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival.

Yes, yes, Australia is only in mid-spring, but it's mid-autumn in China. Known alternatively as the Moon Festival or the more mouth-watering Mooncake Festival, it's a global Chinese celebration inspired by — you guessed it — the moon.

Over the weekend of Friday, September 29–Sunday, October 1, beats from Chinese Australian musicians will fill the air, while Melbourne-based MCPA Dance will be shimmying around with a traditional Chinese dragon dance.

There's more: mooncake giveaways, a game zone with prizes like vouchers and soft toys to be won, lantern-making workshops that'll take you back to crafty primary school days and even a selfie contest. Seriously, snap a pic with the glowing lantern backdrop and you could score some centre cards.

Plus, if by any chance you're in the city for the AFL Grand Final (or maybe avoiding it), it's a brilliant way to balance footy fever with some cultural enrichment — and it's all free.