Overview
Wednesday nights in Melbourne mean one thing: hitting up the Queen Victoria Market's usual midweek — and after-dark — offering. During winter, it celebrates the frosty season with an appropriate spread. Across spring this year, it's been oozing Euro vibes. Now, with the warm weather upon us for another year, QVM is bringing back its legendary Summer Night Market.
Just like last year's Summer Night Market, the event is returning every Wednesday from late November till the middle of March: from November 22–March 13, to be exact. That means that Melburnians can look forward to a fresh 16-week run, and to a heap of places to browse, buy from, eat at and sip drinks from, with more than 100 different shops, stalls and bars on the lineup.
Each week, the Summer Night Market will feature a mouthwatering lineup of food vendors slinging street eats from every corner of the globe. We're talking Mozzaburgers (they're burgers made with mozzarella cheese buns) from That's Amore Cheese, sticky chicken and beef ribs from Rib-a-licious, authentic Filipino street eats from HOY PINOY and Black Forest pavs from Pavlova. It's Off Tap is also making its Summer Night Market debut, serving up its chocolate-coated strawberries to the Melbourne masses.
To wash it all down and quench your summer thirst, you'll find no less than six dedicated festival bars — one focusing on mojitos, another doing sangria and a Brick Lane Beer Garden all included.
As always, there'll be a program of live, local tunes to soundtrack your food-focused wanderings, including DJ sets and roving performers. From November 22–December 20, the Queen Vic Market's Summer Night Market will also be going full Christmas with carollers, roaming Santas and a Christmas tree forest. DJs will also be blasting Christmas classics during this period — for better or worse, Mariah Carey's 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' is sure to be featured while you eat and drink under the stars.
And, for a little midweek shopping action, see: the diverse range of artisan maker stalls, which will be brimming with an array of handmade gifts, homewares, fashion and more.
The Queen Victoria Market 2023–24 Summer Night Market will run from 5–10pm every Wednesday from November 22–March 13 (excluding December 27). Find it at the Queen Victoria Market, corner of Queen and Therry Streets, Melbourne. More info can be found at the venue's website.