The Best Things to Do in Melbourne This October

Here's your guide to filling this month with all the best food, drink, films, live music, pop-ups and activations Melbourne has to offer.
Concrete Playground
Published on September 30, 2024
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  • Event

    A Taste of Persia

    Sat, 12 Oct, 2024

    Earth Angels, West Melbourne

    Social enterprise Welcome Merchant is hosting this big night filled with Persian food, wine, music art and culture.

  • Event

    Jack Daniel's Triple Mash Medley Whiskey Tasting

    Mon, 7 Oct, 2024

    Blue Diamond, Melbourne

    Experience a world-first immersive whiskey tasting at the newly reopened Blue Diamond.

  • Event

    Free to Feed's Story Table Series

    Fri, 18 Oct, 2024

    Free to Feed Fitzroy North, Fitzroy North

    Some of the social enterprise's culinarily gifted participants are sharing the flavours and stories of their cultures via an immersive dinner series.

  • Event

    The Ritz-Carlton's Luxury Dining Series 

    Thu, 17 Oct - Sat, 19 Oct 2024

    The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne, Melbourne

    Treat yourself to lunch, dinner or an aperitivo session led by a Michelin-starred chef, or go in on world-class cocktails paired with views across the bay.

  • Event

    Monster Fest

    Fri, 4 Oct - Sat, 12 Oct 2024

    Cinema Nova, Carlton

    This year's genre must-sees include a 'Terrifier' marathon, puppet flicks new and old, and a new New Zealand body-horror flick.

  • Event

    COOKED

    Tue, 1 Oct - Sun, 20 Oct 2024

    Federation Square, Melbourne

    The Melbourne Fringe Festival team is firing up the grill at Fed Square for 'COOKED', hosting a series of free lunches and dinners with guest chefs and artists.

  • Event

    'ARAB'iata Chef Pasta Series

    Mon, 16 Sep - Wed, 6 Nov 2024

    Maha East, Windsor

    $15 bowls of pasta are almost unheard of in Melbourne these days, so make sure you take advantage of this eight-week deal before it ends.

  • Event

    Melbourne Fringe Festival

    Tue, 1 Oct - Sun, 20 Oct 2024

    Various locations across Melbourne, Melbourne

    This year's Melbourne Fringe Festival sees food and art combine in hundreds of boundary-pushing performances.

  • Event

    Casa Mariotti's Aperitivo Sessions

    Wed, 25 Sep - Thu, 31 Oct 2024

    Casa Mariotti, Richmond

    Head down to this new Roman wine bar and restaurant from 4–6pm to score cheap drinks and complimentary snacks.

  • Event

    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.

  • Event

    Shedfest

    Sat, 12 Oct - Sun, 13 Oct 2024

    Various Yarra Valley venues, Coldstream

    One ticket, 14 top Yarra Valley wineries, and lots of wine to sip and swirl at each stop.

  • Event

    $5 Taco Tuesdays at Mesa Verde

    Tue, 2 Jul, 2024

    Mesa Verde, Melbourne

    Drop by Curtin House's Mesa Verde to score as many $5 tacos as you like — potentially pairing them with the venue's happy hour margarita special.

  • Event

    The Weeknd: 'After Hours Til Dawn' Tour

    Sat, 5 Oct - Sun, 6 Oct 2024

    Marvel Stadium, Docklands

    After rescheduling his 2023 visit, Abel Tesfaye is finally bringing his massive world tour to Melbourne.

  • Event

    Melbourne International Games Week

    Thu, 3 Oct - Sun, 13 Oct 2024

    All Around Melbourne, Melbourne

    From big-screen Mario Kart tournaments to a cosplay parade, this year's instalment promises to take MIGW to the next level.

  • Event

    Public Enemy: 'On the Grid' 35th Anniversary Tour

    Sat, 5 Oct, 2024

    Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne

    Do believe the hype: Public Enemy are bringing the noise Down Under on a spring tour with AB Original.

  • Event

    Fringe Flavours Night Market

    Multiple single dates

    Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne

    This spring, you can pair your night market food and bevs with outlandish Fringe performances.

  • Event

    Cannoleria x American Doughnut Kitchen Cannoli Collaboration

    Fri, 20 Sep - Thu, 3 Oct 2024

    Cannoleria, Carlton

    Cannoleria and American Doughnut Kitchen are joining forces to make a limited-edition hot jam doughnut-inspired cannoli.

  • Event

    'Batman' Live in Concert

    Thu, 24 Oct - Sat, 26 Oct 2024

    Regent Theatre, Melbourne

    Tim Burton's 'Batman' is celebrating its 35th anniversary on the big screen with a live orchestral score.

  • Event

    Japanese Film Festival

    Mon, 21 Oct - Sun, 3 Nov 2024

    Select cinemas in Melbourne, Various locations

    This year's festival includes a gorgeous animation from a Studio Ghibli alum, chaotic karaoke antics and an ode to a samurai stuntman.

  • Event

    Martini Moments with Haku Vodka

    Tue, 3 Sep - Tue, 15 Oct 2024

    Various Melbourne venues, Melbourne

    Enjoy a complimentary martini with your meal at these top omakase restaurants this spring.

  • Event

    Oktoberfest at Hofbräuhaus

    Sat, 21 Sep - Sat, 26 Oct 2024

    Hofbräuhaus, Melbourne

    Six weeks of German Bier, fresh schnitzel and Oktoberfest-fun.

  • Event

    Ability Fest

    Sat, 19 Oct, 2024

    Alexandra Gardens, Melbourne

    Ocean Alley, ONEFOUR, King Stingray, Cub Sport and Bag Raiders lead the 2024 lineup at Dylan Alcott's inclusive and fully accessible music festival.

  • Event

    Oktoberfest in the Gardens

    Sat, 12 Oct, 2024

    Catani Gardens, St Kilda West

    This big Bavarian celebration is bringing its steins, schnitties, schnapps and strudels to Catani Gardens.

  • Event

    Melbourne Cat Lovers Festival 2024

    Sat, 26 Oct - Sun, 27 Oct 2024

    Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Wharf

    This dedicated cat show is returning to Melbourne for two feline-filled days.

  • Event

    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.

  • Event

    Bendigo Annual Tulip Display

    Sat, 14 Sep - Sun, 6 Oct 2024

    Pall Mall Bendigo, Bendigo

    The regional centre is embracing the flower power once again, with an installation of over 43,000 tulips that is free to explore this spring.

  • Event

    Gluten-Free Expo

    Sat, 5 Oct - Sun, 6 Oct 2024

    Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Wharf

    The Convention and Exhibition Centre will be filled with heaps of food stalls for two days — and everything will be gluten-free.

  • Event

    Cucinetta's Twenty-Nine Cheese Gnocchi

    Mon, 23 Sep - Sun, 6 Oct 2024

    Cucinetta, South Yarra

    South Yarra's Cucinetta is serving up this extremely cheesy gnocchi for two weeks only.

  • Event

    CherryHill Blossom Festival

    Mon, 9 Sep - Sun, 6 Oct 2024

    Cherryhill Orchards, Wandin East

    CherryHill Orchard's annual Blossom Festival is returning for spring 2024, this time running for four weeks.

  • Event

    Planetarium Nights

    Multiple single dates

    Scienceworks, Spotswood

    Spend a Friday night staring up at the full-dome screen at Melbourne Planetarium with a drink in your hand.

  • Event

    Tesselaar Tulip Festival

    Sat, 14 Sep - Sun, 13 Oct 2024

    Tesselaar Tulip Farm, Silvan

    Ever seen a million tulips in bloom? This spring, you can.

  • Event

    Friends of Young Hearts: Sunday Service

    Multiple single dates

    Young Hearts, Windsor

    A rotating roster of Melbourne chefs are taking over the Young Hearts kitchen — and playlist — across the next few months.

  • Event

    Italian Film Festival

    Fri, 20 Sep - Thu, 17 Oct 2024

    Select cinemas in Melbourne, Various locations

    This year's feast of Italian cinema in Melbourne is filled with award-winners, iconic directors and famous faces.

  • Event

    Aperitivo Nights at Lollo

    Tue, 30 Jul - Thu, 28 Nov 2024

    Lollo at W Melbourne, Melbourne

    You can score $2 oysters on Tuesdays, cheap margarita cocktails and margherita pizzas on Wednesdays, and discounted hot wings and beers on Thursdays.

  • Event

    Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition

    Wed, 18 Sep - Sun, 3 Nov 2024

    360 Bourke Street, Melbourne, Melbourne

    Bringing the Instagram feed to the IRL realm, this symmetry-loving exhibition is making its Australian debut in Melbourne.

  • Event

    WET's Swim Club

    Mon, 12 Aug - Fri, 27 Dec 2024

    W Melbourne, Melbourne

    Splish and splash skyhigh at W Melbourne's luxe indoor pool.

  • Event

    BKK's Build-Your-Own Beef Offal Soup

    Sat, 3 Aug - Sun, 6 Oct 2024

    BKK, Melbourne

    If you're off offal, consider giving it another go with this cheap eats deal.

  • Event

    'Jurassic World': The Exhibition

    Fri, 2 Aug - Mon, 28 Oct 2024

    Fever Exhibition Hall, Brunswick

    This exhibition filled with life-sized, lifelike creatures is your latest excuse to indulge your dinosaur obsession in Melbourne.

  • Event

    Inner-West Sessions

    Thu, 4 Jul, 2024

    Misfits Bar, Footscray

    This monthly event series champions DJs, artists and food vendors from Melbourne's vibrant western suburbs.

  • Event

    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.

  • Event

    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.

  • Event

    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.

  • Event

    Discount for Service Industry Workers at Purple Pit

    Multiple single dates

    Purple Pit, Melbourne

    Every Wednesday night, workers in the hospitality, healthcare, education and social services industries can score 20% off the total bill.

  • Event

    The same crowd never gathers twice — Buxton Contemporary Gallery

    Fri, 10 May - Sun, 13 Oct 2024

    Buxton Contemporary, Southbank

    This six month exhibition is taking over University of Melbourne's dedicated gallery space with an examination of how we each participate in public life.

  • Event

    RESET Festival

    Sun, 1 Sep - Sun, 6 Oct 2024

    Federation Square, Melbourne

    Fed Square is championing planet-friendly living with a Zero Waste Festival, vegan market and big toy swap.

  • Event

    Victoria the T. Rex

    Fri, 28 Jun - Sun, 20 Oct 2024

    Melbourne Museum, Carlton

    One of the biggest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex fossils in the world is making Melbourne Museum its temporary home.

  • Event

    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.

  • Event

    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.

  • Event

    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.

  • Event

    Pharaoh

    Fri, 14 Jun - Sun, 6 Oct 2024

    NGV International, Melbourne

    This blockbuster NGV exhibition is bringing 500-plus ancient Egyptian items to Melbourne in 2024.

  • Event

    Lunch & Linger at NOMAD

    Multiple single dates

    Nomad Melbourne, Melbourne

    Share a mezze platter full of NOMAD favourites, plus unlimited beer, wine and spritzes for 90 minutes.

There’s stacks of things to do in Melbourne this October, from film festivals and food pop-ups to art exhibitions and free gigs galore.

Top image: The Huxleys’ Winner Takes It All for the Melbourne Fringe Festival.

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