The Best Things to Do in Melbourne This December
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.
Want to know what's on in Melbourne this month? Well, a lot happens in this big, bustling city of ours. Think movie marathons, exhibitions, and everything from booze-fuelled shindigs to outdoor adventures in between. And, of course, there's always more around the corner, with next month no different. That means that there's plenty to look forward to, and plenty of activities to fill your diary to the brim.
To help you plot things out, make plans with the gang and make the most of every moment, we've rounded up the best things to do in Melbourne in December. Don't say you don't have anything to do this month.
Recommended reads:
The Best Things to Do in Melbourne This Week
What's On in Melbourne This Weekend
The Best Restaurants in Melbourne
The Best TV Shows and Films to Stream This Month
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Event
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern
Sun, 15 Dec 2024 - Sat, 8 Mar 2025
Sydney Opera House, Sydney
This live 'Dungeons & Dragons' show has finally rolled into Australia for its Down Under premiere at the Sydney Opera House.
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Event
Melbourne Marriott Docklands Rooftop Infinity Pool Pass
Mon, 16 Dec 2024 - Mon, 31 Mar 2025
Melbourne Marriott Hotel Docklands, Docklands
Spend your summer days sipping spritzes and paddling around this rooftop infinity pool.
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Event
Baby's Summer of Spritz
Thu, 28 Nov 2024 - Fri, 28 Feb 2025
Baby Pizza, Richmond
Baby's summertime happy hour deal includes a bunch of $9.50 spritzes, $6.5 Peroni Rossas and a $7.50 house wine.
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Event
Squid Game: The Experience
Sat, 14 Dec 2024 - Sun, 2 Feb 2025
Luna Park, Milsons Point
This immersive 'Squid Game' experience at Sydney's Luna Park will get you playing 'Red Light, Green Light' IRL.
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Event
NGV Friday Nights: Yayoi Kusama
Fri, 20 Dec 2024 - Fri, 18 Apr 2025
NGV International, Melbourne
The NGV's big Yayoi Kusama exhibition is hosting after-hours parties so you can spend Friday evenings surrounded by dots and pumpkins.
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Event
Section 8 x Welcome Merchant's Pop-Up Market
Sat, 14 Dec, 2024
Section 8, Melbourne
Section 8 is hosting a one-off pop-up Christmas market supporting businesses run by refugees and asylum seekers.
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Event
East Brunswick Village Christmas Night Market
Thu, 12 Dec, 2024
East Brunswick Village, Brunswick East
The Christmas market will feature over 70 shopping stalls, free animated short films, carrollers, a complimentary gift-wrapping station, and heaps of one-off dishes and drinks from local traders.
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Event
Cats & Dogs
Fri, 1 Nov 2024 - Sun, 20 Jul 2025
The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Melbourne
Featuring 250-plus works, NGV Australia's adorable exhibition agrees that there's no such thing as too many pet pictures.
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Event
Kisume and Society's Summer Cocktail Hour
Tue, 3 Dec 2024 - Thu, 27 Feb 2025
Kisumé, Melbourne
Head to Kisume's Chablis Bar and Society's The Lounge for $15 cocktails and discounted snacks throughout summer.
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Event
Underground: The Hidden Archive of the Warsaw Ghetto
Sun, 17 Nov 2024 - Sun, 30 Mar 2025
Melbourne Holocaust Museum, Elsternwick
This is the first time the archive has been exhibited outside of Europe.
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Event
Mary Eats Cake's Christmas Festival
Sun, 1 Dec - Sun, 22 Dec 2024
Mary Eats Cake Brunswick, Brunswick
The high tea team is serving up mulled wine spritzes, gingerbread french toast, mini pavlovas, turkey toasties and pumpkin spiced lattes throughout December.
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Event
Double Shot Maggie: Irish Live Music
Sat, 7 Dec 2024 - Sat, 4 Jan 2025
The Quiet Man Irish Pub, Kensington
A night full of singing, dancing, and laughing is in store at The Quiet Man Irish Pub
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Event
New Year's Eve in Melbourne's Southside
Tue, 31 Dec, 2024
Various Melbourne venues, Melbourne
It’s officially time to start sorting out your New Year’s Eve plans.
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Event
VAN GOGH, MONET & DEGAS 3D: LASTING IMPRESSIONS at IMAX Melbourne
Thu, 28 Nov 2024 - Fri, 31 Jan 2025
IMAX Melbourne, Carlton
See some of history's most iconic artworks come alive like never before.
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Event
Together for Lebanon Fundraiser
Sun, 8 Dec, 2024
Abla's, Carlton
Abla’s, A1 Bakery, Alimentari, Larderfresh and Linden Cook are joining forces to raise money for people in Lebanon.
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Event
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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Event
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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Event
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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Event
Spanish BBQ Fiesta on Pinchy's Balcony
Sun, 1 Dec - Sun, 22 Dec 2024
Pinchy's, Melbourne
Hit up this CBD restaurant on Sunday arvos in December for unlimited food and drinks on its sun-soaked terrace.
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Event
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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Event
Moonlight Cinema Melbourne
Fri, 29 Nov 2024 - Sun, 30 Mar 2025
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, South Yarra
Catch 'The Fall Guy', 'Gladiator II', 'The Substance' and a heap of Christmas movies under the stars in the Royal Botanic Gardens.
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Event
ALWAYS LIVE — Garage Band
Sat, 7 Dec - Sun, 8 Dec 2024
Federation Square, Melbourne
A free event shining the spotlight on Victoria's talented young musicians.
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Event
ALWAYS LIVE — Yerambooee
Sat, 7 Dec, 2024
Federation Square, Melbourne
A free communal celebration of First Nations legend and song.
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Event
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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Event
Van Gogh at The Lume
Thu, 26 Dec 2024 - Mon, 31 Mar 2025
THE LUME Melbourne, South Wharf
Sunflowers, stars and a sublime multi-sensory experience: you'll find them all at this immersive and stunning exhibition.
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Event
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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Event
Mov'In Bed Beach Cinema at The District Docklands
Fri, 6 Dec 2024 - Sun, 30 Mar 2025
The District Docklands, Docklands
Watch movies on mattresses on the sand at Docklands — 'Gladiator II', 'Wicked', 'Joker: Folie à Deux' and 'Home Alone' are on the lineup.
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Event
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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Event
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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Event
The Future & Other Fictions
Thu, 28 Nov 2024 - Sun, 27 Apr 2025
ACMI, Melbourne
From 'Blade Runner 2049' to Björk, this world-premiere exhibition at ACMI explores and celebrates futuristic storytelling.
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Event
The Fans Strike Back: A Fan Exhibition
Sat, 23 Nov 2024 - Mon, 31 Mar 2025
The District Docklands, Docklands
This 'Star Wars'-worshipping showcase is bringing one of the planet's largest private collections of replica memorabilia from the franchise to Melbourne.
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Event
The Killers: Live in Australia 2024
Thu, 12 Dec - Fri, 13 Dec 2024
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
You'll be doin' just fine when The Killers hit Melbourne to celebrate 20 years of 'Hot Fuss'.
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Event
Good Things
Fri, 6 Dec, 2024
Flemington Racecourse, Flemington
Korn, Sum 41, Violent Femmes and Billy Corgan lead the 2024 lineup at this big alternative, metal and punk music fest.
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Event
Beyond The Valley
Sat, 28 Dec 2024 - Wed, 1 Jan 2025
Barunah Plains, Hesse
See out 2024 and welcome 2025 with Fisher, Ice Spice, Tinashe, Sugababes, Natasha Bedingfield and more.
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Event
Elf: The Musical
Thu, 19 Dec - Sun, 29 Dec 2024
Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House, Sydney
The stage musical version this festive big-screen favourite is finally making its Australian premiere.
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Event
Meredith Music Festival
Fri, 6 Dec - Sun, 8 Dec 2024
Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre, Nolan Farm, Meredith
This year's massive 2024 lineup will get you dancing to Jamie xx, Waxahatchee and Genesis Owusu in regional Victoria.
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Event
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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Event
Handmade Design Market
Sun, 15 Sep and Sun, 15 Dec 2024
Coburg Town Hall, Coburg
Support local artists and designers at this neighbourhood makers market at Coburg Town Hall.
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Event
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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Event
Yayoi Kusama
Sun, 15 Dec 2024 - Mon, 21 Apr 2025
NGV International, Melbourne
Australia's biggest-ever Yayoi Kusama retrospective is coming to the NGV in Melbourne with a brand-new infinity mirror room.
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Event
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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Event
Santas Eat Free at Mr Miyagi
Tue, 17 Dec, 2024
Mr. Miyagi, Prahran
Dress up as Santa for an evening and get a free set menu and unlimited drinks for 90 minutes.
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Event
Koorie Krismas
Sat, 14 Dec, 2024
Federation Square, Melbourne
Celebrate Christmas early at Fed Square with market stalls, stellar First Nation performances and a special appearance from Koorie Klaus.
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Event
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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Event
QVM's Summer Night Market
Wed, 20 Nov, 2024
Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne
Over 100 local traders are participating in this summer's market, including 45 street food stalls and six pop-up bars.
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Event
Palm Tree Music Festival
Sun, 8 Dec, 2024
Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne
This impressive fest is returning Down Under for the second time with The Chainsmokers leading the lineup.
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Event
Portsea Hotel's Summer Music Series
Multiple single dates
Portsea Hotel, Portsea
The Presets, Jake Webb, Darley and DJ Levi will be playing waterfront gigs this summer at Portsea Hotel.
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Event
Piinpi: Contemporary Indigenous Fashion
Mon, 25 Nov 2024 - Sun, 19 Jan 2025
Melbourne Museum, Carlton
Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre at Melbourne Museum invites you into the world of First Nations fashion and textile design at its latest exhibition.
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Event
'Home Alone' in Concert
Thu, 5 Dec 2024, Fri, 6 Dec 2024 and Sat, 7 Dec 2024
Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne, Melbourne
This festive season, you can relive the 90s Christmas classic with a live orchestral score — ya filthy animals.
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Lost Paradise
Sat, 28 Dec 2024 - Wed, 1 Jan 2025
Glenworth Valley, Glenworth Valley
Fisher, Tinashe, Royel Otis and Flight Facilities doing their Decades mix are all on the lineup at this end-of-year festival.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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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.
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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.
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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.
There’s stacks of things to do in Melbourne this December, from film festivals and food pop-ups to art exhibitions and free gigs galore.
Top image: Section 8.