The Best Free Things to Do in Melbourne This Week
Zero dollar shenanigans await.
Melbourne may be one of the most expensive cities in the world, but that doesn't mean folks don't put things on for free. If you know where to look (i.e. right here), you'll find free art, free classes. free parties — and sometimes even free wine. So swallow your disdain for crowds and curb your complaints about people who only go to exhibition openings for the complimentary drinks and get amongst these events, which you can attend gloriously cash-free.
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Event
Radiant Pavilion 2017
Saturday, August 26 - Sunday, September 3, 2017
Various locations across Melbourne, Melbourne
So much more than a jewellery market, this biannual event covers object installations, exhibitions, workshops and performances.
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Event
Patient Wolf Open Day
Saturday, August 26, 2017
Patient Wolf Distilling Co., Southbank
Try the locally hand-crafted, small batch gin, straight from the source.
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Event
Brinner Festival
Friday, August 25, 2017
206 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Eat cheese toasties, egg and bacon tacos and deep-fried avocado rolls for dinner.
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Event
Rutherglen in the City
Friday, August 25 - Sunday, August 27, 2017
Driver Lane, Melbourne
A pop-up CBD cellar door offering free tastings of Victorian wines.
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Event
West Projections Festival 2017
Friday, August 11 - Sunday, August 27, 2017
Various Footscray venues, Footscray
Footscray's own three-week projection fest.
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Event
Border Lines
Friday, August 18 - Thursday, August 24, 2017
Domain House, Melbourne
An exhibition of works from painters and artists from three different Indigenous art communities.
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Event
Hot Sauce and Chilli Festival
Saturday, August 26 - Sunday, August 27, 2017
Welcome to Thornbury, Northcote
Two days of hot sauce, chilli shots and Melbourne's spiciest foods.
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Event
Melbourne Writers Festival 2017
Friday, August 25 - Sunday, September 3, 2017
Various locations across Melbourne, Melbourne
This year's fest will be filled with award-winning authors, published politicians, noted journalists and Harry Potter.
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Event
Live N Local Festival 2017
Saturday, August 19 - Saturday, August 26, 2017
Various locations across the City of Port Phillip, St Kilda
The City of Port Phillip's free winter festival is back.
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Event
Joshua Miels: Inner Thoughts
Monday, August 7 - Saturday, September 2, 2017
Metro Gallery, Armadale
Large-scale portraits with great depth — literally and figuratively.
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Event
Future Eaters
Saturday, July 22 - Saturday, September 23, 2017
Monash University Museum of Art, Caulfield East
A group exhibition exploring how technology is impacting and informing sculptural art practice.
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Event
Greater Together
Saturday, July 8 - Sunday, September 17, 2017
ACCA, Melbourne
A utopian exhibition looking at how we might find solidarity in both the art world and broader society (and how to survive if disaster strikes).
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Event
Madame Brussels Lane European Night Market 2017
Friday, August 4, 2017
Madame Brussels Lane, Melbourne
Embrace winter with European comfort food and mugs of warm mulled wine.
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Event
Due West Immersive Arts Festival
Thursday, August 10 - Sunday, August 27, 2017
Various venues across Melbourne's west, Melbourne
18 days of immersive performances, music and parties across Melbourne's western suburbs.
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Event
David Thomas: Colouring Impermanence
Friday, July 28 - Saturday, September 23, 2017
RMIT Design Hub, Melbourne
Experience Thomas' paintings and practice with a collection of his works and a free micro-course on teaching fine art.
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Event
Octopus 17: Forever Transformed
Friday, July 28 - Saturday, September 9, 2017
Gertrude Contemporary, Preston South
Gertrude Contemporary's first show in their new Preston home explores resilience, optimism and perseverance.
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Event
The Pool: Architecture, Culture and Identity
Friday, August 18, 2017 - Thursday, February 1, 2018
The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Melbourne
A new exhibition exploring the pool's cultural significance in Australia.
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Event
Defying Empire: NGA's 3rd National Indigenous Art Triennial
Friday, May 26 - Sunday, September 10, 2017
National Gallery of Australia, Parkes
Road trip to NGA for this major exhibition featuring 30 established, mid-career and emerging Indigenous artists exploring themes of identity, racism, displacement and country.
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Event
Code Breakers: Women in Games
Tuesday, July 25 - Sunday, November 5, 2017
ACMI, Melbourne
Experience the games created by top local game designers (who all happen to be female).
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Event
Every Brilliant Eye: Australian Art of the 1990s
Friday, June 2 - Sunday, October 1, 2017
The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Melbourne
Celebrate Australia in the '90s thanks to a room dedicated to club culture and a showcase of grunge.
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Event
The Creators Market
Saturday, February 25, 2017, Saturday, May 27, 2017, Saturday, August 26, 2017 and Saturday, November 18, 2017
Prahran Town Hall, Prahran
A quarterly market selling artisan wares from local creatives.