- Family Christmas Carols at Central Park in Malvern East on 9 December with Casey Bennetto as Musical Director and featuring Alinta Chidzey, Kiran Rajasingam, Geraldine Quinn and more.
- Garden lovers can enjoy a twilight tour of the Government House gardens on 9 December.
- The Bridge Mall in Ballarat will come alive with holiday cheer through a 12 Days of Christmas celebration, featuring themed activities and performances from 9-24 December.
- Don’t miss the chance to skate alongside Santa himself at the O’Brien Icehouse in Docklands from 9-26 December.
- The Bayside Council’s annual Carols in the Park will be held at Dendy Park, Brighton, on Tuesday 10 December.
- The Cowes Carols by the Bay on Philip Island is on Tuesday 10 December
- Carols in the Park are back at the Edinburgh Gardens in Fitzroy North on Wednesday 11 December
- Welcome to Brunswick is throwing a Locals Christmas Party on 11 December.
- Melbourne’s iconic Rialto transforms into a festive wonderland for its two-day Christmas Market on Wednesday, 11 December, and Thursday, 12 December 2024.
- The Maffra Christmas Festival on 11 December is the perfect chance to get the family together before the big Christmas Day to enjoy a night of fun and frivolity.
- Tatura’s annual Carols by Candlelight event is on 11 December
- The Merry Morwell Festival on 12 December celebrates the holiday season with music, food, and games for all ages.
- The Shepparton Animal Shelter is holding a cat adoption day on Thursday 12 December.
- Carols by the Bay is on at the Altona Sports Club on Thursday 12 December
- The Christmas Night Market in East Brunswick Village is on 12 December
- As 774 ABC Radio Melbourne farewells Sammy J they are hosting a final party all Breakfast listeners are invited at the Melbourne Museum Plaza on Thursday 12 December.
- Manningham Carols by Candlelight is on Friday 13 December at Ruffey Lake Park in Doncaster
- Coburg Night Market returns this year from Friday 13 December to Sunday 15 December once again taking over the stunning Bridges Reserve on Bell Street.
- Jingle those bells at Mont De Lancey Homestead’s Twilight Christmas Market in Wandin North on 13 December.
- The Emerald Carols by the Lake is taking place on 13 December.
- The Monash University Change Day expo on 13 December is the place to get all the answers. From finding out how to change your VTAC course preferences to exploring study options based on your ATAR score.
- The City of Whittlesea’s Carols by Candlelight event is on in South Morang on 13 December.
- The Yarrawonga Rodeo is on 13 December
- The Hamilton Carols by Candlelight is on Friday 13 December
- The Leongatha Community Carols featuring Santa, fireworks and food trucks are on 13 December
- The Heyfield Christmas Carols are on 13 December.
- Mooroopna Carols in the Park is on 14 December
- The 2024 Inverloch Community Christmas Carols are on 14 December
- The Echuca Twilight Christmas Market is on 14 December
- Enjoy a special evening experience at Geelong’s magical Carousel. Ride the horses, participate in craft and enjoy the Christmas atmosphere from 14-21 December.
- The Lara Carols at Pirra Homestead are on 14 December
- The Picadilly Christmas Market in Geelong is on 14 December
- The Bairnsdale Christmas Parade is on 14 December
- The Welshpool Lawn Mower Race Day is on 14 December
- The 75th Mildura Carols By Candlelight will be held at Nowingi Place on 14 December
- The Avanel Annual Christmas Twilight Market is on 14 December
- Get ready for an unforgettable day featuring life-size sand sculptures, free pictures with Santa, sand workshops for kids and a delicious BBQ for everyone at KidsTown in Mooroopna on 14 December
- The Maryborough Community Bank Carols are on 14 December
- The Mellow Out Market is on in Hepburn Springs on 14 December
- The Renegades’ Family Day is back, bringing fun, excitement, and plenty of cricket action to Steampacket Gardens in Geelong on Saturday, 14 December.
- Rebecchi’s presents The Geelong Coffee Grand Prix on 14 December– a day of ultimate coffee experience! Whether you’re a home brewer, coffee enthusiast, or barista – there’s something for everyone.
- The 2024 Melbourne Oddities and Curiosities Expo for lovers of the strange, unusual and bizarre is on at the Melbourne Showgrounds on 14-15 December.
- The Park Orchards Christmas Market is on Saturday 14 December
- Greensborough’s much loved Carols By Candlelight returns to the Greensborough War Memorial Park on 14 December
- Carols in the Park returns to Bentleigh’s Hodgson Reserve on 14 December with a jam-packed line-up!
- Carols on the Mountain in Sasafras is on 14 December
- Koorie Klaus is returning to town! His special appearance at the Koorie Heritage Trust’s annual Koorie Krismas on 14 December will bring the magic of the festive season to life as part of a fun-filled family day with free live music, DJs, and dance performances.
- Join in a festive evening of carols and family entertainment at Knox Carols in Ferntree Gully on 14 December.
- Celebrate the joy of Christmas at Victoria Chorale’s much-loved concert in the magnificent setting of St Paul’s Cathedral on 14 December.
- The Northcote Social Club’s Christmas Garage Sale is on 14 December
- The Macleod Village Christmas Fair and Market is on 14 December
- Get ready for a day of thrill and delight at the Morris Moor Carnival Spectacular in Moorabbin Saturday 14 December from 3pm to 8pm. Join the fun with rides and games that bring joy to everyone.
- Pack a picnic and bring a rug to the community Christmas Picnic at Homestead Run Reserve in Seabrook on 14 December.
- The Point Cook Pop Up Park Carols in the Park event is on 14 December
- The Warrandyte Community Carols are on 14 December
- The Christmas edition of the Lost Woods Market in Emerald is on 14 December
- The Bacchus Marsh Christmas Festival is turning 10 this year and will be held on 14 December
- Enter Antopia at Melbourne Museum where you shrink down to the size of ants to experience a day in the life of an ant colony. Discover a complex and fascinating superorganism in this immersive, interactive experience that digitally reinterprets a world of secrets we cannot see. Opens 14 December 2024 and runs until 10 March 2025.
- Join in a day of joy and merriment at Elsternwick Village’s Family Fun Day on Glen Huntly Road on Saturday 14 December
- The Melton Carols by Candlelight is on in Hannah Watts Park on 14 December
- St Albans Town Centre Christmas celebrations are on 14 December
- Kick off the festive season with a celebration of local music, entertainment and Makers Market in the gorgeous gardens of Allwood Neighbourhood House in Hurstbridge on 14 December.
- Soak up the beautiful sunset and enjoy the festive cheer with your family at the Yarraville Carols in the Gardens on 14 December.
- The Newport Carols on the Green is. happening on 14 December.
- Head along to the banks of the National Water Sport Centre in Carrum for the free annual Christmas ski show on 15 December and enjoy an action packed show, eat at the food trucks, meet Santa and more.
- Melbourne Collectors Market Christmas Edition is on in Reservoir on 15 December.
- Visit a traditional German Christmas Market in the middle of Melbourne until 15 December at the German Lutheran Trinity Church in East Melbourne.
- The Conscious Shopping and Handmade Design Market is heading to the Coburg Town Hall on 15 December. Market goers can shop with confidence and explore the very best in locally, handmade products and enjoy creative workshops.
- The Light Up Upwey Picnic in the Park is on 15 December
- The Melbourne French Wine Festival is on at Mission to Seafarers in Docklands on 15 December.
- Experience the magic of the season at the Festive Fun Day in Werribee City Centre on Sunday 15 December and enjoy a day packed with festive cheer as you shop, dine, and play locally.
- The District Makers Market’s special Christmas edition is on 15 December.
- The Flowerdale Christmas Market is on 15 December.
- Carols at Como Park in South Yarra on 15 December hosted by Lucy Durack and featuring Gatesy (Steven Gates), Silvie Paladino, South of the River Choir with Musical Director Casey Bennetto.
- Enjoy a picnic, sing your favourite Christmas carols along with the band, and watch a pageant of the first Christmas at Cruden Farm on 15 December
- The Murchison Christmas Carols and Market are on 15 December
- The Geelong Dog Lovers Christmas Market is on at Little Creatures Brewery on 15 December
- The Highton Carols in the Park is on 15 December
- The Northern Carols are on in Corio Community Park on 15 December
- The Wonthaggi Community Carols event is on 15 December
- Marong Christmas Carols are on 15 December at Malone Park Recreation Reserve
- Bizarre Bazaar – Dunkeld’s Christmas Market – is on 15 December
- The NGV’s blockbuster Yayoi Kusama exhibition opens 15 December and runs until 21 April and includes many works never-before-seen by local audiences and is the largest ever exhibition of the artist’s work in Australia.
- Find the perfect Christmas gift for family and friends, buy traditional Scandinavian Christmas decorations, handicrafts, food, lollies and much more at the Swedish Church’s indoor Christmas market in Toorak until 19 December.
- Swan Hill Town Hall Christmas Wonderland 2024 runs until 20 December.
- fortyfivedownstairs in Flinders Lane is once again hosting its community-sourced, small works exhibition, Small until 21 December. All the submitted artworks are no larger than 20 x 20cm.
- Grab the popcorn and enjoy a series of festive films at the stunning Capitol Theatre, with a mix of family favourites and cult classics until 22 December.
- The TMNT: Heroes in a Half Shell Exhibition is an immersive experience that boasts five individual galleries that take visitors on a journey through the rich history of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. It’s on at District Docklands until Sunday 22 December.
- Experience the magic of the holiday season at Santa’s Festival at the District Docklands, where joy and wonder come to life for the whole family until 22 December.
- The Nth Pole a family friendly experience to enjoy this December, with Stadium Square at Marvel Stadium transformed into a magical holiday event featuring Melbourne’s only Christmas themed 360° cinema, a giant 9-metre Christmas tree of Marvel Heroes, 18 AFL club-themed Christmas trees, Santa photography with AFL club colours and more until 23 December.
- The Malvern East Christmas Festival will feature roving performers, Santa and friends, huge giveaways, activities and workshops until 24 December.
- Arthurs Seat Eagle provides a unique setting for visitors to enjoy festive activities, events, and visits from Santa with a program of Christmas events until 24 December.
- Melbourne’s Christmas Wonderland is set to captivate the hearts of visitors once again, offering an enchanting 3 hour experience like no other when it takes over Caulfield Racecourse until 24 December.
- Enjoy festive thrills on the banks of the Birrarung at the Christmas Carnival from 6-24 December.
- Christmas comes to life in the city with the iconic 17.5 metre tree at Federation Square from until 25 December. Experience the spectacular light and sound shows, have a swing on a giant light-up bell and soak up the festive atmosphere before discovering everything the city has to offer at Christmas – part of the City of Melbourne’s 2024 Christmas Festival.
- The Crown Christmas River Show is on until 25 December at Southbank Promenade outside Crown featuring water fountains, lasers, light projections and a festive soundtrack. Shows will run every 15 minutes each night part of the City of Melbourne’s 2024 Christmas Festival.
- Take a whirl on the illuminated swings or watch the Christmas tree light up as you play on the see-saw at a festive pop-up at Queensbridge Square until 25 December.
- Until 27 December, Holiday Bricktacular will be on at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in Chadstone with holiday-themed workshops, thrilling rides, a cozy soft play area, and hot chocolates alongside a holiday-inspired 4D movie.
- To mark the bicentenary of the death of Lord Byron, Melbourne’s Hellenic Museum has premiered The Spirit of Byron: Philhellenism and the Greek War of Independence, an original exhibition exploring Greece’s fight for freedom and Lord Byron’s legacy through a curated selection of works on paper from The Robertson Collection. Showing daily until January 2025.
- The Geelong Floating Christmas Tree Sound and Light Shows are staged nightly from 8.30pm until 7 January.
- The 69th Myer Christmas Windows and Christmas at the Crocoseum activation featuring the Irwin family are at 314–336 Bourke St Melbourne until Saturday 7 January 2025.
- Step back in time and experience the magic of a traditional 1880s Christmas at Como House in South Yarra. Wander through the beautifully decorated rooms, each brimming with festive charm, and immerse yourself in the Christmas preparations of a grand 1880s household until 8 January
- Gather your team for a two-hour adventure of pitch-black challenges and vibrant sensory workshops that push the limits of your five senses at SENSAS in South Yarra until 30 January.
- The Koorie Art Show at Koorie Heritage Trust runs til 23 February andi s dedicated to showcasing the work of Koorie and Victorian-based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists through a statewide call for entries.
- The Museum Of Desire is Melbourne’s new must-visit experience! Discover 20+ attractions celebrating all things desire, love and pleasure. Daring, fun, and a little bit cheeky — it’s totally your type. Until 28 February in Collingwood.
- See the magic of Christmas and fairy tales brought to life in 3.3 million lights over 1000 dazzling light installations and displays, with theme park rides, Santa, and a spectacular drone lights show at Adventure Park Geelong’s Annual Christmas Festival of Lights until 25 January.
- The world’s largest galaxy collection of Star Wars fan items awaits at The District Docklands! Immerse yourself in the saga’s universe at The Fans Strike Back with an amazing setup and hundreds of official items including photos, posters, costumes, figures, and models, until 25 January.
- A new installation at Scienceworks called “Message in A Bottle” runs until 27 January 2025 featuring messages from Victorian primary students inside 320 recycled bottles that highlight the importance of recycling. and learn more about the process of recycling containers returned through Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme.
- A new installation at Scienceworks called “Message in A Bottle” runs until 27 January 2025 featuring messages from Victorian primary students inside 320 recycled bottles that highlight the importance of recycling. and learn more about the process of recycling containers returned through Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme.
- The St Kilda Affordable Art Show runs until 1 February and not only provides a forum for new and emerging artists but it allows the public to invest in some diverse affordable art.
- Medieval to Metal: The Art and Evolution of the Guitar makes its way to the Art Gallery of Ballarat until 2 February 2025. In this Australian exclusive, experience 40 guitars on loan from the National Guitar Museum (USA), alongside more than 100 spectacular works of art,
- CLAW MONEY WORLD – a world-exclusive exhibition charting the career of trailblazing artist Claudia Gold is on at the Warrnambool Art Gallery until 6 March.
- Get ready for unforgettable summer evenings when the Summer Night Market returns to Queen Victoria Market until 12 March 2025 (excluding 25 December and 1 January).
- On display for the first time outside of Europe, Underground: The Hidden Archive of the Warsaw Ghetto at the Melbourne Holocaust Museum (MHM) until 30 March with rare artefacts from the hidden archive of the Warsaw Ghetto.
- Moonlight Cinema is back at Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens with a stellar line-up of some of 2024’s best releases, plus two weeks of classic ‘Christmas Favourites’ until March 2025.
- Immerse yourself in the future worlds of screen culture. The Future & Other Fictions showcases the people and artworks imagining bright and bold futures through film, videogames, contemporary art and more at ACMI until 27 April.
- Hanging Rock Winery’s Art in the Vines Sculpture Exhibition is an opportunity wander a trail of discovery, glass-in-hand, through an extraordinary exhibition of contemporary outdoor sculpture, until 30 April 2025.
- From cattle dogs to lap dogs, divine felines to the black cats of superstition a new exhibition coming to the National Gallery of Victoria called Cats & Dogs, will explore humanity’s deep connection to the beloved companion animals through more than 250 works of art and design. Its on display from until 20 July 2025 at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Fed Square.
- Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition is a new immersive exhibition that relives the spectacular history of the Notre-Dame de Paris in an augmented takeover of the Long Room at the Immigration Museum until 27 April.
What’s on in Melbourne and regional Victoria this week: 9-15 December 2024
By Melbourning
