A short work week this week – the AFL Grand Final Eve public holiday on Friday 27 September provides a long weekend. Whether you’re into the footy or not, there’s always plenty happening around Melbourne and regional Victoria. Here’s what’s on this week
- For one day only on 24 September, little foodies can pull up a tiny boucle stool, and be treated to a taste of Melbourne’s iconic café culture in miniature format as furniture band Mocka takes over Nine Yards Cafe in Armadale.
- Score a free burrito at Zambrero on Wednesday 25 September. They’re giving away 300 at each store.
- Hawker Hall in Windsor is celebrating National Dumpling Day with three days of $1 dumplings for lunch on Wednesday 25 to Friday 27 September.
- The Melbourne Storm play the Sydney Roosters in the NRL Preliminary Finals at AAMI Park on Friday 27 September.
- The AFL’s free Footy Festival that starts in Yarra Park on Wednesday 25 September and runs until 28 September.
- The Mini Vet Clinic at Karingal Hub from 25 September to 4 October is a fun and interactive space encouraging imaginative role play where your child can lovingly take care of a pet by running through a medical checklist and recommending a best course of treatment for their furry friend – just like a real vet!
- The 2024 Melbourne Royal Show kicks off on 26 September and runs until 6 October.
- Stonnington Youth Fest is happening on 26 September in Prahran.
- The career and creative strategies of Brian Eno – one of the music industry’s great innovators – are decoded in director Gary Hustwit’s equally innovative documentary experience Eno, This is the world’s first generative cinematic documentary and, like a musical performance that’s different every night, You can catch it at ACMI from 26 September to 5 October.
- The AFL Grand Final Parade is on Friday 27 September.
- The Mount Martha South Beach Market is on Grand Final Eve, Friday 27 September.
- The Colour Terang Festival is taking place on 27 September
- Spend the weekend in Murchison to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the arrival of MM, the Murchison Meteorite on 27-28 September
- Celebrate Harvest Moon with multi-cultural food and entertainment at a free family event on Friday 27 September from 4pm – 7pm at the Dai Gum San Precinct, Bendigo.
- There’s a plant and garden fair on in Laverton on 27 September.
- Celebrate the Grand Final all long weekend at the Queen Victoria Market. On Friday 27 September there will be guest appearances from Karl Amon (Hawthorn) and Tom Liberatore (Western Bulldogs)
- The Geelong Sports Museum is throwing open its doors for a special public holiday opening on the eve of the AFL Grand Final on 27 September.
- Eastland’s Footy Fest is back on Friday 27 September. Join in their live pop-up site in Ringwood Town Square to celebrate all things footy.
- There’s an outdoor Bohemian Twilight Market at Kilmore Race Track on 27 September.
- Get ready to kick off your Grand Final weekend in style at the Sunbury Indoor Twilight Market on 27 September.
- The Seymour AFL Grand Final Eve Fun Day is on at the Seymour Sports and Aquatic Centre on 27 September.
- The AFL Grand Final is on Saturday 28 September.
- BYO picnic rug or chair to catch the AFL Grand Final on the Big Screen at Fed Square on 28 September
- The Australasian Native Orchid Society’s Spring Show is on in Mt Waverley on 28-29 September.
- There’s a massive arts, crafts and hobbies destash market on at the Italian Sports Club of Werribee on 28 September.
- The Dandenong and District Orchid Club’s Annual Orchid Show is on in Noble Park from 28-29 September.
- Join in a night filled with Japanese culture, music, food and drinks at La Di Da’s Japan Night Festival on 28 September. Get ready to experience the vibrant atmosphere of Japan along with international party music including Jpop,Kpop, international pop .
- Indulge in a variety of international cuisines while watching the AFL Grand Finale live on a large screen at the Food Festival at Lynbrook on 28 September.
- The Little Beauty Market returns to Frankston on 28 September.
- Join in the Berwick Springs Grand Final Dress Up Day on 28 September.
- The Horsham Show is on 29 September.
- The Bloomin’ Good Market pop-up market on 29 September celebrates Bendigo’s City and Region of Gastronomy reputation with local producers showcasing a variety of goods.
- Join in the “Borough by the Bay – Marine and Coastal Celebration” a vibrant, day-long event marking the start of the dolphin swim season at Queenscliff Harbour on 29 September.
- CherryHill’s first evening event, Blossom by Light, runs until 29 September where illuminated cherry blossom trees turn our Wandin East orchard into a mesmerising display of light and colour, a truly unique way to experience the beauty of our cherry blossoms.
- The annual Cherry Hill Blossom Festival returns until-29 September. This year it will beheld at the 100 acre Coldstream orchard, near the finest wineries in the Yarra Valley.
- IMAX Melbourne’s Spacetember Film Festival is back until 30 September. Gear up for a cinematic voyage through the galaxy with a range of exclusive IMAX expanded aspect ratio content and epic 3D features on the biggest screen in the Southern Hemisphere.
- The Greater Dandenong Children’s Festival runs until 1 October.
- The George Pentland Botanical Gardens in Frankston are being transformed into a magical realm of light and wonder until 6 October 2024, visitors can immerse themselves in an illuminated sculpture walk at Magic by Moonlight, featuring more than 400 light installations and 30,000 light bulbs.
- These school holidays, Chadstone is hosting a special pop-up Hello Kitty Cafe to celebrate 50 years of everyone’s favorite feline.
- Experience Disney’s Beauty and the Beast the Musical like never before as you immerse yourself in Beast’s Enchanted Garden at Eastland these school holidays until 6 October.
- Circus Royale is at Fountain Gate in Narre Warren until 13 October.
- Silvers Circus is at the Burvale Hotel in Nunawading until 13 October.
- The Fringe Flavours Night Market is home to incredible food, unique specialty shopping, and spectacular live entertainment. Partnering with Melbourne Fringe Festival, this event is happening every Wednesday night 5pm to 10pm until 16 October, at Queen Victoria Market
- Check out Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition showcasing a collection of more than 200 real-life images, unique in the way that they exude the charming and eccentric aesthetic of acclaimed film director, Wes Anderson.
- A free exhibition at ACMI celebrating the world conquering video game Untitled Goose Game – which was made locally in Victoria will run until 16 February 2025.