- Join Bayside Council at Dendy Park in Brighton East for an all-ages evening of your favourite festive tunes at Bayside Christmas Carols in the Park on Tuesday 9 December 2025.
- The annual Carols by Candlelight at Mactier Gardens is happening in Tatura on 10 December.
- Marvel Stadium is set to draw big crowds this December as Stadium Square transforms into The North Pole featuring Pixar Putt, creating a major new Christmas destination for families and holiday visitors. The free live site runs from 11 to 23 December.
- London’s Victoria and Albert Museum’s acclaimed exhibition DIVA makes its Australian debut at the new Australian Museum of Performing Arts from 11 December to 26 April 2026. It is spectacular showcase of more than 250 objects, including 60 showstopping costumes, jewellery, photography, art and music and explores explores the evolution of the term “diva” — from 19th-century opera stars to today’s global pop icons.
- The Northcote Night Market is on 11 December.
- Coburg Night Market is back – transforming Bridges Reserve on Bell Street into a vibrant hub of music, food and community from Thursday 11 to Saturday 13 December 2025.
- Sing your way into the festive season with the annual Carols in the Park event at Burnley Park in Burnley on 11 December
- The Phillip Island Carols by the Bay will be held on the Cowes foreshore on 11 December
- Lakes Entrance Foreshore Summer Carnival is on 12 December to 1 January.
- Explore and wander through Melbourne’s Ultimate Indoor LEGO Playground kid-free at the LegoLand Discovery Centre’s Adult Night in Chadstone on 12 December.
- Monash Council is hosting a mega clothes swap for kids just in time for summer: a free event where people can exchange quality pre-loved clothing. It’s on 12 December at the Clayton Library.
- Lucy Durack will take centre stage at Manningham’s Carols by Candlelight this year, bringing star power to the annual community celebration returning to Ruffey Lake Park in East Doncaster on Friday 12 December.
- The City of Whittlesea is set to sparkle once again with festive spirit as Carols by Candlelight returns to the Civic Centre Lawns in South Morang on Friday 12 December.
- The Twilight Christmas Market in Werribee City Centre is on 12 December.
- Hume City Council’s Carols by Candlelight in Westmeadows Reserve is on 12 December.
- A ceremonial exchange will officially commence Victoria’s Treaty Agreement at a public event at Federation Square on Friday, 12 December 2025. Head along and help celebrate the shared journey to Treaty and over 60,000 years of culture, song, dance and community.
- The Barkly Square Christmas Market in Ballarat is on 12 December
- Community Carols by Candlelight will be held on the Civic Green in Warrnambool on 12 December
- Come together with the Hamilton community on 12 December to celebrate the joy and spirit of Christmas in the beautiful setting of the Hamilton Botanic Gardens
- The Merry Morwell Festival on 12 December promises a night of festive fun for the whole family.
- The Swan Hill Psychic Lifestyle Market is on 13 December.
- The Inverloch Community Carols are on 13 December.
- The Piangil Community Christmas Party is on 13 December
- The Mildura Carols by Candlelight will be held at Nowingi Place on 13 December
- The 2025 community Christmas and Carols will be in the Park at Old Gippstown in Moe on 13 December.
- A psychedelic wave of music history is set to wash over Lilydale as Enjoy This Trip: The Art of Music Posters arrives at Yarra Ranges Regional Museum from 13 December until 22 February. Drawn from the National Gallery of Australia’s remarkable collection of Australian and international posters, the exhibition brings the bold colour, electric energy and boundary-pushing creativity of the 1960s to 1980s into sharp focus.
- Christmas at the Lakes at Breezewater Reserve in Sanctuary Lakes will provide a day of low-cost entertainment to residents and families, featuring Christmas carols and local talent performing on stage on 13 December.
- Wyndham Carols by Candlelight will be held on the Great Lawn of the Werribee Mansion on 13 December.
- Banyule Carols by Candlelight will be held on 13 December 2025 at Greensborough War Memorial Park.
- Fresh from dazzling audiences in Cinderella and Sunset Boulevard, Australia’s “Queen of Carols,” Silvie Paladino, will bring Christmas joy and grace the stage at Cruden Farm – one of Victoria’s most loved green spaces, on 13 December.
- The Christmas Festival of Lights & Joy is a family celebration of the festive season, showcasing cultural diversity and community spirit in Footscray on 13 December .
- Enjoy an evening of entertainment, sing-a-longs and festivities at Glen Eira City Council’s Carols in the Park in Bentleigh on 13 December.
- Experience the magic of the season on Saturday 13 December at the Whitehorse Carols in Nunawading.
- The Mornington Christmas Carols are on Saturday 13 December
- Carols at Rupertswood in Sunbury is on 13 December
- The BIG Summer Daze Market is coming to Seaworks, Williamstown on Saturday 13 December. This free family festival will transform Melbourne’s historic seaport into a vibrant marketplace filled with community spirit, local creativity, and plenty of summer sunshine.
- Carols in the Park in North Balwyn is on 13 December
- Carols by Queerlight returns to St Kilda Town Hall for 2025 as the Melbourne Rainbow Band presents a fabulous night of celebration and festive entertainment on 13 December.
- Celebrate creativity, community, and colour at the vibrant Melbourne Mellow Art Market event at Melbourne Showgrounds on 13-14 December.
- The Belgrave pre-Christmas Record Fair is on at Sooki Lounge on 13 December.
- The Knox Carols are on at Wally Tew Reserve in Ferntree Gully on 13 December.
- The Boho Luxe Market returns to Fed Square on 14 December.
- Big Day Out for Dogs is back for 2025 in Skye on 14 December
- Celebrate Christmas with your loved ones in the heart of a traditional Victorian-era Christmas at Como House’s Family Festive Day on 14 December.
- Grace Park Carols presents Carols at Hawthorn Arts Centre on 14 December
- The Evelyn Hotel in Fitzroy is hosting a record fair on 14 December.
- The Melbourne Stars Family Day returns to Casey Fields on Sunday 14 December from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
- The Yarra Valley Horse Show is on in Wesburn on 14 December.
- Axedale Christmas Carols are on Sunday December 14 at Axedale Park
- Marong Christmas Carols are on Sunday December 14 at Malone Park Recreation Reserve
- Eaglehawk Christmas Carols are on Sunday December 14 at Canterbury Park Gardens
- The Grantville Christmas Carols and market are on 14 December.
- The Wonthaggi Community Carols are on 14 December.
- Wodonga Carols by Candlelight is celebrating its 50th year on Sunday 14 December
- Experience the thrill of driving on the iconic Winton Motor Raceway, the same circuit where Supercars compete. The Winton Fun Day on 14 December offers the perfect opportunity to test your skills on this legendary track in a relaxed, welcoming environment.
- 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 18 December.
- Swan Hill’s Town Hall is being transformed into an interactive Christmas wonderland until 18 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.
- Back by popular demand, Melbourne’s Christmas Wonderland will once again transform Caulfield Racecourse into a festive spectacular until 24 December 2025. The immersive three-hour experience has become a family favourite, bringing every sparkle, carol and jingle to life under The Grand Big Top.
- 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 24 December.
- Head to Southbank Promenade outside Crown to catch the dazzling Christmas show featuring water fountains, lasers, light projections and a festive soundtrack curated by renowned DJ Grant Smillie until 25 December
- Abbotsford Convent’s beloved Sunset Cinema returns to the Heritage Gardens this summer; offering open-air films for the whole family until 4 January.
- Geelong’s Floating Christmas Tree sound and light show runs until 7 January with a six-minute show every 15 minutes nightly between 8.30pm-midnight.
- Step inside Melbourne’s iconic 1847 house, and experience the warmth and wonder of a Victorian-era Christmas at Como House South Yarra until 11 January.
- Melbourne’s most beloved festive tradition returns this year bigger, brighter and more playful than ever, as Myer marks the 70th anniversary of its iconic Christmas Windows with a spectacular collaboration with the LEGO Group – on display daily until 11 January.
- From the runways of Paris to the NGV … Australian fashion legend Martin Grant returns home to Melbourne with the biggest exhibition of his career. Studded with his signature silhouettes and timeless tailoring, this glittering retrospective is not to be missed. Catch it until 26 January 2025 at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Fed Square.
- LEGO Star Wars: The Exhibition is making its galaxy-first debut at Melbourne Museum until 26 January 2026. This world-first exhibition brings two of the world’s most beloved brands together with renowned LEGO Certified Professional Ryan ‘Brickman’ McNaught at the controls.
- A thousand years of mystery, craftsmanship, and cultural connection come to life this winter as Treasures of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard at Melbourne Museum until 26 January.
- Get ready to tinker, build, and innovate! Scienceworks is launching its newest hands-on exhibition, Tinkertown, until 7 February 2026, promising to inspire the next generation of engineers, designers, and creators.
- The Koorie Art Show at Koorie Heritage Trust runs til 22 February and is dedicated to showcasing the work of Koorie and Victorian-based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists through a statewide call for entries.
- Melbourne’s original and longest-running night market is back, as the Queen Victoria Market prepares to celebrate 25 years of summer evenings filled with sizzling street food, live music and twilight shopping. The Summer Night Market runs weekly until 11 March 2026 (excluding 24 and 31 December).
- Camouflage is an exhibition running at The Shrine until March 2026. See how nature has inspired military disguise—from animal patterns to clever tricks of deception. Explore real camouflage uniforms, historical objects, and rotating artworks by well-known artists. Follow the evolution of camouflage from the First World War to today and learn how it reflects changing military strategies, culture, and creativity.
- Melbourne’s much-loved Moonlight Cinema will mark its 30th birthday this summer with a program shaped entirely by audiences at the Royal Botanic Gardens until Sunday 5 April 2026.
- Melbourne will host the first Asia-Pacific edition of the award-winning Formula 1 Exhibition, offering fans an immersive journey through the sport’s past, present and future. Running until 19 April 2026 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the exhibition arrives just ahead of the F1 season opener at Albert Park.
- The National Gallery of Victoria’ its’s summer blockbuster event – Westwood | Kawakubo – is a world-exclusive exhibition celebrating two of fashion’s most revolutionary designers. Running until 19 April 2026, the exhibition spotlights the boundary-pushing work of Vivienne Westwood and Rei Kawakubo across five decades of radical design.
- Visit Hanging Rock Winery to experience the Art in the Vines Sculpture Exhibition until 30 April 2026 and wander a trail of discovery, glass-in-hand, through this extraordinary exhibition of contemporary outdoor sculpture.
- Running until May 2026 at the Shrine of Remembrance, the Her Story exhibition shines a light on the experiences of female Victorian veterans. Created by photographer Carla Edwards, the exhibition combines portraits and interviews that explore the lives of women who served across generations.
- The National Gallery of Victoria will be transformed into a kaleidoscope of colour, creativity and movement with Let’s Party! Fashion for Kids: Designed by Danielle Brustman, a free interactive exhibition opening at NGV International from until 3 May 2026.
- Melbourne’s love affair with gaming is set to reach new heights at ACMI with Game Worlds – a massive interactive exhibition that plunges visitors into 30 iconic videogame universes, with 20 fully playable experiences. Running until 3 July 2026, this deep dive into gaming culture promises to be a must-see for casual players and hardcore fans alike.
- Marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, Eucalypts of Hodogaya at the Shrine explores the remarkable collaboration that created the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Yokohama where more than 1,500 Commonwealth soldiers, including Australians, are buried in a garden blending Western and Japanese traditions. It runs until August 2026.
What’s on in Melbourne and regional Victoria this week: 8-14 December 2025
By Melbourning
