Queen Victoria Market

Mark your calendars and grab your warmest winter woolies, Melburnians: the Queen Vic Market's beloved Winter Night Market is back. From June 5 to August 28 you can spend cosy Wednesday evenings enjoying live entertainment, huddling around open fires and feasting on goodies from a selection of global street food stalls, carts, trucks and festival bars. This year, more than 35 traders will light up the open-air market sheds across a bumper 13-week season. Highlights include piping hot soup served in a bread roll by the Soup Factory, souvas by the Cypriot Kitchen, camembert croquettes by Frencheese, charred corn on the cob and Portuguese tarts by Casa Nata. When you get thirsty, warm up with sips of warm butter beer, mulled wine and ginger beer. Antagonist Spirits will once again be serving up its spiked Milo cocktail, while resident brewers Brick Lane will be pouring its amber nectars. As always, you can expect roving performers, tarot reading, the famous silent disco and a rotating line-up of homegrown talent. After sipping and snacking, be sure to explore the dozens of stalls selling locally sourced and handmade products including jewellery, art, skincare, books and homewares.  Looking for more things to do? Check out our round-up of the best things happening in Melbourne this week. Plus, these are Melbourne's best winter festivals.

When revolutionaries stormed and captured the Bastille fortress – which was used to imprison political and religious dissidents – on July 14, 1789, it was considered the start of the French Revolution and the beginning of the end for the French monarchy. That fateful day became known as Bastille Day, and celebrations are held annually all across France. If you're keen to join in on the fun, swap your beanie for a beret and head over to Queen Victoria Market on July 13 and 14.  Sheds C and D will transport you to a wintery French town square complete with vendors peddling cheeses, crêpes, Champagne and pastries (it wouldn't be a Gallic celebration without the scent of croissants in the air). While you feast, live entertainment like acrobatic performances, dancers and jazz musicians will take over the main stage.  Ticketed talks, walking tours and masterclasses will also run over the two days – and if you can't make it in person, you can still tune into some Bastille Day-themed online events. Best of all, think of it as an opportunity to practice your French language skills amongst French expats, Francophones and Francophiles – oui, oui! For more information, visit the Bastille Day French Festival website. Craving French food? Consult our guide to the best French restaurants Melbourne has to offer. Plus, here are Melbourne's best patisseries.