Royal Exhibition Building & Carlton Gardens

The most paw-sitively meow-nificent thing has happened: the animal-lovers from the Dog Lovers Show are bringing back the Cat Lovers Show, set to hit the Royal Exhibition Centre on April 30 and May 1 2022. For cat owners, the cat show will be the purr-fect opportunity to meet fellow crazy cat people, and for aspiring cat owners, the event will be a great chance to live vicariously through those lucky enough to have a furry pal in their lives.  One of the main objectives of the show will be to raise awareness for cat rescue and to work closely with shelters across the country to drive adoptions and increase education about responsible cat ownership. Punters will be able to meet and greet cats and kittens at the Breed Showcase, where over 30 different feline breeds will be on show, meaning you have the opportunity to meet and learn more about lifestyle requirements, temperament and characteristics of each cat. Your day will be made at the Pat-a-Cat zone, where you can get up close with felines of all shapes, sizes and breeds. The Black Hawk Colosseum stage will showcase cats at their most entertaining – think skateboarding felines and talented jumping cats – and you can learn all about cat adoption and maybe find a fur-ever friend to take home at the Cat Adoption Zone. The Royal Canin Stage and will be hosting a number of high profile guests (in previous years Dr Katrina Warren, Dr Chris Brown, Kelly Gill, Rose Horton and the new Bondi Vet Dr Danni Dusek has been featured).  Yo

This May, some of Melbourne's finest vegan businesses are coming together under one roof for the Big Vegan Market. Head over to the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton on the weekend of May 7 and 8 to explore stalls run by more than 200 vendors.  The full line-up has not been confirmed yet, but so far you can expect tasty vegan eats including shawarma from Hamsa Hummus Bar, juicy dumplings from Pierogi Pierogi and wood-fired pizzas by Red Sparrow Pizza. You'll also be able to pick up vegan and cruelty-free products like make-up, clothes, candles and more. The market is run by Melbourne Vegan Eats, an Instagram account that shares vegan food around Melbourne. Over the years, it has become a valuable resource for plant-based eaters to find the best feeds around town. As the vegan scene in Melbourne explodes, gone are the days of settling for a basket of chips or a wilted side salad. The event will run from 10am to 6pm each day, and entry is $5 for adults and free for children aged 12 or under. Businesses that are keen on having a stall can apply by sending an email to bigveganmarket.com.au.