Picture this: a balmy summer night in Melbourne spent filling your belly and quenching your thirst from a selection of global street food stalls, carts, trucks and festival bars. If that sounds right up your alley, then mark November 20 in your calendar, because that's when the Queen Vic Market's much-loved Summer Night Market returns.
This year, more than 100 shops, stalls and bars will light up the open-air market sheds across a bumper 15-week season. Foodie highlights include the candied tanghulu fruit skewers from Swirle, gourmet meatball subs from Mr Baller, savoury Japanese-style pancakes from Kicca Okonomiyaki, lamb, chicken and halloumi-stuffed pita pockets from the Cypriot Kitchen and brownie gelato sandwiches from Lickt.
When you get thirsty, head to the Happiness is Mojito Bar for refreshing Mojitos in loads of different fruity flavours. You can also grab a froff from Brick Lane, a vino from Rewine or a Spritz from Bella Spritz.
As always, you can expect roving performers, pop-up activities (like sunset yoga!) and a rotating line-up of homegrown talent playing live music on the market's main stage. 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.
And for the month of December there'll be a whole lot of holiday cheer to soak up, with Santa and his trusty elf sidekick roaming around and posing for festive pics. Don't miss 'Snow Time', which is taking place every hour on the hour at the Christmas tree on Queen Street – with falling snow you'll feel as though you've been transported to a cosy winter wonderland.
Find out more at the Queen Victoria Summer Night Market website.