Things to do in Melbourne in June

There is so much to explore in Ballarat this year, with one of the major highlights being White Night Ballarat: an evening of illuminations, projections, music and interactive works.  On Saturday, June 1, put on your woolly socks and puffer jacket to watch the city of gold light up for six hours from 6pm until midnight. You’ll be greeted by almost 40 projections, more than 100 artists and performers, and two concert stages of non-stop entertainment.  There will be performances from eight-piece powerhouse Jazz Party, late-night disco-inspired Tek Tek Ensemble, three-piece rockabilly band The Rechords, and Punjabi-Australian singer and lead of psychedelic band The Bombay Royale, Parvyn. Plus, appearances by Ballarat locals like Yacht Club DJs, Sami and Lashes.  Of course, there will be stunning projections and installations from artists who mostly hail from Ballarat and its surrounds. One of White Night’s featured works will be 'Still Here' by the late Gunditjmara, Yorta Yorta and Barkindji man Josh Muir. And you won't want to miss a series of joyful projections by Deborah Klein, a Melbourne-based creative who infuses an ethereal quality into her work. Her poignant work titled ‘Decorated Women’ depicts three women masked by moths. For those interested in slow-motion and real-time video, Lisa Walker’s ‘Slow Curtain’ projection is also a must-see. Another highlight of this captivating one-night-only event will be White Night Bites, a spotlight of Ballarat’s culinary delights. Man

Choo choo! The Train of Lights is back on the tracks for 2024 and ready to captivate passengers with a magical winter journey through the Dandenong Ranges. Australia’s favourite steam train Puffing Billy will be your conductor for this two-and-a-half-hour round trip that illuminates the natural beauty of the region with thousands of dazzling lights. Departing from Lakeside Station, you’ll be immersed in a spectacle of neon colours as acclaimed lighting specialists Resolution X (White Night, Melbourne Fashion Festival) brighten up the countryside with sparkles, rainbows and hypnotic patterns. The historic train will also be adorned with stunning visual effects, which will light up the trees, tracks and passing towns along the way.  Puffing Billy will chug along the historic narrow-gauge track to Gembrook Station where guests will disembark for a 55-minute stopover. Here, you can warm up by the crackling open firepits with hot chocolate and live acoustic music, and enjoy a sausage sizzle by the Rotary Club of Emerald and District. Make your night even more magical by pre-ordering a Puffing Billy picnic box and blanket including a chef’s selection of cheese, dips, meats, crackers and marinated vegetables.  This enchanting winter journey is only on for three weeks from June 28 to July 12 and seats are limited. Tickets go on sale soon, and you can stay updated via the website. Love a good light show? Here's everything glowing and illuminated this month.

It's baaack! After two hugely popular winter seasons, Melbourne's favourite illuminated event is returning in 2024. From June 14 to August 4, take a nighttime stroll through the Royal Botanic Gardens and experience luminous pathways, lit-up tree canopies, soothing soundscapes and brand new installations. "We are thrilled to see Lightscape returning for its third year. The Gardens provide an exquisite canvas for us to create a magical world of light, nature and wonder," said David Harland, director and chief executive of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. "In 2024 we have a few surprises up our sleeve as we build on the experience to make it exhilarating for both returning and first-time visitors." For the upcoming season, you can expect a reimagined 2.2km trail accompanied by stunning lakeside reflections, large-scale illuminated sculptures and other wonders, with more than 100,000 tiny lights on display. New in 2024 is 'Submerged', an immersive work where you walk through thousands of suspended lights as the installation changes colour in response to the movement. Also making its Australian debut is 'Lily' by French artistic studio Tilt – it's a series of abstract, three-metre-tall glowing flowers that will captivate people of all ages. Most importantly, you'll also be able to grab a bite to eat and warming drinks at the Welcome Zone or along the trail. They say that Melbourne is at its best in winter and events like Lightscape, where you can rug up and join friends for a m

The Force will return to the magnificent Hamer Hall when the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) takes to the stage to present Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert. Off the back of the popular Star Wars in Concert Series, Melburnians will once again have the chance to enjoy the classic 1983 film on a huge screen, as they listen to John Williams’ renowned score brought to life with the full force of the mighty MSO.   The intergalactic event will screen the entire film from start to finish, and highlights include legendary scenes like the near-death of Luke Skywalker at Jabba the Hutt's desert fortress (which also features Princess Leia in her famous two-piece), as well as the final battle between Skywalker, Darth Vader and the Emperor. And sorry to the haters, but there will also be plenty of Ewok content to enjoy, too.  Conductor Nicholas Buc will once again lead the MSO during this spectacular sonic journey to a galaxy far, far away. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert will run across June 6-8, so we’d suggest you secure your tickets before they sell out. You can also check out the MSO's 2024 program here.

My first encounter with the viridescent power of Wicked was through the sliding door of a suburban dance studio. Face pressed against the glass, I strained to hear the optimistic refrains of ‘One Short Day’, eyes bulging and dopamine levels skyrocketing. So widespread is the pop-cultural impact of this fan favourite musical, that half of Melbourne likely has a similar memory of discovering Wicked.  This faithful revival of the bewitching blockbuster sees the show fly into Melbourne for the third time in 15 years with an abundance of pine-hued pizazz, after celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Broadway premiere at the Sydney Lyric Theatre. It’s also worth noting that the Gregory Maguire novel that forms the basis of the plot was published back in 1995. After all this time, it’s only fair to check in and ask: does Wicked remain evergreen? The costumes, choreography and sets are as slick as they come, which is exactly what’s expected from a show that’s had this many chances to get it ‘right’. This version of Wicked is not reinventing the wheel – instead it’s the cast who keep the cogs turning in a fresh way.   There’s no mistaking that these performers are magical. While Melbourne always loves to get a show before Sydney, our advantage here is that the cast has had time to fully take command of their characters – and they’re flourishing.  Courtney Monsma’s G(a)linda is slap-your-knees, let-out-a-squeal funny. She re-shapes the virtue-signalling mean girl role and makes Glinda

It’s been a long time since Adele last performed in Australia (seven years, in fact), but a returning stage show featuring all of her greatest hits will make it feel as though no time has passed at all. Starring award-winning British singer Naomi Price, Rumour Has It is a dazzling production that explores how Adele went from a young singer in London to the highest-selling recording artist of the 21st century. Blending brash wit with heartfelt tunes, it’s set to be an unmissable evening of musical excellence. Supporting Price in this career-defining show will be vocalists Rachel Everett-Jones, Luke Kennedy and Lai Utovou, along with a 20-strong live orchestra. The set list spans her entire catalogue of legendary hits, including ‘Someone Like You’, ‘Hello’, ‘Rolling In The Deep’, ‘Rumour Has It’ and ‘Skyfall’.  “The British powerhouse is one of the best-selling artists of all time and her songs hit a high note with audiences of all ages and musical tastes,” said Price. “I’m looking forward to injecting a dose of her daring and playful personality throughout the show and delivering an unforgettable experience for audiences." ​​The exclusive one-off performance will take place on June 28 at Hamer Hall. For more information and to book tickets, head to the website. Want more live music? These are the best gigs in Melbourne this month.

For most of us, Lego is a nostalgic hobby from bygone childhood years, but there are an exceptional few who took these tiny building blocks from a fun pastime to the next level. Lego artist Nathan Sawaya is one of these talented individuals who is showcasing his fascinating sculptures with a new exhibition that has to be seen to be believed.  The Art of the Brick Immersive Experience exhibition features more than 100 contemporary artworks, all crafted using more than one million Lego bricks to make large-scale, life-like creations.  After a sold-out season back in 2011, it's returning to our city as part of a huge world tour with brand new pieces, having already visited 100 cities across 24 countries. Sawaya is the only person in the world who has the double title of Lego Master Model Builder and Lego Certified Professional. Whoa.  Some of the works showcased in the exhibition include a giant version of Sawaya's most famous sculpture, 'Yellow', which stands at more than six feet tall, plus an installation with 250 kinetic Lego skulls, a piece called 'Infinity Rainbow' that features seven life-sized sculptures, the 30-foot long 'Big Swimmer', dazzling 360-degree digital projections and lots more. The Art of the Brick Immersive Experience opens on April 14 at the Melbourne Showgrounds. Tickets go on sale on March 21 at 7pm, and you can sign up for the waitlist here. Find out more about the exhibition at the website.  Looking for more things to do? Check out our guide to what's

It’s a tale as old as time, but the Australian premiere of Disney Theatrical’s Broadway blockbuster Beauty and the Beast is getting a modern makeover ahead of its run at Melbourne's Her Majesty's Theatre from June 27. The production will head to Melbourne off the back of a run at Brisbane's Lyric Theatre. The enchanting tale – which Time Out Sydney crowned five stars – will be brought to life in a reimagined production from the producers of The Lion King, Mary Poppins, Aladdin and Frozen. Audiences can expect to be bedazzled by the cutting-edge technology, costumes and Broadway-style dance numbers paired with live orchestral scores by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice.  Based on the 1991 animated Disney film, the classic romance story of Belle and her Beast will feature a stellar all-Australian cast including Brisbane's Shubshri Kandiah as Belle, Brendan Xavier as Beast and Melbourne's Rohan Browne in the role of Lumiere. Brisbane's Jackson Head will step into the role of Gaston, Cogsworth will be played by Melbourne's Gareth Jacobs and Gold Coast's Jayde Westaby will play Mrs Potts. For the full cast and creative team, visit the website here. Beauty and the Beast will be staged at Her Majesty's Theatre in June 2024. Tickets are now on sale here. Love the ol'razzle dazzle? Check out the best theatre and musicals in Melbourne this month.  

The Immigration Museum on Flinders Street is getting its first major exhibition in several years and it’s all about leaning into what makes us happy. The exhibition, called Joy, opens on Friday, March 1 and will run through until August 29, 2024. Joy features seven brand new commissioned installations from leading Victorian-based creatives, each expressing the artists’ own personal joy. You can expect an emotive adventure where colour and storytelling combine, and big happy moments that sit alongside more reflective ones. Experience the vibrant power of joy as you walk amongst room-sized interactive artworks, or contribute your own joy with the collaborative ‘share your joy’ wall. Venezuelan-born Australian artist Nadia Hernández has filled the Immigration Museum’s hallway with bold collage works, ‘future positive’ fashion designer Nixi Killick has created a ‘joy generator’ and queer artist Spencer Harrison has created a runway where you can strut your stuff. Jazz Money, a Wiradjuri poet and artist, has fused sculpture, audio and mural for a work reflecting the history of the museum site, while local artist Beci Orpin has taken over a room with a giant toy rabbit made to be hugged. Afghanistan-Australian visual artist and poet Elyas Alavi and Sher Ali have also created a large-scale mural illustrating a Persian myth.  Lastly, much-loved pop artist and designer Callum Preston has constructed a full-scale replica of a nineties video store, a joy he never thought he would miss u

Melbourne's giant beer, cider and fun festival GABS is back for 2024, so get ready to get sipping. Normally, the epic event would be held at the Royal Exhibition Building but after news that the heritage site is in need of an estimate $50 million in repairs, the beer nerds have moved their long-running project to Melbourne Showgrounds instead. Despite the new digs, the GABS brief fortunately remains the same: go on a deep dive with some of the best and most experimental local and interstate brewers on the scene right now. Of course, a few international brewers will be getting in on the action too (we see you, Kiwi cousins in hops) – but that's not even the most exciting part. We've just heard word that the world's oldest brewery, Weihenstephan, will be landing from Germany this year and they're currently brewing up special creations just for you. After nearly a thousand years, the Weihenstephan Monastery Brewery still stands atop Nährberg Hill, winning numerous prestigious awards over the years and ever conscious of its position as the oldest existing brewery in the world. Now you can try some for yourself! Pouring exclusively at GABS Festival will be Braupakt, Wheat beer, Pils and the Original Helles. And of course, the serious drawcard of GABS each year involves the roster of never brewed before, never to be seen again beers and ciders made just for the fest. In 2024, the bonkers beer festival will showcase more than 500 taps from 150 different breweries. There'll also be m