Things to do in Melbourne this weekend (Jul 26-Jul 28)

Open House Melbourne (OHM) is back, meaning it's that special time of year when we can have a peek inside some of Melbourne's most alluring buildings. But permissible prying aside, OHM serves as an important chance to reflect on the past, present and future of design and its role in binding the fabric of our dear city together. 

Taking place on Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28, this year’s OHM theme is Re/discover Your City, which invites attendees to think about the place they call home in a new light. 

For keen fashion thrifters looking for their next 'fit, the search ends here. A hive of second-hand shopping and sustainable fashion is popping up in Thornbury, as well as an inaugural southside edition in Prahran, with the return of Revamp Market.

More than 50 stalls will be selling vintage and pre-loved clothing at the market, making for an unmissable thrifting extravaganza. The northside event will be held at Welcome to Thornbury and the following market is at Clifton Street Pop-Up. In addition to the plethora of shopping there'll be DJs, food trucks and a bar, so the event truly is a one-stop shop. 

Every year, the Yarra City Council puts on a beloved music festival focussed on showcasing and supporting local artists and venues during the quieter winter season. It’s no secret that things are tough for Melburnian musicians at the moment, so this year’s festival is a great opportunity to get out and support the world-class music scene happening on our doorstep.

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. 

Fans of sneaky street art, rejoice! The acclaimed works of Banksy, the mysterious master of graffiti, are coming to Australia, and you won't even need to scour the city's laneways to see them for yourself.

The Art of Banksy: Without Limits is a blockbuster exhibition that will feature murals, sculptures, photos, mapping shows (aka images or animations projected onto irregularly shaped surfaces), installations (including an “infinity room” filled with mirrors) and a simulation of ‘Dismaland Bemusement Park’ (for those who’ve never heard of it, it’s a gritty, dark theme park that was created by Banksy in 2015).

After a popular national tour, Elvis: A Musical Revolution will return to Melbourne for an encore season this winter. Mainstage and television star Rob Mallett will continue to light up the stage as Elvis Presley, with other cast members soon to be announced. It all kicks off back at the Athenaeum Theatre for a limited season from July 27 until August 11, and tickets are already on sale over here.

It's the news we've all been waiting for: after being cut short last year due to flooding, the spectacular Moama Lights event is returning to the Echuca-Moama region bigger and brighter than ever.

Running from July 5-28 (across Thursday to Sunday nights), Moama Lights is an immersive sound and light trail comprising state-of-the-art installations, projections and cutting-edge moving light technology. 

Bendigo is one of 350 cities around the world, and six in Australia, that has been recognised by UNESCO as a Creative City. A Creative City might earn its title for one of seven reasons, but Bendigo takes the cake (quite literally) for the gastronomy field. The Ignite festival is a showcase of just what this regional city has to offer, and boy, is it a doozy. 

We’re talking wineries, distilleries, pubs, farms, and restaurants. You name any type of culinary venue and it’s bound to be in the line-up. Events range from long lunches and farmers markets to behind the scenes talks with makers and growers. 

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.

For the First Peoples of so-called Australia, the term ‘Country’ describes much more than simply a place or nation. Instead, it describes a deep connection to land, animals and plants, ancestors, language, culture and the wisdom of the land itself. Relationships to Country are individual and dinstinct, but always grounded in mutual respect.

A new installation within Melbourne Museum called Biik Milboo Dhumba – Country is Always Talking encourages visitors to consider what it means to listen to Country.