Things to do in Melbourne this weekend

The women's league of the AFL is back for a third season in 2019. The competition will begin on Friday, February 2 with each team playing seven matches throughout the home-and-away season. Entry to all matches throughout the AFLW season is free but get in early as stadiums tend to fill up quickly.  Two new Victorian teams, Geelong and North Melbourne, have been added after the success of AFLW’s previous seasons bringing the total number of teams to ten. Four more teams will join the league next year. You can find a detailed schedule of the 2019 season here, or check the Dates and Times tab for all Melbourne games. 

This summer's event marks the 32st birthday of Melbourne’s biggest Greek street party, Lonsdale Street Festival, so make your way down to Melbourne CBD's unofficial 'little Greece' (we would argue Oakleigh is the more official one) for two days of great Greek street food, traditional dances, and live music performances from local and international Greek acts. The city's biggest Greek chefs turn it on for live cooking demonstrations. Bring your dancing for the Zorba 'Til You Drop dance competition, and sign up for the Loukoumadomania for the most delicious eating competition of all... the winner will down the most loukoumades in one minute.  The two-day festival features 60 food, drink and craft stalls alongside three stages of free entertainment, children’s rides and more.

Think you can’t see the Moon indoors? Think again. Scienceworks has announced an exciting new exhibition for December, which lets visitors take in a replica of the Moon close up. Museum of the Moon is essentially a seven-metre diameter spherical sculpture that features large-scale NASA imagery of the lunar surface. It’s shown at a scale of 1:500,000, which means each centimetre of the sculpture represents five kilometres of the Moon’s actual surface. Created by UK artist Luke Jerram, Museum of the Moon has travelled over the world in recent years. What’s cool about the installation is that it blends detailed lunar imagery, internally illuminated “moonlight” and a specially designed soundtrack created by BAFTA award-winning composer Dan Jones. Entrance into the exhibition is included with museum entry (free for children and concession and $15 for adults). 

Last winter, a pop-up museum dedicated to all things sweet landed on Smith Street. Open for only eight weeks, Sugar Republic eventually sold more than 25,000 tickets – but for those who missed out, never fear. Sugar Republic is back!  This Instagrammable event has arrived at Myer in Bourke Street Mall. Several different sensory rooms will be taking over Myer's sixth floor, and we can guarantee they will satisfy every kind of candy lover.  The Sugar Republic team are expecting to build on their previous pop-up with a host of new rooms and interactive installations to play with. There will be a giant bubblegum pink ball pit, a cookie house to relax in, a licorice playroom and plenty of candy to enjoy as you wander through (including some old-school favourites including Wizz Fizz, Hubba Bubba and Arnott's biccies).

The Westin is putting a nautical twist on the concept of high tea with an all-seafood high tea. Savoury treats include oysters three ways, lobster rolls and fish tacos. High tea favourites have been given a seafood makeover, such as savoury seaweed scones with whipped miso butter and furikake instead of the traditional cream and jam.  Skip the sparkling wine and do as sailors do, with a Navy Strength Four Pillars Gin and Tonic as your libation. And insetad of fussy French sweets, there is a Four Pillars frozen gin marmelade custard for dessert. The tide will roll out on April 30, so make sure you hit the deck before then. 

Why should your canine companion miss out if you go out to a food truck park for a few drinks, snacks and good times?  Welcome to Thornbury is holding an event for dogs and their owners on February 24. There will be more than 20 stalls of pet groomers, photographers, treats and trainers, and there will be plenty of specials on the day. Vets on Call veterinarians will also be there to offer your pooch a free health check.  For you, there will be local craft beer and a variety of food, from snacks up to full meals. Entry is free for Vets on Call subscribers and $2 for others; proceeds will go to Oscar's Law. 

Kick some serious putt at Pixar Putt, a new pop-up mini golf experience that’s landed in Melbourne. The experience is inspired by some of Disney Pixar’s most famous films, including classics like Toy Story, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, A Bug’s Life, Ratatouille, Monsters Inc, Wall-E, and new hits like Inside Out, Coco, The Good Dinosaur and more.   Pixar Putt completes its run at River Terrace at Federation Square on Sunday, February 3 before heading to St Kilda Triangle from Friday, February 15 until Sunday, March 31. You can choose between playing a nine-hole round or go to infinity and beyond with the full 18-hole course. Tickets will be $24.90 for adults, $19.90 for children or $79.50 for families doing the nine-hole course, or $39.90 for adults, $29.90 for children and $119.60 for families doing the 18-hole course.

Are you a classic chocolate type of person or are you game for more experimental flavours like hummus (roasted chickpeas, tahini and a drizzle of honey) or a tequila-flavoured ice cream (topped with a worm!)? Whatever your ice cream personality, the annual Ice Cream Festival has something tasty for you.  The famous Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery has a sister venue on the Great Ocean Road and a cute-as-a-button venue on the Mornington Peninsula. All three scenic locations will be hosting the Ice Cream Festival this February, with each developing their own suite of flavours to sample, like Kombucha from China, Rubylicious from Africa, a Moscow Mule from Russia, Aloe and Cucumber from Egypt and Champagne Cocktail from France. Go beyond the humble scoop and try ice cream waffle sandwiches, shakes, pizzas and huge, shareable sundaes.  And that's not all. Ice cream aficionados can book into 40-minute tastings, where $20 gets you samples of 12 flavours, plus an insight into the art of making world-class ice cream.  Entry to the festival is free, with ice creams starting from $4.80.

The definitive Melbourne bucket list: knock off these 50 activities and you'll really, properly know our great city.