The best things to do in Melbourne this weekend

When it comes to ice cream, are you a classic chocolate-and-vanilla type of person, or are you game for more experimental flavours? (Hello, caramelised fig blue cheese mascarpone – yes, really!) Whatever you fancy, the annual Ice Cream Festival has something tasty for you.  The famous Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery, along with its sister venues on the Great Ocean Road and the Mornington Peninsula, are hosting the annual scoop-a-thon from February 11-22. And in news that is sure to have you salivating, 10 new flavours will be dropping every four days – so you're gonna want to go back for seconds (and maybe even thirds). The line-up of flavours is set to include coconut limoncello margarita, pistachio tiramisu and matcha blueberry. Yum! There will also be old-school choc tops, gluten-free, vegan and no added sugar serve options available, so no one misses out on the fun. And that's not all... true ice cream aficionados can partake in a 45-minute tasting session, during which you'll sample the one-off flavours and make very own ice cream chocolate sauce. Bookings for these workshops are essential, and cost $28. There will also be a DIY scoop lab and if you enter the Guess the Flavour competition, you'll be in the running to win 12 of your favourite flavours to enjoy in take home tubs – yes please! Entry to the festival is free, with mega scoops starting from $6.75. For more information, head to the website. Craving more icy treats? These are the best ice cream and...

Pack a picnic rug and head to Narre Warren where the south east’s creative hub Bunjil Place is throwing its biggest outdoor event of all time.  Open Space is a free, evening festival running across seven Saturdays from February 7, packed with live music, an open-air cinema, food trucks (or BYO dinner), and family-friendly fun that’ll keep you going and coming back for more. Opening night sets the bar high with a stellar line-up of musical acts including the soulful Canisha, smooth reggae from Paulo Almeida and his band and then an ace team-up of two Aussie powerhouses as Kutcha Edwards takes the stage with Cash Savage and the Last Drinks. Highlights don’t stop there: cozy up for a Valentine’s Day screening of the sci-fi horror classic Tarantula!; catch a performance from the Hung Hing Lion Dance in action; relive the ‘80s with synth-pop legends Pseudo Echo; swoon to country ballads from Golden Guitar winner Andrew Swift; or get funky with Cookin’ On 3 Burners, Stella Angelico, and the GRID Series Launch Party featuring Kiid KODA, ACP Martha and Jordz. The finale? A full-on spectacle with Kerfew Collective, Hari Sivanesan, Studio J Dance, and Wild Gloriosa. Plus catch an exclusive first look at the new gallery exhibition The Offbeat Sari. Open Space Bunjil Place will run every Saturday from 6pm to 9.30pm from February 7 to March 21. Find the full program here. 

Written and directed by acclaimed Larrakia, Yanyuwa, Bardi and Wardaman artist Jada Alberts, ‘Black Light’ is a bold new work kicking off Malthouse’s 2026 Season.  Supported by a powerhouse First Nations cast including Trisha Morton‑Thomas and Tahlee Fereday, as well as real-life sisters Rachael and Lisa Maza reuniting on stage for the first time in 17 years to explore the complicated bond between two sisters, ‘Aunty’ and ‘Mum’ in the world premiere of Black Light. The production threads together the familiar tangled intimacies and everyday drama of family life – dementia, break‑ups, single parenthood, and the simmering resentments that form between siblings. Above all else, Black Light is a poignant love letter to mothers, aunties, grandmothers and great-grandmothers everywhere. The production offers a rich portrait of Black motherhood, exploring the passing down of wisdom. ‘Black Light’ is playing at Malthouse’s Merlyn Theatre in Southbank from February 13 until March 7. You can book your tickets here.

Due to popular demand, Melbourne Theatre Company's rip-roaring musical adaptation of My Brilliant Career is returning for a limited five-week run in 2026.  This incredible production takes one of the best-known early Australian novels, the 1901 book of the same name by Miles Franklin, and twists it into a musical for a new generation. Six star Kala Gare is reprising her role as Sybylla Melvyn, with much of the original ensemble of actor-musicians also coming back and new cast member Melanie Bird taking on the roles of Gertie/Blanche/Ensemble. Set in 1890s drought-stricken rural Australia, the novel follows Sybylla Melvyn’s dreams of an illustrious life as a writer, as she’s stifled by Edwardian mores. At the time Franklin published the book (under a male pseudonym that was quickly seen through), she was just 21 years old. My Brilliant Career will kick off Melbourne Theatre Company's 2026 season. My Brilliant Career is showing at Southbank Theatre from January 23 to February 28, 2026. For more information and to book tickets, head to the website. *** Time Out Melbourne reviewed My Brilliant Career when it played at Southbank Theatre in November 2024. Read on for that five-star review:   Pardon a moment’s naval-gazing here, but beyond the sparkly Instagram pics from glittering opening nights, the freelance writing gig can be tough. Despite powering through with optimism and encouraging others to follow their passions, I almost gave it all up this week. Or at least I...

It's officially that time of year again when the Moonlight Cinema returns to Melbourne for the summer. There's just something special about snuggling into a bean bag and catching a film under the stars in the Royal Botanic Gardens – with an ice cream or a wine in hand, of course.  Australia's favourite outdoor cinema has dropped its summer screening schedule, with tons of  blockbusters, nostalgic favourites and comedies on the program. February and March highlights include new releases like Wuthering Heights, Hamnet, Marty Supreme and a special screening of Charli xcx’s mockumentary The Moment. Those looking to splurge can opt for Singapore Airlines' Gold Grass that comes with prime viewing, express entry and food and drinks delivered to your seat. Anothere cool option is the Connoisseur Lounge ticket that includes a bean bed plus a yum Connoisseur ice cream. And did you know the Moonlight Cinema is pooch friendly? For the first time ever you'll also be able to order a doggie bag meal from the food menu thanks to Lyka. Doggy date night, anyone? Screenings kick off at sundown, so bring your picnic rug, your snacks and your friends. Tickets are now available via the website. Want more fun in the sun? Here are the best things to do in Melbourne this December.

Fresh from a record-breaking New York season that turned the Park Avenue Armory into a 30,000-square-foot fantasy universe, this joy-fuelled, art-meets-play exhibition has arrived in Melbourne.Popping up at the MCEC at Melbourne’s South Wharf, Balloon Story is a fully immersive journey through time and imagination, where every room is built at cinematic scale using hundreds of thousands of biodegradable balloons. You’ll wander from prehistoric jungles and dinosaur-filled landscapes to ancient civilisations, underwater worlds and cosmic cities, all sculpted entirely from air and colour. For the Australian season, expect all-new local content too, with balloon-built tributes to some of our most iconic buildings, places and stories. Hailed overseas as “the most joyful exhibition of the year”, Balloon Story is designed to delight. It’s hugely photogenic and clearly engineered by people who take balloons very, very seriously (we’re talking an international team of creative directors, balloon engineers and immersive design pros). Keen? The team suggests that visitors allow around 60 to 90 minutes to explore the whole experience – though don’t be surprised if the kids hang around for longer trying to get the perfect shot. With no age restrictions and free entry for kids under three, it’s an easy win for families and friends tasked with looking after the little ones for a day.The exhibition is open from 9am to 8pm, Monday through Sunday, with adult tickets from  $44.90, and kids...

Werribee Open Range Zoo is bringing back its Sunset Safari for an eighth season in 2026, inviting visitors to embark on an immersive safari adventure at dusk when the animals tend to be at their most active.  Every Saturday until February 21, visitors can hop on a bus at the zoo and watch as the summer sun sets and illuminates the open range. You'll get to witness majestic animals like zebras, ostriches, giraffes, rhinos and lions as they roam the savannah, and learn from zoo guides about efforts to protect them from endangerment and extinction. And for the first time ever, you'll be able to explore the waterhole and incredible elephant trail (which only opened last year) after hours when everyone else goes home. In addition to the after-hours safari tour, you can also explore the walking trails (among meerkats, monkeys and wild dogs) at dusk and catch live performances of drums, song and dance. Food and beverage options include an African-inspired barbecue, à la carte dining and cocktails at the Elephant Terrace (these are all sold separately). The Sunset Safari experience runs from 5.30pm to 9pm on Saturday nights, and costs $62 for adults and $32 for children. Head to the Zoos Victoria website to purchase your tickets.  Looking for more fun in the city? Here's our round-up of what's on in Melbourne this weekend.

Hey Melbourne, the Mormons are back! After wowing audiences in Sydney with plenty of "did they really just say that?” humour, The Book of Mormon is heading to the Princess Theatre from February 6. This somewhat unconventional musical comedy cleaned up at the Tony Awards after it debuted on Broadway in 2011, going on to break box office records and garner near-unanimous critical acclaim when it opened on London’s West End. When tickets for the show’s Australian debut in Melbourne were released in 2015 – nearly a year in advance of opening night – the Princess Theatre recorded its highest pre-sale period of any production in its 159-year history, also going on to win the Helpmann Award for Best Musical. For the uninitiated, The Book of Mormon follows two inept Mormon missionaries from Salt Lake City on their journey to save mortal souls in a corner of Uganda ruled by a one-eyed warlord. It’s the brainchild of South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone – hence, you can expect a lot of explicit language – along with Avenue Q and Frozen co-creator Robert Lopez.  So what’s the secret of the show’s success? As Time Out London’s Theatre and Dance Editor Andrzej Lukowski wrote, Mormon was always going to be a hit, but what made it into the Mormania phenomenon is the fact that non-South Park fans love it too. The songs are excellent. Filthy, witty and outrageous, but also sumptuous and note-perfect, they nod to the golden age of the American musical.  As for how the show has...

Get ready to dive into the hottest season of the year at Le Splash – the swanky, Euro-inspired pool bar at Le Méridien Melbourne. Formerly only open to the five-star hotel's guests, for the second year running Le Splash will welcome the public onto its stunning rooftop for a swim this summer.  With a 28-degree heated pool, sun-soaked lounge deck and 360-degree views of the prettiest corner of the CBD, Le Méridien offers a perfectly elevated swimming experience that'll have you feeling like you've been transported to a swish hotel on the Côte d'Azur.  The Le Splash Pool Passes are available from Monday to Thursday all summer long, and you'll be able to choose between either a morning or sunset pass, with both options giving you hours of swimming, sunning and lounging time. They cost $85 per person.  The morning sesh is for early birds who like a slower start. Open from 8am to noon, you get full pool access, a free scoop of Le Méridien's famous gelato and a beverage of your choosing. The sunset pass is for those who like the idea of swimming above the city from 6pm to 9pm. The soundtrack will become more vibey, rosé and Champagne will be poured and golden hour pics will be a focal point. Also included is a complimentary gelato scoop and drink.  But that's not all! On Friday and Saturday nights, you can get involved in a bougie sunset dinner and drinks at the Le Splash rooftop bar. The service runs from 5-9pm, and includes the option to dine on a...

Once upon a December night in Melbourne, the polished production of Anastasia finally made its long-awaited Australian premiere at the Regent Theatre. As a fan of the 20th Century Fox Animation film of the same name, I was excited to see this seminal work from my childhood come to life on the grandest of stages. A sweeping tale of adventure, romance and finding your way back home, Anastasia feels destined to deliver theatrical magic. And in many ways it does – the costuming, particularly the opulent ball gowns and Russian court-style ‘fits, are gorgeous. The songs, catchy in the film, are given real oomph with the backing of a ten-strong orchestra. And the charming cast is undeniably talented. But – spoiler alert! – this is not a wholly faithful adaptation, with the most notable change being the erasure of the deliciously wicked Rasputin (justice for the criminally underrated banger ‘In the Dark of the Night’). Here, he’s been replaced by Gleb (Joshua Robson) a Bolshevik general who develops conflicted feelings for our titular heroine, but doesn’t quite incite the same fear as the original, supernaturally-gifted animated villain. What’s the premise of Anastasia? Offering a romanticised take on Russia’s last imperial dynasty, the Romanovs (heavy on the romanticised part – this is by no means a historically accurate take on the infamously unpopular family), Anastasia follows the story of Anya, a young street sweeper with a convenient case of amnesia. With rumours swirling...