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The White Hat Guide to Major Events in Melbourne
Listed below are some major events in Melbourne. For a more comprehensive listing see:
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Queen Victoria Night Market
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A bustling night market with food, wine, craft and other stalls and entertainment. Operates over the summer months on Wednesdays (except Christmas Eve and New Years Eve) |
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Anzac Day March
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9am-12.45pm 25 April 2009 |
Starting at Flinders Street and progressing along St Kilda road to the Shrine
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Enquiries: (03) 9658 9658 |
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Johnston Street Fiesta
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Did you miss this event? Then
subscribe to our free email newsletter to
receive advance notice of events such as this one. White Hat has kept its
subscribers Informed since last century and has
long become a Melbourne Institution for those
Intelligent and Independent
souls prepared to look beyond the bounds of either the mainstream -commercial or
mainstream-alternative marketing machines. (However, be warned that we can
occasionally be a little Irreverent.) Sexy and vibrant, Johnson Street’s Fiesta promises more kick than a tequila sunrise. Every year thousands of Melburnians are lured to Fitzroy for a weekend fiesta of food, music and dancing. The street is lined with stalls serving paella, chorizo sausages, sangria, tapas and other taste sensations. A giant stage offers entertainment for all ages. ( Please note - This festival has previously been known as the Spanish Festival or Hispanic Festival. ) |
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15 & 16 November 2008 |
Johnston Street (between Nicholson & Brunswick Streets, Fitzroy
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Free |
Enquiries: (03) 9205 5109 |
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Sidney Myer Free Concerts - Concert 1
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Did you miss this event? Then
subscribe to our free email newsletter to
receive advance notice of events such as this one. White Hat has kept its
subscribers Informed since last century and has
long become a Melbourne Institution for those
Intelligent and Independent
souls prepared to look beyond the bounds of either the mainstream -commercial or
mainstream-alternative marketing machines. (However, be warned that we can
occasionally be a little Irreverent.) 2009 is a special year in the history of the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Fifty
years earlier in 1959, the bowl officially opened with a concert featuring a
colourful orchestral travelogue. The MSO is proud to present, 50 years later to
the day, a faithful replica of this exciting program on the opening night of the
Orchestra's Golden Anniversary Bowl season.
- Berlioz The
Damnation of Faust: Rakoczy March
- Bizet Carmen:
Suite No 1
- Enescu Romanian Rhapsody No 1
- Gershwin
Piano Concerto in F - John Chen piano
- Hughes Essay for Orchestra (1953)
- Wagner The
Mastersingers of Nuremberg: Prelude
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Opera in the Park
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Did you miss this event? Then
subscribe to our free email newsletter to
receive advance notice of events such as this one. White Hat has kept its
subscribers Informed since last century and has
long become a Melbourne Institution for those
Intelligent and Independent
souls prepared to look beyond the bounds of either the mainstream -commercial or
mainstream-alternative marketing machines. (However, be warned that we can
occasionally be a little Irreverent.) Free twilight opera in the park. Join us in the beautiful surrounds of Victoria Gardens for one of the highlights on the Stonnington event calendar. Be treated to performances by some of Melbourne's finest operatic artits. Artists: Nicole Car, Melanie Adams, Jacob Caine and Phillip Calcagno.
Artistic Director: Cameron Menzies
Conductor: Rick Prakhoff. White Hat advises that this event has been rescheduled
from 7th Feb to 21st February. |
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6.30pm, Saturday 21st February 2009 |
Victoria Gardens, Victoria Gardens
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Free |
Enquiries: (03) 8290 1333 |
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Winter Solstice Bonfire
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Winter Solstice celebration featuring:
- Fire Performers
- Children's Lantern Parade
- Giant Lantens
- Mulled Wine
- Food Stalls
- Bar
- Wandering Minstrel
- Drummers
Tickets for pre sale at Farm Reception or at the gate from 4pm on the night.
Please note tickets can not be purchased over the phone or reserved.
Entertainment will be happening from 4pm onwards. The fire performers will begin
at approximately 5pm. The fire will be lit at 6pm. Food and bar service will be
available throughout. |
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CERES Yule Celebration - Winter Solstice 2009
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Celebrate the return of the light from the darkest night at CERES Winter
Solstice. Brighten up your winter’s night and discover the beauty of darkness
and light with: Shadow puppetry from renowned puppeteers Stories from the
Ground,
- A traditional Yule ritual & sprial dance
- Fire sculpture & poetry
- A stellar musical line up:
- Rosie Burgess Trio, Jayden Lillyist, Broni, Mladen on the Ud - (Arabic
Lute)
Tickets at the Gate - $10 Members/Concession $15 Full $5 School Age $20
Passionate - $5 of ticket price goes to CERES Environment Fund |
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Melbourne Boat Show
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Melbourne Boat Show – See what’s new for summer - Melbourne Exhibition Centre, 2-6 July – Wake/Ski and fishing boats, luxury cruisers, marine accessories, kids’ activities & more. Tickets at last year’s prices: Adults $17; Concession $12; Children FREE (under 16, with an adult). |
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Melbourne Open House 2009
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On Sunday 19 July, Melbourne Open House (MOH) will hold its second annual open
house with free of charge access to explore more than 30 public and private
spaces, many of which are usually inaccessible to the public.Closer to the event
White Hat will publish a more detailed guide to the buildings in our
free weekly Melbourne newsletter.
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Sunday 19th July 2009 |
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Free |
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Enterprize Day (Melbourne Day)
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An annual event to celebrate European settlement of Melbourne. On August 30
1835 John Fawkner's party
sailed up the Yarra in the Enterprize and anchored at base of the falls
in the centre of what we now call Melbourne. |
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30 August 2009 |
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Enquiries: (03) 9658 9658 |
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Carols by Candlelight
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An event that has become a popular part of the Melbourne calendar |
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Anzac Day March
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Tha annual march along Swanston Street and St Kilda Road to the Shrine. |
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Anzac Day Dawn Service
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The traditional atmospheric service at the Shrine. |
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Toorak Village Festival of Sculpture
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Ninety items of sculpture in various premises in Toorak Village. Most of the exhibitions can also be viewed at night and many are available for purchase. |
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1st to 31st May 2010 ? |
Toorak Village
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Enquiries: 0419 005 052 |
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Forthcoming EventsThese events are ones which have run in the past and we expect to run in the future. As yet we do not have confirmed details, dates and contact details. To be informed of those details when they become available you can subscribe to our newsletter "Great things to do in Melbourne". |
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AFL Grand Final
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The culmination of the Australian Rules Football season. |
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Australia Post Opera in the Bowl
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Bring your picnic basket and rugs and enjoy the glorious music under the
stars as Opera Australia presents the inaugural Australia Post Opera in the Bowl
at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. |
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Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix
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Internation Formula 1 car racing. Also Formula 3, V8 Supercars.and a range of other events. Go along and soak up the action. |
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Australian International Airshow
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The largest airshow in the Southern Hemisphere, this biennial event brings aircrafts from all over the world to Avalon Airport. The initial days are for the trade and the public events commence on the Friday evening.. Full details at www.airshow.net.au. |
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Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix
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Showcasing the world's best motorcycle riders at this picturesque circuit. |
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Australian Open Tennis Championships
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The Australian Open attracts the world's best tennis players and over 500 000 spectators over the fortnight making it the highest attended annual sporting event in Australia. It is the first grand slam tennis event for the calendar year. |
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Blues, Roots & Jazz Festival Williamstown
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Bands and performances around Williamstown |
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Bodyworks Festival
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An annual dance festival with performances, forums, workshops and international performers. |
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July 2009 ? |
Dance house, 150 Princes Street, North Carlton |
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Chinese New Year
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With performances, entertainment, food, stalls firecrackers and dragon parade. |
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EQUITANA Asia Pacific
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The largest equine event in the Southern Hemisphere combining exhibition, education, competitions and entertainment. Equitana Asia Pacific is an ultimate event for all horse enthusiasts as well as general public. Please note that due to the horse flu situation in
Australia the 2007 event has been cancelled and will resume in November 2008. |
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Fifth Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition
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Sixteen of the world's best piano trios and string quartets compete for the most prestigious prize in chamber music. Full details at chambermusicaustralia.com.au. |
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Half Bent Winter Music Festival
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Featuring various performers whose music is jazz related but often does not fit into easy categories. |
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September 2008 ? |
Trades Hall |
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Head of the Yarra Rowing Regatta
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An eight-oared time trial race from
Princes Bridge to the
City of Hawthorn Rowing Club. Over 150 crews compete in a large range of
categories. The finishing line and presentations are in Hawthorn. |
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Melbourne Cup Parade
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The Parade travels along Swanston Street from Bourke Street to Federation Square. Features jockeys and trainers taking part in the Melbourne Cup, past champion racehorses, Fashions on the Field at Flemington Float, entertainers, band, television identities and, later, an autograph session and fun games for all. After the Melbourne Cup Parade, key race jockeys and trainers will be interviewed by the media on stage at Federation Square. This is where you will get all the latest information on the Cup. |
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Melbourne Fashion Festival
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A major fashion festival held in various venues around Melbourne. |
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Melbourne International Design Festival
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The Melbourne Design Festival has over 50 events across Melbourn. It features events ranging
from exhibitions to forums, workshops and installations amongst others
programmed for designers, students as well as the broader community. The
Melbourne International Design Festival is presented annually by the
National Design Centre. In
order to achieve its aim to make design widely accessible, most of the Festival
events are free. |
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July 2009 ? |
various venues throughout Melbourne |
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Melbourne International Festival of Arts
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In 2007 the Festival offers over 65 events ranging from grand productions and theatre to physical feats and thought-provoking exhibitions. |
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October 2008 ? |
various venues in Melbourne |
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Melbourne International Film Festival
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MIFF (Melbourne International Film Festival) is regarded unequivocally as the
most significant film event in Australia. MIFF presents the most diverse and immediate range of contemporary cinema in the country and engages the biggest cinema-going audience. With approximately 80 percent of the films screened being Australian premieres, you get to see it first at MIFF and be the one to give your friends the heads-up Be part of the
buzz in winter, when Melbourne becomes the global movie Mecca. MIFF screens over
350 films from Australia and around the world – comprising feature films, documentaries, and short films. The Festival assembles a monster 19 days of more than just the best in contemporary cinema – but also presents forums with filmmakers, panel discussions, celebrity interviews, outside broadcasts, music events, and an International Short Film Competition with the highest cash prize pool In Australia. Films are screened at CBD venues, including ACMI (Federation
Square), Forum Theatre
(Flinders Street), RMIT Capitol
Theatre (Swanston Street) and Greater Union (Russell Street). |
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Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show
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The Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show is entering its 14th year and is now regarded as the largest and most successful horticultural event in the Southern Hemisphere. |
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Melbourne International Motor Show
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The Melbourne International Motor Show is Australia's largest Motor Show and hosts the latest in design and technology, futuristic prototypes and concept vehicles and ground breaking developments in research, plus exciting demonstrations and entertainment for the whole family. |
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Melbourne Marathon Festival
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A 42km road run from Frankston to Melbourne. Those not attempting the full marathon can try the a certified 10km walk or run. Festivities for all at Albert Park |
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Melbourne Middle Eastern Dance and Music Festival
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Did you miss this event? Then
subscribe to our free email newsletter to
receive advance notice of events such as this one. A vibrant marketplace with music, costumes, jewellery, CD's DVD's, performances, workshops and more... A top professional Bellydance Show on 13th July. |
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July 2008 ? |
Darebin Arts Centre, cnr St Georges Rd & Bell Street Preston |
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Melbourne Spring Fashion Week
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Featuring runway shows, retail events, workshops, panel discussions, exhibitions, business seminars and parties. An annual celebration of fashion in Melbourne. Full details at
Melbourne Fashion Week. |
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Melbourne Underground Film Festival
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An annual festival. |
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July 2009 ? |
George Cinemas, Loop, Gertrudes and F4 |
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Midsumma Gay & Lesbian Festival
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Melbourne’s premier gay & lesbian festival with over 100 arts and community events. |
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Moomba Waterfest
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Melbourne's long running community festival featuring rides, activities and
entertainment in Birrarung
Marr and the Alexandra
Gardens and this year also featuring special activities at the
Docklands on the
Sunday. Highlights include the Birdman Rally at noon on Sunday in Birrarung
Marr, water skiing on the Yarra, the Moomba
Parade along Swanston street at 11am on Monday and fireworks over the Yarra at
9.30pm on each of of Saturday, Sunday & Monday nights. |
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National Ride to Work Day
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Regular and first-time riders from all around Australia will take part on
this event. In Melbourne and Victoria there will be community breakfasts at
Alfred Medical Research & Education Preceinct,
Apollo Bay,
Ballarat,
Bairnsdale, Baw Baw
Shire, Bendigo, Box Hill,
Burwood East, Tally-Ho Business Park,
Castlemaine, Cheltenham,
City of Yarra, Coburg,
Cobram,
Darebin, Frankston, Geelong,
Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong,
Maryborough, Melbourne CBD (Federation
Square), Mentone, Mildura,
Moonee Ponds, Morwell,
Orbost, Pakenham,
Parkville, Port Phillip,
Puckapunyal,
Trafalgar,
Wodonga,
Wangarratta and
Warrnambool. For details of
events in your city and registration details, go to
National Ride To Work Day. |
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Overload Poetry Festival
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Featuring local and international poets. |
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August 2009 ? |
Various locations throughout Victoria |
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Ranges Folk Festival
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International & local performers in beautiful surroundings. |
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April 2009 ? |
National Rhododendron Gardens, Georgia Road, Olinda |
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Real life on film
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Australia's on film festival dedicated to contemporary documentary films. |
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Royal Melbourne Show
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This year’s Royal Melbourne Show is not to be missed! Be part of the celebrations as the new look Showgrounds is unveiled to the public. Providing the ultimate school holiday entertainment, the show has something for everyone. Be thrilled by the excitement of monster trucks, cannonball, and freestyle motorcross on the Coca-Cola Arena. Adult $25, Children (5-14 years old) $11, Under 5 years old FREE, Family $65 (2 Adults & 3 Children, 1 Adult & 4 Children), Concession $16, Senior’s Day $11 (26 September only). Thursday 21 September – Sunday 1 October 9:30am – 10:00pm daily (Sunday 1 October 9:30am – 8:30pm) |
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Southgate progressive dinners
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Three different courses at three different restaurants. Commencing at 7pm sharp. |
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September 2008 ? |
Southgate |
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St Kilda Film Festival
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A season featuring the 'best of' Australian short film. |
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June 2008 ? |
Astor Theatre (Chapel Street
St Kilda) & George
Cinemas (Fitzroy Street St
Kilda) |
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The 21st Asian Food Festival
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A festival of Asin food with many special events around Melbourne. |
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September 2008 ? |
various participating restaurants throughout Melbourne. |
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The Age Melbourne Writers' Festival
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Ten days of chat, banter and provocation with the world’s top writers, Melbourne Writers’ Festival is where ideas come alive and words are made flesh. |
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The Famous Spiegeltent
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Entertainment Tue-Sun both day and evening in this atmospheric venue. |
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Umbria Jazz Melbourne
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A festival of jazz of an international standard |
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Victorian Seniors Festival Week
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The festival celebrates the diverse and dynamic contributions of people aged 60 plus. Events include theatre, cinema, touring shows, music and walks. Many events are discounted or free - as long as participants have their Victorian Seniors Card. |
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| These events are ones which have run in the past and we expect to run in the future. As yet we do not have confirmed details, dates and contact details. To be informed of those details when they become available you can subscribe to our newsletter "Great things to do in Melbourne". |
Other useful resources:- The Visitor Information Centre at Federation Square is a very good source of information on mainstream and commercial events.
- The City of Melbourne produce an excellent free booklet every month called Melbourne Events. This is available from many outlets around the city including at the Information Centre mentioned above. However you need to be aware that the listed events are (as is appropriate) mainly those within the confines of the council boundaries. You therefore won't find much about things like suburban festivals or or events in country Victoria. More information is available on their website.
- The best way to keep up to date with what's on in Melbourne is to subscribe to our free email newsletter.
White Hat works hard
to make information on these pages current and correct. However with
many thousands of entries, much of it changing daily, errors may occur.
Always verify the information by using the phone numbers supplied with
each event or venue before making a special trip or using this
information for any other purpose. If you believe some information is
incorrect, please contact us at
corrections@whitehat.com.au
and we will attempt to verify or change the information
DISCLAIMER: White Hat makes no claim as
to the accuracy of this information and takes no responsibility for
incorrect or incomplete information
or for actions based on the information in these pages, and accepts no
liability to any person or organisation for the information contained in
these pages.
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| Page last updated: | 04 July, 2009 | | URL:
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White Hat criticism of Grocery Choice vindicated?
In August 2008 the Australian Government launched its
Grocery Choice website as part of an election promise which it said
would combat grocery price rises by publicising individual item price comparisons
between major distributors. White Hat believed to model was flawed
from the start and gave our reasons in the strong criticism we in
our food newsletter published two days after the launch of the site.
In June, the Australian Government suddenly and unexpectedly
terminated the scheme. You can read White Hat's initial criticisms
which could also prove useful in the implementation of any future
scheme at
The
White Hat Food Newsletter of August 2008. |
TOURISM NEWS
Qantas In Flight Magazine chooses
White Hat
Cemetery Tour as its featured Australian tour for May
There are many fine historical tours
throughout Australia including cemetery tours. From these, the
prestigious Qantas In Flight Magazine has chosen the White Hat Tour
of Melbourne Cemetery as its featured Australian tour for the May
2007 edition. This tour was also featured by ABC radio on 24 May and
will feature in a documentary series on Burke and Wills to be shown
on European television in 2008. The tour has been operating for many years and has won
praise from a wide range of sources. This is not a dry and stuffy
tour but in keeping with all White Hat offerings it is Informed,
Intelligent, Independent (and occasionally) Irreverent. You can find
details of the tour at White
Hat Tour of Melbourne Cemetery and view the article at
Qantas In Flight Magazine. |
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