The White Hat Guide to activities for Families and Children in Melbourne

There is much public art to be seen on the streets at any time of day as well as inside many public buildings. More information on public art in Melbourne. In addition, public bodies such as the City of Melbourne often sponsor temporary artworks and installations in laneways and other public spaces.

• Caroline Springs;- Every 1st Sunday of each month leaving the Civic Centre.
• Melton:- Every 3rd Sunday of each month leaving Hannah Watts Park

White Hat often has to remind visitors that Victoria is a state with four seasons - unlike some of those boring northern states - and we recommend that one of the best ways to experience spring in the Victorian countryside is to visit the Bright Spring Festival.

Bright has a natural beauty complemented by fine cafés and restaurants, marvellous local wineries, accommodation to suit all budgets, adventure sports, walking tracks and bike trails and shopping. The festival offers street and river markets, theatre events, art exhibitions, fireworks, plenty of entertainment and open gardens. For a full list off the open gardens see the White Hat Open Gardens page.

For the full itinerary, visit the Bright Spring Festival website at www.brightspringfestival.com.au

Based on the movie, this new musical with a new score from Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Glenn Slater, book by Julian Fellowes and an incredible cast of kids shredding guitars, pounding drums and rocking out live, School of Rock is suited to all ages.

Established 34 years ago by Felicity and Lew, The Witches Garden is a two-hectare garden with established trees, sweeping lawns and beds of beautiful perennials and roses.

A Monet-inspired bridge covered in wisteria crosses a picturesque lake. There is an extensive veggie garden and Felicity’s keen interest in herbs and medicinal plants is evident with many planted alongside the wandering paths. The Witches ‘Cottage’ is a delightful feature for children.

With views across the beautiful Mitta River and beyond to the mountains, this garden is has a lovely 'sense of place' in this very special part of country Victoria.

At the opening there will also be:

• Plant sales
• Coffee and cake
• Local pop-up stalls selling craft, preserves and other local produce
• A Local Art show displayed in the gallery on-site (a converted garage)
• Musicians in the afternoons

10am – 5pm (Sat and Sun)
10am – 4.30pm (Mon) with band 5.00 – 8.00pm
General Entry $8  (Under 18 free)  Students $5

On Monday evening 5.00pm – 8.00pm 'The Apostle String Band Tour' will be performing in the garden. - Cost for Band Entry on Monday $40 (optional) includes garden entry fee $40 per adult (children free) includes entry into the garden. BYO chair / picnic rug / drinks / food.

Special Attractions at the 158th Annual Spring Show include:

• Cobb & Co Coach Rides
• Food & Wine Pavillion
• Clunes Show Vasa Dog Jump 2pm
• Jamie & Kim’s Mobile Zoo
• Parker’s Mini Circus
• Roving Entertainment – Mad Hatter & Mad Hattie
• Face Painting & Caricature Drawing
• Trike Tours and Joyrides
• Showday Live Music Maryborough Big Band & The Wesley Bands
• Clunes Pet Show
• Scarecrow Competition
• Ferret Racing - Bring your Ferrets to Compete
• Society Memorabilia Display 
• Professor Wallace’s Puppet Show
• Bute Ute Competition
• Vintage Engine Display
• Rural Ambassador & Junior Show Ambassador
• Show Girl & Show Boy Competitions 
• Keg Throwing, Tug Of War & Gum Boot Throw Competitions
• Ladies Woodsplitting Competition
• Grand Parade 3pm
• Show Night Entertainment – Bar, BBQ & Live Band Highway 8
  

Grand Parade - 3 PM

All judging will cease at 2.55 pm for the Grand Parade at 3pm.
All Exhibitors / Exhibits are encouraged to parade
Grand Parade Lucky Ticket Prizes
1st prize $100 - 2nd prize $50

It’s a Saturday evening in summer. You’re sitting in a park with family and friends, and a fabulous picnic dinner. The picture is complete when the glorious live music from Opera Australia begins.

Hear our brightest stars, under the stars, sing opera's most famous arias with the magnificent backing of Orchestra Victoria.

Dress up — or not — it's your night to enjoy the power of the human voice in the kind of communal, cultural celebration Melbourne loves best.

The Yarraville Festival has been operating since 1981 and has steadily grown into one of Melbourne's liveliest community festival and White Hat feels that the location helps add to the genuine village atmosphere. There is music across 7 stages from local professional and community performers, everyone will find something that they enjoy.. Kids of every age, from toddlers to teenagers, will hear music suitable for their age group, and a range of activities and rides are available for them. From jumping castles to carnival rides to bungee jumping, with many of the rides free.

The Yarraville Festival also features its annual market with plenty of stalls. Selling everything from vintage clothing, food and handmade gifts the market is a great opportunity for visitors to pick up a bargain.

Further details at Yarraville Festival

Our rating - 4 Hats

White Night Melbourne uses installations, lighting, exhibitions, street performances, film, music, dance and interactive events in a 12 hour overnight event that transforms the city into a wonderland.

Our rating - 5 Hats

For White Hat, the Twilight Jazz at Cruden Farm is one of the special events of the year. We strongly recommend you gather the family together and get down to one of the most special gardens in Australia as there is only one chance a year for the general public to experience it at the special time of twilight.

Our rating - 5 Hats

Melbourne's long running community festival featuring rides, activities and entertainment in Birrarung Marr and the Alexandra Gardens. The Moomba fireworks will occur from 9.30 to 9.45pm on Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights and the best viewing points can be had on the banks of the Yarra in Birrarung Marr or the Alexandra Gardens.

The annual Moomba Fireworks running over three nights.

The parade runs northbound on St Kilda Road (on the park side of the road) between Dorcas St and Linlithgow Avenue.

White Hat attended and enjoyed this festival over a number of years and watched it grow into the highly popular community event it has now become. Music, free activities and kite flying and food from around the world with plenty of free activities. Bring your own kite or buy one there or simply watch the amazing array of kites flying. This year, the festival has been incorporated into True North - Reservoir Arts Festival - and moved to Edwardes Lake Park.

Piers Festival celebrates and reflects on the collective historical and contemporary migration stories at its site, Princes Pier, the significant entry point where almost half of Australia’s post World War II refugees arrived. The Festival brings to life the pivotal role Princes Pier played from 1915 to 1969 in Victoria’s growth and as a gateway to the diversity of cultures that enrich our community. With 12,000 attendees in 2015, Piers Festival has grown to become an annual fixture in Victoria’s cultural calendar and a significant occasion to acknowledge and bring to light our Indigenous and multicultural talent.

Fiesta Malaysia is a day of celbration at Federation Square attracting over 20,000 people. It aims to  introduce the rich Malaysian history, people, language and culture to those who attend and to enhance the bilateral and multilateral relationship between Malaysia and Australia.In addition it aims to foster, support and promote business and investment opportunities between Malaysia and Australia To introduce Malaysia as a land of diverse races, religions, festivities and cultural heritage in line with the theme for Fiesta Malaysia 2016, ‘Sharing the Culture'. More information at Fiesta Malaysia.

Commencing in 2007 the Gertrude Street Projection Festival has grown to become  one of inner Melbourne’s most visible and accessible free large scale arts festival. The festival celebrates projection art and lets us see familiar spaces and buildings in new, inspired ways. It’s a collaborative, volunteer effort of artists and traders, residents and community groups all brought together by The Gertrude Projection Association.

For 10 evenings in July and in over 38 sites, the length of Gertrude Street in Fitzroy is illuminated by the visions of talented projections artists for the Gertrude Street Projection Festival. Buildings, laneways, footpaths and tree trunks light up with site-specific, curated projections. The Festival’s diverse arts program celebrates and connects our diverse community.

White Hat can thoroughly recommend the festival as a showcase of the edgy, arty inner suburbs. more info >>

Our rating - 4 Hats

Melbourne is one of the few cities that can pin-point the time, date and the people who first founded it. The Melbourne Regatta was first held on 30 August 1838, making it the first in Australia. In 2016 the Melbourne Passenger Boating Association will deliver a magnificent waterside spectacle to celebrate the connection between Melbourne and the sea.

Born out of a river settlement, developed through trade and immigration, stabilised by gold and farming, the city owes much to the ships who made that connection. The rivers and the great bay have been bountiful, providing food, leisure, relaxation and a highway to the rest of the world. Discover too, the land before it became Melbourne. Learn about the people and the natural landscape that existed long before, and why this made Melbourne a perfect place to build a village.

See a spectacle of cruising boats, dressed especially for the occasion. Hop aboard free ferry cruises around Victoria Harbour, be part of a Welcome to Country ceremony, and hear Father Bob bless the fleet.

You can also enjoy live entertainment with Normie Rowe, along with reggae, calypso, and blues bands. Plus there'll be walking tours, story-telling, roving entertainers, a mass choir and the Sunday market with many food stalls and local cafes. Everyone is invited to join in the fun and excitement and celebrate Melbourne's maritime and indigenous history.

The festival celebrates Australian heritage, environment and community. To find out more about the significance of Wattle Day in Australia's history go to Another Date for Australia Day. Lots of family activities including steam train rides.

• Coburg Edibles Swap - A free community exchange of home-grown garden produce. Eggs for lemons. Parsley for thyme. Seeds for recipes.

more info >>

Featuring 230 stallholders across homewares, textiles, fashion, furniture, lighting, stationery, lifestyle & kids products. You can also attend creative workshops, pick up showbags at $25 each, or take advantage of the free kids activities. White Hat suggests that you may find a number of items suitable for Christmas gifts that are not your run-of-the-mill department store fare. Adults $2 - children 12 and under free. Details at The Big Design Market.