Festivals & Events

Summer festivals and events in Melbourne and regional Victoria guide

Festival of Sails Geelong

Jessica Taylor Yates

Posted December 06, 2023

From wine, food, and music to art, cinema, and sailing, there’s a festival for everyone across Melbourne and regional Victoria this summer. 

Perhaps you wish to watch live music by sunset, feast on international delicacies in the city, or enjoy salsa dancing on the street. From Melbourne to the Murray, there’s a festival for every kind of Victorian. 

Here’s a roundup of the best variety of food, music, art, film, wine and entertainment festivals on this summer.  

Please check festival websites for the most up to date information on times, tickets and information. 

 

St Kilda Festival

The St Kilda Festival is one of the biggest events on the summer calendar in Melbourne. Image: Visit Victoria

 

Best summer festivals and events in Melbourne 

Cinema in the Vines, Tokar Estate, Yarra Valley

Sundays in December 2023

Just 10 minutes’ drive from the RACV Healesville Country Club & Resort lies Tokar Estate, a winery hosting a series of film nights over December in the spectacular Yarra Valley.

Every Friday and Saturday, visitors can come and play lawn games, indulge in some local wines, brews and food before setting up the picnic rug for a night of cinema under the stars. 

  • Ticketed: Yes
  • Children: Yes
  • Dogs: No

So Frenchy So Chic, Werribee Mansion, Melbourne

14 January 2024

Say oui to the 'Art of Living', celebrating French gastronomy, music, couture, and of course, Champagne. 

Featuring a curated foodie experience of delicacies like macarons, crepes, brioches and charcuterie alongside Parisian fashion, games of pétanque, magic and mime classes, experience the summer joie de la vie at So Frenchy, So Chic.

  • Ticketed: Yes
  • Children: Yes
  • Dogs: No

Australian Open, Melbourne Park

14 to 28 January 2024

The Australian Open is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments held worldwide. Alongside the matches, Melbourne Park turns into a festival village, providing a vibrant atmosphere with live music, entertainment, exhibition matches, and a big screen for watching matches. 

There are also children's activities and food stalls along the banks of the Yarra River at Birrarung Marr.

Melbourne Park is serviced by trains and trams. Use the free arevo journey planner app to find the most efficient way to get to the tennis.

  • Ticketed: Yes
  • Children: Yes
  • Dogs: No

Melbourne Latin Summer Festival, Kings Domain Gardens, Melbourne

12 to 14 January 2024

‘Celebrating life’, the all-ages Melbourne Latin Summer Festival showcases the vibrant music, culture and flavours of Latin America. 

Alongside a range of food, drink and market stalls, the festival will host performances and demonstrations of famed music styles including samba, tango, salsa, and cumbia; as well as a range of children’s activities including magic, puppeteering, face painting and maraca making. 

  • Ticketed: No
  • Children: Yes
  • Dogs: Yes

Lunar New Year, Melbourne

From 10 February 2024

Lunar New Year in Melbourne is a vibrant celebration that includes spectacular lighting displays, fireworks, live performances, Dragon Boat demonstrations, market stalls, and more.

Celebrating the Year of the Dragon in 2024, there are a multitude of celebrations on around the city, from MSO performances, to fun food demonstrations and dances in Melbourne’s Chinatown village. 

The festival usually culminates with fireworks at Queensbridge Square. 

  • Ticketed: No
  • Children: Yes
  • Dogs: No
Chinese New Year Melbourne

Lunar New Year is widely celebrated around Melbourne and Victoria. Image: Visit Victoria

 

Frankston Waterfront Festival, Frankston

10 to 11 February 2024

A celebration of summer and fun on the Frankston foreshore, come along for a family-fun weekend of rides, entertainment and activities. 

Featuring live music, food and drink stalls, markets and rides, the festival will also feature fireworks display for all to enjoy on Saturday 10 February. 

  • Ticketed: No 
  • Children: Yes
  • Dogs: Yes

St Kilda Festival, St Kilda

17 to 18 February 2024

Attracting over 375,000 people in 2023, the St Kilda Festival is a popular event over two days in Melbourne’s famed bayside locale. 

St Kilda Festival is home to a variety of live music and performances across multiple stages, art displays, food and market stalls, and various activities for all ages. 

The family-friendly environment has plenty of entertainment options for children, including activities on the St Kilda foreshore and rides at Luna Park, where RACV Members save on tickets.

  • Ticketed: No
  • Children: Yes
  • Dogs: Yes

Midsumma, Melbourne

21 January to 11 February 2024

A proud partner of RACV, Midsumma is Australia’s premier queer arts and culture festival. Featuring performances, artists, public events, speakers and social events at over 100 venues in Melbourne, Midusmma is a celebration of queer collaboration and innovation is all its forms. 

The Midsumma Pride March will be held on Fitzroy Street, St Kilda on 4 February 2024. 

  • Ticketed: Certain events
  • Children: Certain events
  • Dogs: Certain events

Antipodes Festival, Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

24 to 25 February 2024

Held in the Melbourne CBD on Lonsdale Street, the Antipodes Festival celebrates Greek culture with live entertainment, pop-up bars, Greek street food, cooking demonstrations, craft stalls, dancing lessons, and children's activities. Opa!

  • Ticketed: No
  • Children: Yes
  • Dogs: No
Midsumma

Midsumma features events, artworks, festivals, shows and theatre that celebrates the queer community. Image: Visit Victoria

 

Best summer festivals and events in regional Victoria

Ocean Sounds, Phillip Island

6 January 2024

Ocean Sounds is a relaxing day out featuring live music from artists including Xavier Rudd, Spiderbait and the Melbourne Ska Orchestra on Churchill Island.

Not far from the RACV Inverloch Resort, the Phillip Island festival celebrates sunset sounds, with food trucks, wine, and cheese pairings available on site. 

  • Ticketed: Yes
  • Children: Yes
  • Dogs: No

Summer Sundays Fireworks, Ballarat

8, 14, 22 and 29 January 2024

Presented by the City of Ballarat, the Summer Sundays series across January will feature a range of concerts at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, with a free firework display lighting up the night sky on 14 January. 

Explore all the Ballarat region has to offer and make a stay of it at the nearby RACV Goldfields Resort, where there's plenty of free activities nearby to keep the family busy. 

  • Ticketed: No
  • Children: Yes
  • Dogs: Yes

Geelong Beer Festival, Johnstone Park, Geelong

20 January 2024

Offering a wide variety of craft beers from local and international breweries, the Geelong Beer Festival is a popular event for beer enthusiasts, from craft beers to local and international brews. 

The day also features live music, food stalls, cooking demonstrations and entertainment.

  • Ticketed: Yes
  • Children: Yes
  • Dogs: No

Maldon Twilight Festival, Main Street, Maldon

20 to 21 January 2024

Watch Maldon light up with a range of local food, wine, market stalls and lantern parade. Roaming entertainment like stilt walkers, belly dancers and face painters will also feature.

You can stop in at one of the best country pubs in Victoria, or book a table for the 1980s-themed Maldon Twlight Dinner, and make a stay of it at the nearby RACV Goldfields Resort.

  • Ticketed: Festival is free, dinner is ticketed
  • Children: Yes
  • Dogs: On lead

Morsels on the Murray, Bank Street, Yarrawonga

21 to 27 January 2024

Morsels on the Murray is a food festival that celebrates the culinary delights of the Murray region - one of the best road trips to do from Melbourne.

Visitors can enjoy a range of gourmet food and beverages, cooking demonstrations, and live entertainment. 

Make a stay of it at the RACV Cobram Resort near the Murray River. 

  • Ticketed: No
  • Children: Yes
  • Dogs: Yes

Peninsula Film Festival, Village Green, Rosebud

2 to 4 February 2024

Screening 20 short films from budding filmmakers, the Peninsula Film Festival (PFF) celebrates outdoor cinema with celebrity judges, food trucks, live music and market stalls on the Mornington Peninsula.

While the big day is on 3 February, the festivities start on the Friday with the PFF Oz Indie Showcase, with activities over the weekend featuring a Filmmaking Workshop and prizes supported by Australian actors including Russell Crowe and Sam Worthington. 

Make a stay of it with a stay at the RACV Cape Schanck Resort, where the family can discover plenty of free things to do around the Mornington Peninsula. 

  • Ticketed: Yes
  • Children: Yes
  • Dogs: No

 

Australian Open

The Australian Open attracts fans from all over the world. Image: Visit Victoria

 

Riverboats Music Festival, Echuca

16 to 18 February 2024

The Riverboats Music Festival is a three-day event highlighting a diverse range of music genres, including folk, blues, and rock from acts including Missy Higgins, Peter Garret & The Alter Egos, Kasey Chambers and Regurgitator. 

It takes place on the banks of the Murray River, and offers a relaxed and scenic atmosphere with food, glamping, and market stalls available on site. 

  • Ticketed: Yes
  • Children: Yes
  • Dogs: No

Feastival, Falls Creek Alpine Resort, High Country

16 to 18 February 2024

A festival for the epicureans, Feastival is a three-day food festival held at Falls Creek featuring art, music, comedy and gastronomy alongside a range of activities celebrating the region. 

Besides featuring culinary delights including food stalls, tastings, and cooking demonstrations, visitors can also enjoy live entertainment and a festive atmosphere from artists like The Temper Trap and Thelma Plum. 

The program is family friendly, with activities including circus workshops, yoga, heritage walks and art exhibits. 

  • Ticketed: Yes
  • Children: Yes
  • Dogs: No

Festival of Colours, Torquay

25 February 2024

Held on the Torquay Front Beach Foreshore, the Festival of Colours is a celebration of the human spirit. The Hare Krishna-organised event encourages gatherers to throw coloured powder in the air in unison along a backdrop of song, dance and nature. 

Within walking distance of the RACV Torquay Resort and featuring live entertainment, vegetarian food, fortune tellers, henna artists and children’s entertainment, be sure to wear clothes you don’t mind getting covered in a sea of colour! 

  • Ticketed: No (although you purchase coloured dye)
  • Children: Yes
  • Dogs: No

Festival of Sails, Geelong

26 to 28 January 2024

Attracting over 100,000 visitors every January, the Festival of Sails is a celebration of all things sailing, culminating in the oldest sporting event in the Southern Hemisphere, the Melbourne to Geelong Passage Race.

Festival of Sails also features free live music and entertainment along the Geelong Waterfront, an annual Regatta, fireworks, and demonstrations from The Royal Geelong Yacht Club. 

It’s one of many fun pit stops you can make on a road trip along the world-famous Great Ocean Road.  

  • Ticketed: No
  • Children: Yes
  • Dogs: No

 

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