Get ready for curtain-up at the best musicals, theatre shows and live entertainment playing in Melbourne in 2025.
Entertainment
THE LUME: Van Gogh
Why do we celebrate Labour Day with a public holiday?
What's on across Victoria this Labour Day long weekend
From incredible theatre shows to a beguiling begonia display, here's the best of what's on across Victoria this Labour Day long weekend.
Long weekends are a great opportunity to sign out of your work email, mute chat notifications and spend some quality time with family, friends and pets. The weather forecast for this year’s Labour Day public holiday on 10 March 2025 is warm with a possible shower, but don't let that stop you going out.
Whether you’re going to take advantage of the three-day weekend by heading off on a day trip, winery tour or gourmet getaway, or plan on experiencing some of the city’s coolest rooftop bars, speakeasys and restaurants, here’s our guide to the best things to do in Melbourne and Victoria this Labour Day long weekend.
If you're driving or catching public transport, plan your trip with arevo.
More: Best day trips from Melbourne
The Yayoi Kusama exhibition is a fun way to spend time with friends and family. Image: Visit Victoria
What's on in Melbourne over the 2025 Labour Day long weekend
Moomba Festival 2025
Is it even the Labour Day long weekend if you don’t head into town for the annual Moomba Festival? Moomba - Australia’s largest free community festival - becomes a focal point in Melbourne from 6 to 10 March 2025. It includes five days of water sporting feats, skate park competitions, live music performances, fireworks, carnival rides and the famous Birdman Rally.
Stroll along the banks of the Yarra River, Birrarung Marr and Alexandra Gardens and enjoy the 71st Moomba Festival. Don't miss the Birdman Rally on Sunday 9 March from 11am, where competitors attempt to soar over the Yarra River with flying contraptions (and inevitably end up in the river instead). The Moomba Parade on Monday 10 March from 10.45am is also a must-do, with giant floats, dance troupes and the Moomba Monarchs.
NGV: Yayoi Kusama
Head to NGV International from 6pm-10pm every Friday night until 18 April 2025 to enjoy the largest Yayoi Kusama exhibition ever staged in Australia, alongside DJs, drinks and food. Kusama is renowned for her never-ending polka dot artwork, and this exhibition includes kaleidoscopic infinity mirror rooms and other immersive installations.
The Yayoi Kusama exhibition is on every day, 8am to 6pm, over the long weekend. If you have children, take them to the free, interactive Kusama for Kids installation.
While the Yayoi Kusama exhibition is a ticketed event, it's free to see the NGV International Collection in other parts of the gallery. The collection includes about 70,000 works of art spanning thousands of years.
NGV: Cats & Dogs
At the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia in Melbourne's Federation Square, you can see the NGV's Australian and First Nations art collections for free. But there's a special ticketed exhibition on that animal lovers will adore: Cats & Dogs.
Cats & Dogs explores humanity’s deep connection to these animals through more than 250 works of art and design, spanning all periods and media. You're also invited to share photos of your own cats and dogs for display in the exhibition.
Asia TOPA 2025
Asia TOPA has returned to Melbourne from 20 February until 10 March 2025. This triennial introduces an exciting new program of art and performance from across the Asia-Pacific. This year also boasts a new nightlife program and opportunities to connect with the artists themselves.
Check out the program online, which includes KAGAMI (a moving performance created by the late Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto), the Pacific Sisters (presenting a series of interventions designed to celebrate Pasifika culture and kinship), and Sci-Fi: Mythologies Transformed (an exhibition connecting science fiction with ancient philosophy and mythologies).
Experience the life and artwork of Vincent van Gogh as a dynamic projection at THE LUME.
Theatre: Beauty and the Beast and And Then There Were None
There are plenty of brilliant musicals and theatre shows in Melbourne this year. Luckily for theatregoers, both Beauty and the Beast and And Then There Were None are showing over the 2025 Labour Day long weekend.
Beauty and the Beast is a much-loved Disney classic in which the spirited, bookish village girl Belle helps an arrogant prince, who has been turned into a hideous beast by a spell, learn how to love. It's a spectacular musical with gorgeous sets, costumes and music.
The stage show, And Then There Were None, is a crime thriller adapted from Agatha Christie's best-selling novel of the same name. In this show, 10 strangers are lured to a solitary mansion on an island off the English coast. Once there, they are accused of having committed murder...and soon the wheel of justice begins to turn.
THE LUME: Van Gogh
THE LUME is now exhibiting Van Gogh, which showcases the famous Dutch post-impressionist's works in the world's largest digital art gallery. Experience the life and artwork of Vincent van Gogh, brought to life by a 42-minute dynamic projection accompanied by a curated soundtrack.
There's also a traditional gallery space, a recreation of the artist’s Bedroom in Arles painting, a digital infinity room, an artist studio, an interactive Art Play room where your movements affect the digital ‘paint’ on the walls, and a VR experience.
RACV Members can save up to 10% on tickets to The LUME.
ROAR FEST 2025
Celebrate women in music at ROAR FEST 2025 in bayside St Kilda. The festival coincides with global International Women's Day celebrations.
Catch Women On The Bay on Saturday 8 March: a huge night of live music, featuring a diverse lineup of emerging artists, such as Kathleen Halloran, Charlie Needs Braces, Ruby Mae, Charlie Lane and Wild Gloriosa. On Sunday 9 March, don't miss Aussie stars Kate Ceberano, Tania Doko (Bachelor Girl) and Ella Hooper (Killing Heidi) and more in action at the National Theatre.
2025 Port Phillip Mussel & Jazz Festival
Head down to South Melbourne's Cecil Street from 11am-9pm on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 March to celebrate the Labour Day long weekend. You'll experience a two-day seafood street party set to the sounds of Melbourne's best jazz and soul musicians. It's free, family-friendly and full of street food vendors (including non-seafood options), live music, roving performers, giveaways and more.
The Outsiders Melbourne
Check out a ground-breaking street art exhibition at The Outsiders Melbourne, which celebrates establishment-defying artists. This is the largest collection of street art in Australia, and it includes Australia's biggest Banksy artwork collection. It's open to the public for free on the corner of Hosier Lane and Flinders Lane on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 March from noon-6pm.
Antopia at Melbourne Museum
Enter Antopia at Melbourne Museum, where you'll experience a day in the life of an ant colony. This family-friendly exhibition allows you to explore five immersive spaces filled with digital animations and interactive projections. You'll learn about the ants' lifecycle, working life, security systems and astonishing chemical communication. The exhibition closes after Monday 10 March 2025, so get in quick!
Brunswick Music Festival 2025
The annual Brunswick Musical Festival is back this year, with more than 40 international and local gigs over nine days from 2-10 March 2025. Celebrate people, place, culture and music and this awesome local music festival.
Beauty and the Beast will delight children and adults alike.
What's on in Victoria over the Labour Day long weekend
Ballarat Begonia Festival 2025
The colourful Ballarat Begonia Festival will be in full bloom over the Labour Day long weekend at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens. Ballarat is the home of more than 500 varieties of begonia flowers - the rarest collection in the southern hemisphere.
Enjoy thousands of blooming begonias alongside market stalls, food trucks, and live entertainment. There will also be horticultural workshops, a parade and industry experts hosting talks on stage.
ChillOut Festival 2025
Join Australia's premier queer country pride festival at ChillOut 2025 in Daylesford from Thursday 6 March to Monday 10 March.
There's a blockbuster program to explore online, but the main event is the free ChillOut Street Parade on Sunday 9 March from 10am-11am. There's also food and wine tours, a pool party, drag storytime, a rainbow family picnic, music and DJ sets, and much more.
Port Fairy Folk Festival 2025
The Port Fairy Folk Festival returns to the picturesque seaside town in regional Victoria from 7-10 March 2025.
This four-day festival celebrates live music and culture, with a stellar lineup including Missy Higgins, Bess Atwell, Peter Garret, Grassy Strings and many more. You can also join workshops in dance, basket weaving, traditional art and yidaki healing. Explore food and craft stalls, purchase handmade instruments, take the kids to circus workshops and puppet shows, and sing along at The Big Sunday Singout.
The Port Fairy Folk Festival brings together lovers of folk and independent music. Image: Jason Dargan
Thorpdale Potato Festival 2025
In the foothills of the Strzelecki Ranges in Gippsland, the Thorpdale Potato Festival celebrates the long history of potato farming in the region with a fun-filled day of food, markets, music, cooking demonstrations and the popular 'potato races'.
There's something for everyone, from motorbike stunt shows to working-dog demonstrations, sheep shearing, a hessian fashion show, a potato-eating competition and lots more.
Sandford Bush Music Festival 2025
Listen to live bush, folk, Irish, Celtic, gospel, bluegrass and country music from 7-9 March 2025 at the iconic Sandford Bush Music Festival.
Join in bush dances, jam sessions and music and poetry workshops in between browsing bush craft stalls and enjoying the talented performing arists.
Pitch Music & Arts Festival 2025
The festival Pitch Music & Arts Festival returns to the Grampian Plains foothills, delivering sonic soundscapes to doof lovers from 7-11 March 2025. Highlights include Fuunk Tribu, Honey Dijon, 2manydjs, 999999999, Daria Kolosova and SPFDJ. The Pitch Pavilion will provide a tranquil sanctuary for festivalgoers who want to participate in wellbeing workshops and mindful activities.
You can bring your own tent or purchase camping or glamping packs in addition to your festival ticket.
Try a treat from the famous Thorpdale Bakery after attending the festival. Image: Visit Victoria
Tastes of Rutherglen 2025
Victoria offers an abundance of wineries and cellar doors to visit during a long weekend. Tastes of Rutherglen is on from 7-9 March 2025, with more than 200 wines to sip, from bold reds to crisp whites, from 17 iconic cellar doors.
There are also exclusive harvest activities on offer, like vineyard tours, winemaker meet-and-greets, and behind-the-scenes pours. With live music, autumn scenery and mouthwatering nibbles from local chefs also on offer, this will be a festival to remember.
Peninsula Piers and Pinots 2025
Taste your way through Mornington Peninsula's maritime cool-climate pinots (noir, gris, still and sparkling) at Peninsula Piers and Pinots. Your ticket includes unlimited wine tastings, tasting notes, and a Riedel tasting glass.
With more than 60 wines, great local food and live music (The Warrains), this is an unforgettable wine festival. Head to Flinders Foreshore on Sunday 9 March 2025, 12-3pm.
Why do we celebrate Labour Day with a public holiday?
Labour Day, which falls on the second Monday in March every year in Victoria, commemorates the achievements of the labour movement in the 1850s, when stonemasons and building workers marched to demand an eight-hour workday. This was a significant achievement, as workers at the time were often required to work 10 to 12 hours a day, six days a week.
