From food and wine to music, cinema and art to sailing, there’s a festival for everyone across Melbourne and regional Victoria. Here are the best food, music, art, film, wine and entertainment festivals on this summer.
Victoria
Big Design Market
Port's Artisan Christmas Market
District Docklands Christmas Twilight Market
Yarra Glen Twilight Christmas Market
Grantville Christmas Carols and Market
Torquay Cowrie Market
Warrnambool Christmas Markets
Best Christmas markets in Melbourne and regional Victoria
From Carlton to Docklands, Torquay to Ballarat, these are some of the best Christmas markets in Victoria to get your artisan gift-giving on in 2023.
Stumped for Christmas present ideas? Keen to avoid the silly season shopping crush? Christmas gift hunting doesn’t have to be a joyless sprint from shop to shop in search of socks and scented candles.
Stress-free present buying is easy. Just spend a few relaxed hours pottering around one or more of Victoria’s charming Christmas markets, and chat with local artists and designers about their clever, unique creations.
Get into the festive spirit with our guide to Victoria's merriest Christmas markets for 2023.
The best Christmas markets to visit across Melbourne and regional Victoria in 2023
Big Design Market
1-3 December, Fri 11am-8pm, Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 10am-5pm. Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton
Melbourne’s big mamma of arty shopping events, the Big Design Market is perfectly timed at the start of the silly season.
More than 250 designers will take over the Royal Exhibition Buildings over three days, with creative workshops for crafty types, plus kids’ activities to keep them entertained while you shop.
Expect unique homewares, lifestyle, fashion, jewellery, stationery and kids’ products, with a big focus on ethical production, sustainability, quality, originality and good design.
The Big Design Market will also feature Australian designers, such as Astor + Tyne, Dorte, Fashion Boundary and Frske.
Port's Artisan Christmas Market
2 December, 11am to 5pm, Bay St, Port Melbourne
With around 150 different and unique offerings, Port’s Artisan Christmas Market has a fantastic range of handmade, locally produced gifts, art pieces, designs, jewellery and more – there’s even something for your favourite four-legged friend.
The market is the perfect one-stop shop for a range of unique Christmas presents. There will also be live music and nearby cafes and restaurants open for lunch.
Como Christmas Market
3 December, 10am to 3pm, Como House & Garden, South Yarra
Unique jewellery, hand-made clothing and sustainable homewares are just some of the original Christmas present ideas you'll find at Como Christmas Market.
Presented by the Rose Street Market, this festive garden fair will see the stunning surrounds of Como transformed into a sea of marquees hosting local makers, crafters and growers showcasing goods for you or your loved ones to treasure. Bring the family and enjoy a unique market atmosphere held on the sprawling lawns of this historic, heritage-listed house.
Rose Street Market also runs the Rippon Lea Christmas Market, which is on 17 December, 10am-3pm at Rippon Lea Estate, Elsternwick.
District Docklands Christmas Twilight Market
9 December, 3pm to 8pm, The Square, The District Docklands
Enjoy a great night out and knock over your Christmas shopping at District Docklands Christmas Night Market. This festive shopping event showcases art, craft, jewellery, fashion, homewares, gifts, and delicious homemade and homegrown produce.
Bring your friends along to The District, grab some dinner or a drink and take a stroll through the open-air laneways and enjoy a spot of shopping. Alternatively, stay at RACV City Club and make it part of a fun weekend in the CBD.
Port’s Artisan Christmas Market features a range of handmade and locally produced gifts. Image: Matt Harvey
Boho Luxe Vegan Christmas Market
10 December, from 10am to 4pm. The Atrium, Fed Square
Melbourne’s Federation Square will be taken over by designers and makers for one inspirational day of sustainable shopping. Discover ethical, hard-to-find vegan treasures under one roof, including sustainable fashion for men, women and children, as well as gifts for the whole family by small brands you won’t find in big retail. Think bags, jewellery, beauty products and luxe homewares.
There will also be creative workshops, psychic readings and vegan food available throughout the day.
Yarra Glen Twilight Christmas Market
9 December, 3pm-8pm, Yarra Glen Racecourse
Make a day of it with a trip to Yarra Glen for the Twilight Christmas Market. Held in the picturesque Yarra Glen Racecourse, you can shop for quality homemade gifts and wares while also picking up fresh local produce and gourmet foodstuffs. Give yourself plenty of time to explore the lush walkways, leafy surrounds and artisan market stalls.
And let’s not forget the main game – excellent food and wine. Once you've finished your shopping, there are plenty of food options so treat yourself a gourmet picnic while enjoying some live music as well as entertainment for the kids.
Nearby Healesville Country Club & Resort offers accommodation and two dining options: alfresco dining at Riddell's Green and refined dining at Banyalla.
Grantville Christmas Carols and Market
10 December, 5pm onwards, Grantville Memorial Park, 1504-1510 Bass Highway, Grantville
Enjoy a free fun family evening at Memorial Park in Grantville, which is 30km from Inverloch. You can browse market stalls and sing along to the Christmas carols with local singers from 6pm. Santa arrives around 8pm to greet all of the children.
Along with free children's entertainment, food and drinks will be available for purchase. Bring your own picnic rug or chairs to relax on the grass and enjoy the country vibe.
There is also the Grantville Market on 17 December, 8am-1pm, which is another chance to find a unique gift from an eclectic range of handcrafts, homewares, jewellery, art or antiques.
Consider a pre-Christmas break at RACV Inverloch Resort, and visit the market as part of a mini break or longer stay.
Located in the Waterfront City precinct, The District Docklands Christmas Twilight Market has a relaxed vibe. Image: Matt Harvey.
Ballarat Christmas Market
15 December, 4pm to 8pm, Zoo Drive, Lake Wendouree, Ballarat
More than 150 stallholders will descend on Ballarat's Lake Wendouree for a bumper Christmas market like no other. As well as some of your favourite vendors from the Ballarat Farmers Market, there will also be myriad stalls popping up for the festive event.
Hot food vans will on site for a yummy dinner, or perk up with a coffee from one of the mobile carts before perusing the market for special gifts, homewares, clothing, garden art, gourmet food, local wine and more.
The market is on a Friday night, giving you the option of spending the weekend in the region, with RACV Goldfields Resort making a picturesque retreat.
Torquay Cowrie Market
17 December, 10am to 3pm, Torquay Esplanade
The Surf Coast Arts Collective’s crafty little market transforms Torquay’s beautiful Esplanade into a mecca for one-off gifts and eco-friendly products by local artists and crafters.
Head to Elephant Walk for handmade arts, crafts and fashion, yummy food, live local music and plenty of good vibes.
All items for sale are home-grown, hand-made and environmentally sustainable, so remember to bring a bag along, as it’s a plastic bag-free event. The market is held on the third Sunday of the month, from September through to April each year, and is a must-do when staying at nearby RACV Torquay Resort.
Warrnambool Christmas Markets
26 November and 3, 10 and 17 December, 9am-1pm, Civic Green, Warrnambool
Warrnambool's best artists, designers and food producers are joining forces for the ultimate festive market. Browse for presents and festive dinner ingredients in a chilled-out, family-friendly space.
Expect unique art, prints, ceramics, handcrafted leather goods, jewellery, designer clothing, cards and homewares, along with everything you need for a festive spread.
