Newsletter | #314 | What's On this Week Newsletter | #314 | What's On this Week

Welcome to this week's Melbourne events, exhibitions, sports and community guide for Tuesday to Monday, January 8 to 14, 2013.

This week... As the post-New Year confetti starts to settle, things are starting to look a lot more colourful with the return of Midsumma Festival's enormous range of events that include art exhibitions, theatre, club nights and more celebrating Melbourne's gay and lesbian community.

Foodies of the sea-faring variety are in for a treat with Portarlington's Mussel Festival also making a return, while further inland for those who lack sea-legs there's the Red Hill Country Music Festival.

There's also the return of the usual suspects as we get into the full swing of Summer with many free concert programs, one of which is the popular Fed Square Live series, along with the bouncing of balls as Melbourne gears up for Tennis season.

On a personal note, with the seasonal lull now declining, my attentions have steered to lulls of my own, having recently found an App that records my nocturnal mutterings.

Being a notorious sleep-talker and just as notorious for fondly sleeping, I've had a lot of ribbing from my nearest and dearest after I was heard to declare how tired I was at 4am - while already asleep, that is.

I'd have bluffed about having been awake at the time, but it loses all credibility when it's preceded by a two-minute impression of Beaker from the Muppet Show.



OnlyMelbourne Welcomes
Share the Spirit Festival, held at Treasury Gardens in East Melbourne, is a free festival that recognises and honours the original occupants of this country with a great line-up of performers. The event also includes community market stalls, workshops and children's activities.
When: January 26 - 1pm to 7pm


Major Events
Midsumma Festival celebrates Gay and Lesbian culture at various venues in Melbourne with queer-centric and queer friendly performances and entertainment including special performances, cabaret, art exhibitions, community events and much more in its extensive program.
When: January 13 to February 3
Midsumma Carnival: Sunday January 13
Pride March: Sunday February 3


Red Hill Country Music Festival, held at the Showgrounds on Arthurs Seat Road, presents a wide range of country music with country rock, bluegrass and honky tonk. Offering great entertainment for the whole family, it includes car displays, children's rides and more.
When: Sunday January 13 - Gates Open 9am


Portarlington Mussel Festival showcases local food and the coastal town's mussel farming with a range of events that include mussel farm tours, live music and many other activities for all the family such as muscle car displays, kids' activities, exhibitions and more.
When: Saturday January 12


Bass Coast Agricultural Show, held at Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve, offers great fun for people of all ages with a program of events, displays, rides and performances. With roving entertainment and music, there's also horse events held at the ◦Holden Equestrian arena.
When: Saturday January 12


Girgarre Moosic Muster, held in the small township of Girgarre between Echuca and Shepparton, offers a great program of bluegrass, folk, country, pop, gospel and contemporary acoustic music along with a farmers market, children's activities, workshops and more.
When: Friday to Sunday, January 11 to 13


Lavender Harvest Festival, held at Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm in Shepherds Flat, celebrates the crop harvest and the history of the scenic farm with special days of music with special guest performances, along with food, wine and tours of their 1860's stone farmhouse.
When: Sundays, January 6 & 13


School Holiday Guide
Check out our School Holiday Guide for the latest on what to do with the kids during Summer Holidays. The holiday guide offers a great range of activities for the young and young at heart, with events, tours, workshops, concerts and holiday programs.. all in marvellous Melbourne!
School Holiday Guide - Dec 21 to Jan 29


Art Exhibitions
Fashion Meets Fiction, held at Upwey's Burrinja Cultural Centre, is an exhibition of costumes from the renowned Darnell Collection, embodying the fashion of such favourite fictional characters as Scarlett O'Hara, Holly Golightly, Phryne Fisher and Carrie Bradshaw.
When: Until February 17 - Closed Mondays


Enchanted Dome: the Library and imagination celebrates the forthcoming 100th anniversary of a Melbourne icon, the State Library's domed La Trobe Reading Room. The exhibition features eclectic representations of the dome captured in art and literature from the 1950s to today.
When: Until July 14


EPIC! 100 years of film & the Bible, held at the Jewish Museum of Australia in St Kilda, explores the fascination that filmmakers from all over the world have had with the Bible by showcasing rare vintage movie posters along with movie stills, lobby cards and costumes.
When: Until February 3


More Exhibitions


Expos, Launches, Open Days & Lectures
Sugarpova's Launch, held at Southbank's Crown Riverwalk, is a chance to meet international tennis sensation Maria Sharapova who will be introducing her new lolly brand of sweets along with signing autographs and meeting with the public on the day.
When: Friday January 11 - 2pm


Patchwork & Art Expo, held at St Peters Anglican Church in Shoreham, is a quilt and craft exhibition where local quilters and artists will be represented. Along with devonshire tea available, there'll also be patchwork and craft supply stalls and craft demonstrations.
When: Wednesday to Friday, January 9 to 11


Melbourne Tours
Melbourne Tours & Activities are a great way to take Dad out on the town to discover some of the hidden treasures in your own city. With guided tours, winery excursions, sports events and more, there's no end of great attractions throughout Melbourne and Victoria.
Find Melbourne Tours & Activities


You Can Help
There are many social causes that are relevant to people from all walks of life, many of which rely on public support to better the community or assist those who are less fortunate or to benefit others. This week we ask you to consider the following...

No Tan Jan, an initiative of The Warwick Foundation, Australia's only organisation focused on supporting 18 to 40 year olds with cancer, is all about ditching the solarium and sunbaking to embrace a fake tan in January and also raise funds to assist young adults with cancer.
When: Held Throughout January


More Expos & Launches | More Open Days | 
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