Gone a bit too hard on the wallet lately? These awesome activations, pop-ups and exhibitions won't cost a cent.

Queen Vic market hall transformed into a night market with tables and chairs, overhead banners and neon.

Hawker 88 Night Market

There's no need to wait until winter for another delicious night market in Melbourne! Hawker 88 returns for five weeks of foodie fun, with different dishes to try each Wednesday night. Start with all your fave Asian snacks, try the best treats from Korea and Japan, plus heaps more.

Crowds milling around a market in the city.

Sri Lankan Festival

Spend two days immersed in Sri Lankan culture, from delicious cuisine to traditional dance and performances. If you’re feeling creative, join in one of the workshop activities. Entry is free, but come with an appetite (and some coin) for kottu, hoppers and curries.

Group of people singing and clapping, outdoors Some with handheld drums and illustrated animal placards.

South Asian Festival

Feast on your fill of delicious South Asian cuisine at this foodie wonderland in Docklands. Peruse traditional jewellery, handcrafted items, clothing and more in the market stalls. Watch the colourful ceremonial parade then end the night with an epic laser light show over the city.

A group of men on stage, one singing and playing a small accordion.

Sea Shanties and Folk Songs

Until

Heave ho to the Mission to Seafarers and live like a pirate in a century-old building. Test your pipes at a free sea shanty sing-along session. These ever popular sessions are the ultimate way to blow off some steam, pirate-style. Raid your treasure chest for some coins to order a rum or two at the bar.

Free Melbourne markets

Vegan Market

Vegan Market

Come along to the vegan bake sale and market, with a ton of cool vegan products to browse.

Queen Victoria Market

Queen Victoria Market

This beloved Melbourne landmark is the largest open air market in the southern hemisphere.

Kensington Market
Until

Kensington Market

An eclectic mix of designer fashion, culinary treats, ceramics, homewares and visual art.

Melbourne Craft Fair
Until

Melbourne Craft Fair

Enjoy a contemporary craft fair at Queen Victoria Market.

Makers Market at The District
Until

Makers Market at The District

This outdoor undercover monthly Sunday market at Docklands features craft, gifts, fashion and food.

Arts Centre Melbourne Sunday Market
Until

Arts Centre Melbourne Sunday Market

Discover unique, handcrafted treasures made by local artisans.

Bourne Local Market

Bourne Local Market

Visit the Collins Square Retail Plaza for curated local market stalls.

Melbourne Book Market

Melbourne Book Market

Melbourne Book Market is a curated collection of more than 5,000 new and pre-loved titles.

Boho Luxe Market: Mother's Day Edition

Boho Luxe Market: Mother's Day Edition

A design market just in time for all your Mothers Day shopping.

Free family-friendly events

Baby Bounce
Until

Baby Bounce

A fun, interactive session designed for young children and their carers.

Toddler Tales
Until

Toddler Tales

Explore language and literacy through stories, rhymes and songs.

Preschool Storytime
Until

Preschool Storytime

Share the wonder of books with your children at City Library.

Shrine Kids
Until

Shrine Kids

A free self-guided program for visitors of all ages.

ACMI Preschoolers

ACMI Preschoolers

A fun, free program created for 2-5 year-olds to enjoy ACMI with their parent, grandparent or carer.

More free Melbourne events

Melbourne Out Loud: Life through the lens of Rennie Ellis
Until

Melbourne Out Loud: Life through the lens of Rennie Ellis

Relive Melbourne's culture and fashion through the lens of iconic photographer Rennie Ellis.

Yoga Classes

Yoga Classes

Enjoy a free yoga class targeted towards young people.

Not Natural
Until

Not Natural

Explore the growing friction between natural and artificial systems.

Wurrdha Marra
Until

Wurrdha Marra

Sharing the work of First Nations artists across time and place.

Memo Akten: Distributed Consciousness
Until

Memo Akten: Distributed Consciousness

A digital work merging human and non-human consciousness – via the AI musings of octopus critters.

Library Cinema
Until

Library Cinema

See contemporary, classic and documentary films on the big screen at Library at The Dock.

Local Lunch Club
Until

Local Lunch Club

Enjoy a gardening workshop, live music and a free lunch cooked on-site using surplus food.

Trenches to Runway: Military Influences on Popular Fashion
Until

Trenches to Runway: Military Influences on Popular Fashion

Explore the enduring influence of military design on popular fashion.

ANZAC Day Dawn Service

ANZAC Day Dawn Service

Pause and reflect on the service of generations of Australians, past and current.

Stanislava Pinchuk: The Theatre of War
Until

Stanislava Pinchuk: The Theatre of War

Experience three captivating video performances inspired by Homer's Iliad.

Mercedes Benz Club Victoria Display

Mercedes Benz Club Victoria Display

See a number of rarely seen cars, spanning many years and models.

Anzac Days Exhibition

Anzac Days Exhibition

A photographic exhibition of Anzac Day commemorations in Melbourne during the 1970s.

Top Arts
Until

Top Arts

Top Arts 2024 features the work of 45 VCE students at NGV.

Government House Garden Tour
Until

Government House Garden Tour

Take a morning or twilight tour of the Government House gardens.

Premium Busking Auditions

Premium Busking Auditions

Come along and enjoy some of Melbourne's best busking talent at these auditions.

Discoveries of the Queen Victoria Market

Discoveries of the Queen Victoria Market

Join Wurundjeri Elders and archaeologists in this history talk.

Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Autumn Plant Sale

Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Autumn Plant Sale

Find a rare and unusual plant, with stock propagated from the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Last updated on Wed 3 Apr 2024

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