Christmas tree and decorations at Fed Square at night.
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What's on in December

Dates

1 Dec - 31 Dec

Discover things to do in Melbourne in December, from a wonderland of free Christmas events to exhibitions, attractions and places to visit.

Santa in front of a lit up Christmas tree in Fed Square.

Christmas in the city

See the city light up with dazzling displays, festive events and activities for the whole family.

A view over Melbourne by night, with buildings lit up.

New Year's Eve in Melbourne

From fireworks to fancy dinners and family fun, Melbourne is the perfect place to celebrate NYE.

Federation square on a sunny day overlooking Flinders Station and the city skyline

What's free in Melbourne this month

Everything to see, do and enjoy in Melbourne for free this month.

Red fireworks over the city viewed from a floating bar with umbrellas and lanterns.

The best restaurants to book for New Year's Eve

Book a restaurant, find fireworks near you and plan the best New Year's Eve in Melbourne.

Two people seated below a neon sign.
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The Story of the Moving Image

A permanent exhibition that journeys through the past, present and future of the moving image.

A still from the movie, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, showing Johnnie Depp and Leonardo Di Caprio in character as Gilbert and his developmentally disabled brother.
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Library Cinema at narrm ngarrgu

Each month, watch a movie on the big screen, including contemporary, classic and documentary films.

Four rows of people sitting smiling and laughing.
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Kings of Comedy: Underground, Uncensored, Unrivalled

Enjoy stand-up comedy from future stars and celebrity guest headliners.

A young child wearing a dressing gown, looking at an open picture book in her lap, blurred twinkling lights behind her.
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Bedtime Storytime

Hop into your pyjamas, grab your favourite teddy and enjoy bedtime stories.

Four cabaret performers surrounded by pink and yellow feather fans.
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Cabaret Ridiculous

An hour of variety entertainment that’s as unpredictable as it is unforgettable.

A person spooning food from a large salad bowl onto a plate they hold in their hands.
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Local Lunch Club

Live well, eat well, together at Kathleen Syme Library.

A woman with two red plaits and a white cap holds up a picture book in a kids library area.
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Stompers

Bring your child to Library at The Dock on Tuesdays for a lifelong love of books.

Three people seated around a wooden table, each reading a paperback novel.
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English Learners' Book Club

A place where English learners connect to discuss books and share ideas.

A woman holding a teddy about toe read a picture book in a library story area.
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Songbirds

Visit Southbank Library on Mondays for Songbirds, with songs, rhymes and stories for littlies.

Violinists playing as part of a seated orchestra.

Meet @ the Market: Session 3

A concert of profound feeling: from grief to hope and joy, paired with custom cocktails.

A still from a film showing a family celebrating around a woman sitting in front of a birthday cake.
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Matinees at ACMI Cinemas

Celebrate cinema at a sensible hour with ACMI's thoughtfully curated line-up of films.

A choral singer in black with other members of the choir behind her.
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Handel's Messiah

Join the MSO and an all-Australian cast for Handel’s Messiah – a Christmas tradition.

A woman smiling and holding up a copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar in a library setting.
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Stompers

Join in the Stompers fun with your toddler at North Melbourne Library every Thursday.

A library staff member holding a large owl puppet in one hand and a picture book in his other hand, standing in the children's section of a library.
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Stompers

Enjoy fun stories, songs, rhymes and activities at Kathleen Syme Library every Monday.

The feet of two people on a walking tour, standing on a tiled floor.
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East Melbourne Walking Tours

Take a guided walking tour of East Melbourne to discover secrets and hear untold stories.

An orchestra dressed in red suits playing on a stage that is decorated in festive and seasonal Christmas decorations.

Christmas Melodies

Join in the seasonal celebration of a Morning Melodies Christmas concert.

A smiling library worker holding up three picture books with their front covers facing out, seated cross-legged on the floor in front of library display shelves.
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Songbirds

Come along to City Library on Fridays for songs, rhymes and stories.

A close up image of a brass instrument.

Academy End of Year Showcase

Young musicians celebrate the end of their Academy year, performing a program of chamber music.

A child wearing a plastic coat, squirting paint with a paintgun at a pink canvas on a wall splattered with paint.
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Melbourne Paint Lab Art Workshop

At Melbourne Paint Lab you can splash, splatter and drip paint to unleash your inner artist.

A smiling adult holding a ukulele seated at a low table, with two picture books resting on the table, in a library setting.
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Preschool Storytime

Share the wonder of books with your children at narrm ngarrgu Library.

A group of people with eyes closed, sitting cross legged on the floor practicing meditation.
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Heartfulness Meditation and Wellness

Learn to relax, meditate and live stress-free with a simple heart-based meditation practice.

A large group of people all holding ukeleles as they pose for a photo in a white-walled room.
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Strum and Sing

Join this ukelele community, whether you're a seasoned pro or have never held a uke in your life.

A smiling woman with long red plaits and a white cap in a library setting with a large bear on her knee.
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Songbirds

Come along to Library at The Dock on Wednesdays for Songbirds: songs, rhymes and stories.

People dressed as characters from Fawlty Towers, with Basil strangling Manuel as Sybil talks on the phone.
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Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience

The global sensation returns with a fully immersive dining experience.

Selection of cassette tapees with handmade covers.
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Rebel Heart: Love Letters and Other Declarations

A stirring exhibition exploring romantic love through the State Library's extraordinary archive.

A young boy in a red woolen jumper looking scared with his hands to his cheeks, two bad men looking through the window behind him.
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Home Alone in Concert

Experience the beloved comedy classic with John Williams' charming score performed live by the MSO.

Black and white photograph from the 1960s of model, Twiggy, wearing a mini-dress at the Melbourne Cup.
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Swinging 60s

Did the sixties really swing in Victoria? A new exhibition from the Old Treasury Building.

People watching a fireworks display over the City of Melbourne from a boat on the Yarra River.

New Year's Eve Fireworks Cruise

Celebrate in style with an all-inclusive harbour and river cruise departing Docklands.

A woman in a library setting holding a ukulele and talking to a toy bird.
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Stompers

Join in the Stompers fun with your toddler every Wednesday at East Melbourne Library.

A woman and child sit in a museum, looking up at a glass case displaying a preserved human body posed in a dramatic leap, with exposed muscles visible.
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Body Worlds: The Anatomy of Happiness

Discover what lies behind the skin to reveal how our health, emotions and environment impact us.

A woman in a yellow hard hat reading a picture book and smiling in a library.
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Stompers

Head to Southbank Library on Thursdays to enjoy stories, songs, rhymes and fun.

Group of children seated on the floor while adults look on.
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Auslan Storytime

Bringing stories to life through visual language and movement, 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month.

Selection of market goods including packets of teas and biscuits.
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Kensington Market

An eclectic mix of homewares, culinary treats, ceramics, sustainable goods and visual art.

A woman holding a picture book titled 'Ruffles' and also holding a dog toy in a library reading area.
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Songbirds

Come along to East Melbourne Library on Thursdays for Songbirds: songs, rhymes and stories.

Market stallholder with her puppet toys, beside the Yarra River in the CBD.
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The Sunday Market at Southgate

Explore the Sunday Market at Southgate and meet the makers.

Hand holding a brush over marbled pattern in a water bath.
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Water Marbling Workshop

Learn the art of water marbling and apply it to textiles.

A smiling woman with a ukulele seated at a desk with two picture books on display.
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Stompers

Join in the Stompers fun with your toddler at narrm ngarrgu Library every Friday.

A woman seated with her legs crossed about to read a story in a library setting.
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Songbirds

Come along to North Melbourne Library on Mondays and Wednesdays for Songbirds.

A library staff member standing in the children's book section of a library, holding up a picture book and reading from it.
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Songbirds

Come along to Kathleen Syme Library on Tuesdays for songs, rhymes and stories.

A preschool aged child with curly hair wearing a red dress, holding open a book and looking at it.
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Preschool Storytime

Sing songs and read stories with your young child at North Melbourne Library.

Two people showing off their resin-decorated breadboards in a workshop setting.
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Resin Art Class: Cheeseboards and Coasters

Make abstract art and discover the magic of working with resin.

People walking along a plant-lined pathway in public gardens, with city towers in the background.
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Fitzroy Gardens Heritage Tour

A journey through the heritage-listed gardens, where history and nature seamlessly blend.

Young children and their parents listening to a story book being read aloud in a colourful environment with large dinosaur cutouts.
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Dino Days

Young dinosaur enthusiasts, aged 3-5 years, are invited to explore all things dinosaur.

Violinists performing with their instruments, one with their back to the view, the other a woman with black hair.

Orchestra Victoria: Worlds Within

The final concert of the 2026 Southbank Series brings the season to a deeply reflective close.

A song sheet resting on a dark wooden surface, with christmas bells on top.

Classic Kids: Christmas

Join the MSO for a magical performance perfect for the whole family.

The four female members of the Flinders String Quartet posing in front of a vintage yellow and green Melbourne tram.
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Flinders Quartet Open Rehearsals

Three open rehearsals offer a rare opportunity to observe the Flinders Quartet prepare to perform.

A smiling person seated in front of the children's section of a library, holding up a picture book and teddy bear in her lap.
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Songbirds

Come along to narrm ngarrgu Library on Wednesdays for Songbirds.

A group of people at a Paint and Sip class, learning to paint on canvas with acrylics while enjoying a glass of wine.
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Paint and Sip Class: Acrylic Art on Canvas

Immerse yourself in the delightful and creative experience of this Paint and Sip class.

A person in a black suit holds a large, green ape head sculpture behind them, on a city sidewalk with graffiti-covered walls in the background.
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Rehearsing the City Exhibition

See archival photos from Victoria’s collections, plus work by contemporary street photographers.

Two drag performers posing in strong-man stances while dressed in blue and pink leopard print leotards and visors.
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Bingo Bananza

The familiar world of bingo collides with the strange, sparkly, and wonderfully absurd.

A photo of the four members of the band Wolf Alice sitting on a grassy field outdoors.

Wolf Alice: Live at the Gardens

UK rockers Wolf Alice return to Australia in December and headline Live at the Gardens.

Watercolour depiction of the French flag in blue, white and red stripes.
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French Club

Immerse yourself in French culture, improve your language skills and make new friends.

Smiling vendor selling a range of pastries, dips and spreads at Queen Victoria Market.

Queen Victoria Market

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

Comfortable banquette seating around tables in a wood panelled interior of a restaurant.

Mesa Verde

A contemporary Mexican restaurant and home to the country's largest collection of agave spirits.

Child looking over right shoulder with delighted smile, dark dinosaur model behind.

Melbourne Museum

Explore history, culture, science and nature at this popular Melbourne attraction.

Slice of strawberry cream cake.

Sweet Canteen

A desserts, pastries, and coffee shop hidden in the colourful Driver Lane.

See all events in December

Discover more

Large crowd of people watching a concert at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.
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What's on in January

Things to do in Melbourne in January, from free events to exhibitions and places to visit.

Young kid sitting on the shoulders of an adult in a large crowd of people watching a show.

Melbourne for free

Discover free things to do in Melbourne, including galleries, museums, events and festivals.

A night tennis match at Rod Laver Arena.

Major events

From the Australian Open to the Melbourne Cup, major events take centre stage throughout the year.

Young child, in front of an artsy background, looking up at something.

Family and kids

Find things to do with the kids, from family-friendly events to fun attractions and workshops.