The Weekender: July 26 – 28
GET to know your city better at Open House Melbourne, participate in a real-life version of the popular game ‘Where’s Wally?’, or pick up some literary treasures at Melbourne Rare Book Week this weekend. Vivian Tan tells you more.
Open House Melbourne
Saturday and Sunday, July 27 – 28, Federation Square (2 Swanston St, Melbourne)
Take a tour of the Royal Exhibition Building and 110 other buildings at Open House Melbourne this weekend. Photo: Travis via Flickr
The highly anticipated Open House Melbourne is back again for its sixth year running, and it promises to be even bigger and better this year.
This weekend, 111 of Melbourne’s most interesting buildings will be open to visitors. Buildings include places of worship, underground tunnels, museums, studios and creative workspaces. This is a great chance for visitors to explore places that are usually off limits – and learn all about their history and architecture too!
Highlights for this year’s event include access to Channel 9’s studios in Docklands, a treehouse in South Yarra, and The Supreme Court of Victoria.
If you would prefer to join a group, join a guided walking tour! There are several interesting tours happening on both days, ranging from a look into Melbourne’s urban laneways to a tour of the city lights.
This is a free event. For more information visit Open House Melbourne’s website.
1st Annual Seek and Find Wally Event
Saturday, July 27, Federation Square (2 Swanston St, Melbourne)
Now you can look for Wally on the streets of Melbourne! Photo: William Murphy via Flickr
Many people have invested a lot of time in searching for Wally in those tiny, cluttered drawings throughout the years. This weekend, make the search come to life by searching for Wally in Melbourne city.
The aim is to locate Wally and two of his friends. A boundary map and instructions will be provided. Be creative – Wally could be enjoying a coffee or a performance on the street!
Funds go towards the Green Party Adam Bandt’s Campaign.
This event costs $10. For more information check out the 1st Annual Seek and Find Wally Facebook event page.
Moon Lantern Festival Exhibition
July 15 – September 15, Chinese Museum and Chinatown Visitor Centre (22 Cohen Place, Melbourne)
Photo: epSos.de via Flickr
The Chinese celebrate Mid Autumn Festival on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. This year, the Chinese Museum invites visitors to explore the festival. The main idea of this festival is to celebrate gathering and thanksgiving.
(For a short history of the Mid Autumn Festival, check out this article.)
‘Lighting Up Multiculturalism’ is an exhibition that features how the multicultural population in Australia celebrate this festive season. The exhibition includes displays of lanterns, mooncake boxes, and a poem wall that they can contribute to.
Entry costs $8, child/concession $6, family $20. For more information visit the Chinese Museum’s website.
Melbourne Rare Book Week
July 18 – July 28, State Library of Victoria (328 Swanston St, Melbourne)
Photo: net_efekt via Flickr
In 2012, the inaugural Melbourne Rare Book Week was a big hit, and it is now back for the second year. This year’s theme is ‘A Passion for Books’ – bibliophiles, this is something you cannot miss!
Those who have a love for words, pen and paper, are often scouting for books and its many editions at libraries and such. This weekend, visitors have the opportunity to come together to share their love and passion and indulge in all the rare and lost books out there.
This is a free event. For more information visit the Melbourne Rare Book Week’s website.