The Weekender: October 10 – 12
ENJOY a two-week festival around the CBD, visit a new weekend market in Coburg, listen to some inspiring tunes in South Bank or delve into Malaysian culture at the Queen Victoria Market. Daniel Driscoll has you covered this weekend.
Melbourne Festival
Friday, October 10 – Sunday, October 26 (Various times); Various venues
Melbourne’s biggest creative arts festival, the Melbourne Festival, is on again. There are more than 60 unique events on the two-week schedule, which includes theatre, film, music, dance performances, and various art events.
The festival will commence on Friday with a Tanderrum ceremony at Federation Square at 6.00pm. Afterwards, the Elders of the five clans of the Kulin nation (Wurrundjeri, Boon Wurrung, Wadawarrung, Taungurung, and Dja Dja Wurrung) will preside over a Welcome Ceremony at 7.00pm to once again invite the people of Melbourne to enjoy the spectacular exchange of culture and art.
With so many events going on, you’d better start checking the schedule and snap up tickets fast as they’ve been on sale since July!
To find out what you shouldn’t miss out, peruse our picks for highlights of the festival for this year.
For more information and to book your tickets, head to the Melbourne Festival’s website.
Batman Market
Saturday, October 11 – Sunday, October 12 (9.00am – 3.00pm); Batman Market (14 – 22 Gaffney St, Coburg)
Image: Batman Market Facebook page.
Located in the historic old factory site of the Australian Textiles Industries and Australian Defence Apparel, the Batman Market is a brand new market in Coburg with something for everyone.
The Market will have over 120 stalls offering fruit and vegetables, organic food, ethnic dishes, entertainment and crafts.
In the grocery stalls, you will be able to find some of the very same food options you’d find at the supermarket with competitive prices. This includes baked goods, meat and poultry, dairy and health foods.
Don’t forget to also check out the craft stalls, which will be selling all kind of goods including boutique fashion, glass terrariums, henna designs and cosmetics.
Take a break and indulge your taste buds with Chinese kebabs, Indian street food, European food, a Mexican food van and more!
Entertainment will include a large gospel choir and Chinese lion dancers.
For more information, head to the Batman Market’s website.
Visible Music Sessions
Sunday, October 12 (3.00pm); Foxtel Festival Hub (Peppercorn Lawn, Southbank)
Igniting Imaginations is on at the Foxtel Festival Hub. The project builds dynamic new bonds with culturally and linguistically diverse communities and brings exceptional artistic talent from Australia’s emerging Indigenous and refugee communities to the stage.
The program features a vibrant selection of performances, creative workshops, industry engagements and public programs.
This week features performances by Dani Sib and The Jazmaris with Seble Girma. Dani, who is a singer-songwriter, will be showcasing some of her own tunes that talk about life as a 20-something, while also paying homage to her Aboriginal heritage.
The Jazmaris are a nine-piece Ethio-jazz ensemble from Ethiopia. They play an innovative hybrid style of jazz with multiple influences. They will be playing a mix of original compositions and pieces by Ethiopian composers.
For more details about the program, head to the Igniting Imaginations page.
Malaysia Street Festival
Sunday, October 12 (9.00am – 4.00pm); Queen Victoria Market (Corner of Victoria St and Elizabeth St, Melbourne)
The Malaysia Street Festival is on at the Queen Victoria Market in celebration of Malaysia Day. The day marks the establishment of the Malaysian federation on September 16, 1963.
Check out this pop-up restaurant festival with authentic Malaysian cuisine. There will be over 30 mouth-watering dishes from some of Melbourne’s most authentic Malaysian restaurants.
You can enjoy not only Malaysian and Nyonya food, but also dishes from neighboring ASEAN countries including Indonesia, Thailand, Phillipines and Singapore.
If you are a fan of authentic Malaysian cuisine, you shouldn’t miss the festival since visiting chefs from East Malaysia will preparethree special dishesnot found in Melbourne on the day.
In addition to food, there will be authentic cultural entertainmentand performances throughout the day. Ten specialist stalls will also be selling hand-crafts, hair and makeup products and Thai massage services.
For more information, head to the Malaysia Festival’s website.