The Weekender: September 11 – 13
BID the frosty winter goodbye by surrounding yourself in the vibrant colours of Mexican culture, visiting outer Victoria to partake in a Tulip Festival, attending a symposium dedicated to one of Australia’s significant musical figures, or seeing new films from daring filmmakers. Lya Susanto has you covered.
Mexican Festival 2015
Sunday, 13 September (11.30am – 8.30pm) | Federation Square
Image: jeffreyw via Flickr
Get ready to salsa your day away by experiencing what Mexico has to offer at this Sunday’s Mexican Festival.
From its flavours, its music or its various means of entertainment, partake in festivities down at Federation Square and celebrate the country’s Independence Day early.
The festival will feature food from established Mexican restaurant eateries such as Mamasita, Touche Hombre, Los Amates Mexican Kitchen, Paco’s Tacos, Guzman y Gomez and Mad Mex.
Check out the Mexican Market where you can find some awesome Mexican handicrafts, witness the Viva Mexico Stage and watch live Mariachi bands perform.Also don’t miss out on the Cantina/Bar where you can indulge in your favourite alcoholic drinks from Mexico!
Look out for information at the Festival’s Facebook page or find out more at Mexican Festival’s website.
Tesselaar Tulip Festival 2015
Thursday, September 10 (10.00am – 5.00pm) | Tesselaar Tulip Farm (357 Monbulk Rd, Silvan)
Photo: Lord of the Wings© via Flickr
Less than an hour away from Melbourne’s CBD, those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city might want to surround themselves in tulips at the Tesselar Tulip Festival!
The unique annual event showcases beautiful tulip sculptures and features various gardening activities, live entertainment and culinary delights.
In addition to the tulips, the festival’s own Turkish Weekend – held to honour the origins of the tulip – celebrates Turkish culture with various Turkish performances, mouth-watering delights, and handicrafts.
Admission to the festival will cost $20 for students. Though no prior booking is needed, an online ticket purchase will help you skip the long queue and have better experience at the festival.
For more information, visit the Tesselaar Tulip Festival website.
Introducing Marshall-Hall (1862-1915) and his Opera Stella
Saturday, September 12 (1.00pm – 6.00pm) | Melba Hall (Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, Gate 12, Royal Parade, Parkville)
Photo: Rexness via Flickr
GWL Marshall-Hall, the first Music Professor at the University of Melbourne, was a subversive, revolutionary and inspiring figure in Australia’s music scene.
Together with Lyric Opera of Melbourne, Melbourne Conservatorium of Music presents the first complete staged performance of his opera Stella and a one-day symposium, which aims to enrich the opera audiences’ experiences in honouring the centenary of his death.
The afternoon is promised to be both educational and entertaining, with programs including presentation from cultural historian Tony Moore from Monash University, readings of Marshall-Hall letters, and a reception.
The FREE event requires booking.
See the full program details at the University of Melbourne Faculty of VCA & MCM website.
Melbourne Underground Film Festival
Friday, September 11 – Saturday, September 19 | Backlot Studios (65 Haig St, Southbank)
Ditch the glitz and glam of the Melbourne International Film Festival and sneak out to see something a little cheekier with this year’s installment of the Melbourne Underground Film Festival (MUFF).
Showcasing the bold and often bizarre works of independent filmmakers from both local and international, MUFF is a celebration of indie spirit that most festivals are likely to overlook.
See films like The Search for Weng Weng, a documentary about the world of Filipino B-Movies, and opening night film Under a Kaleidoscope, a psychedelic film about a drug-fueled agoraphobic whose world expands thanks to his neighbour next door.
To learn more about the Melbourne Underground Film Festival, visit the festival’s official website.