The Weekender: October 16 – 18

SURROUND yourself with Chinese lanterns, get your geek on at the AMC Expo, enjoy the Spring Fling Festival or see a film or two at this year’s Greek Film Festival. Dea Putra provides her highlights for the weekend.

Dandenong Festival of Lights
September 11 – October 18 (6.00pm – 10.00pm) | Dandenong Showgrounds (Greaves Reserve, Bennet Street, Dandenong)

Whimsical lanterns in the Dandenong Festival of Lights. Photo taken from the event’s website.

Since September, the Dandenong Festival of Lights has showcased Chinese culture and silk lanterns featured by the Chinese Cultural Works Light Spectacular.

Visitors can walk down a path displaying 32 vibrant silk lanterns of various shapes and sizes, whilst being accompanied by ambient music through their journey.

Food trucks, nightly stage performances and carnival rides will also be available.

For more information about the events, head to their official website. Tickets start from $20 (adult, $17 concession).

Australian Movie and Comic Expo
Saturday, October 17 – Sunday, October 18 (9.00 am – 6.00 pm) | Melbourne Showgrounds

Join fellow cosplayers and pop culture enthusiasts this weekend at the newly renamed AMC Expo! Photo by Salman Javed on Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons. No changes were made.

Previously known as Armageddon, the newly renamed Australian Movie and Comic Expo is an interactive and multimedia event, bringing international stars and activities for fans in the realms of gaming, fantasy, sci-fi, TV, comic books and anime.

Guest stars for this family-friendly event include established actors and artists such as Lou Diamond Phillips (Stargate Empire), Bernie Kopell (Get Smart) and Brian Buccellato (The Flash comics).

Unleash your inner geek and be amazed by memorable movie props (such as the iconic DeLoreanDMC-12 from the Back to the Future franchise), discussion panels, art and merchandise dealers, a live Quidditch match and cosplays.

More details about the various sights and activities available can be accessed through their official website. One or two day passes are also available for purchase.

Spring Fling Festival
Sunday, October 18 (11.00 am – 6.00 pm) | Errol St, North Melbourne

Among the many things to do at the Spring Fling Festival is witnessing the popular dog show! Photo by Caitlin McColl from Ragamuffin Photography.

Celebrate North and West Melbourne’s diversity and creative community in the 38th year of the Spring Fling Festival, and witness the famous Errol St and its surrounding laneways packed with stalls and free activities.

A wide range of cultural performances and workshops will be held across various stages, and keep an eye out for the crowd-favourite dog show. Visitors can also enjoy meals and drinks under the sun with live music throughout the day, from acts such as The Baudelaires, Soul Safari and Centre & The South.

Make sure to bring enough cash for the aspiring artists market, or haul your own luggage and sell your own goods in the suitcase rummageevent (registration essential).

Head to the event’s official website or Facebook event page for the full schedule and more information.

Delphi Bank Greek Film Festival
October 14 – November 1 (Various times) | Various locations

The 22nd installment of the Delphi Bank Greek Film Festival kicks off this weekend, with a selection of 23 films available for viewing in the span of 19 days.

The festival will open with Alex & Eve – originally a stage play – which tells a story of dating in a multicultural Australian landscape.

Immerse yourself in Greek culture on the big screen, with various genres to choose from, including thriller, romance, comedy, and drama – or a combination of these which can be seen in Fan (directed by Dimitris Bitos), a chilling story about childhood vengeance and selfishness.

Also, check out feature film Family Member(directed by Marinos Kartikkis) and documentary film Agora: From Democracy to the Market to gain more insight on the Greek Financial Crisis from the Greek perspective.

For the Delphi Bank Greek Film Festival’s full schedule and ticketing information, visit their official website.