The Weekender: November 17 – 19
German Christmas Market
Sunday, November 19 (10.00am – 2.00pm) | (51 Elizabeth St, Bayswater)
Already in the spirit of Christmas? Head over to the German Christmas Market for crafts, treats and good eats! The market will be full of passionate artisan food and beverage producers.
Dedicated to the best holiday of the year, this market will feature all you will need to up your Christmas game this year with additional German twists.
The smell of gingerbread and eggnog is bound to be in the air as you visit various Christmas enthusiasts. This is the perfect place to start shopping for a secret Santa gift! ‘Tis the season of giving after all. Craft stalls will also be present to help you tailor a hand-made present to suit and make the big day even more special. Of course, no food festival is complete without a range of pretzels, chutneys, and syrups. Liquor will be available for purchase as well – everything you need for a party!
Entry into the market is free but do not forget to bring cash for any vendors that do not accept credit card. For more information on stall vendors and activities, visit the website here.
Satsuki Azalea Show
November 18 – 19 (10.00am – 4.00pm) | Bonsai Art Nursery (236 Old Dandenong Rd, Heatherton)
Take a break from campus life and the hustle and bustle of the city to look at some beautiful Azaleas. With more than 50 trees on display ready to blow you away, you’ll want to make time for the Satsuki Azalea Show this weekend!
Satsuki expert Arthur Robinson will be circulating the venue, providing demonstrations each day at various times. Although Satsuki Azaleas have been cultivated in Japan for centuries, it is still relatively new to Australia so do not miss the chance to talk to an expert! They are hardy plants that provide variety — not only can one tree have multiple coloured blooms but their shapes can vary too.
Bring along some friends or even a special partner to view the magnificent flowers and have a good day out! Who knows, after attending this event you may even cop yourself a Satsuki Azalea plant.
Entry is absolutely free and held at a Bonsai nursery so Satsuki Azaleas are not the only thing to admire! For more information on Satsuki Azaleas and the event, head over to the website here.
Cine Latino Film Festival 2017
November 16 – 29 (Various times) | Various venues
Winter is one of several films screening at the 2017 Cine Latino Film Festival. | Image supplied by Asha Holmes Publicity.
What better way to shake off the semester by indulging in some good cinema?
The Cine Latino Film Festival can provide exactly that. Headlining this year’s festival is spicy Mexican comedy You’re Killing Me Susana. Directed by Roberto Sneider, this movie is hailed as a funny epic journey of a Mexican man on a mission to find his estranged wife who left without any notice. Throughout the journey, the movie highlights the struggles of negotiating between his own culture and American culture.
If exams have got you feeling like a prison inmate, check out ‘Woodpeckers’, a prison romance film where two prisoners create their own sign language to communicate. Love blooms between the walls of both the male and female prisons with pure sound, a hook that is true to the actual practice of that facility whereby inmates have developed a way to “peck” noises as a sign of communication.
Elsewhere, films such as One Night Of Love showcase a couple’s struggle to re-ignite their passion after 12 years of marriage, Winter, an allegory of a man who finds himself out of time and The Summit, which focuses on the political journey of an Argentinean President.
For more program and ticketing information, visit the Cine Latino Festival guide here.
MindBodySpirit Festival
November 17 – 19 (10.00am – 7.00pm) | Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (1 Convention Place, South Wharf)
Photo by Matthew Kane on Unsplash.
Revive your mind body and spirit at this festival that focuses not only on physical health but also mental health. Revel in essential oils as you drift around through a whopping 200 exhibitor stalls. Get a sketch of your guardian angel or spirit to see who has been protecting you and helping you obtain good grades. But of course, if your tastes lie with the more conventional spiritual readings, tarot card and clairvoyant readings will certainly be available.
If you are looking to heal physically, The Soul Kitchen will be providing a demonstration on how to cook healthy meals and take away food options will be available at the venue. If you have been feeling a little stiff because of exams, make sure you check in for an acupuncture, tantric healing, or massages from the Melbourne Institute of Massage Therapy.
Just a stone’s throw away from Flinders Street Station, make sure to grab a friend and a turmeric latte for a weekend of feel-good healing vibes! Even better, this festival is completely free for those who RSVP with an email address.
For more information on the festival program and ticketing, click here.