The Weekender: May 4 – 6
Wicked Dessert Festival
Sunday, May 6 (10.00am – 4.00pm) Prahran Market
Satisfy your sweet tooth this weekend and get your just desserts by heading to one of the most decadent events of the year: the Wicked Dessert Festival.
As you might expect from a festival dedicated to desserts, you’ll find nothing but sweet and sugary goodness here. Stalls selling everything from doughnuts and crepes to luxury chocolates and pastries will be set up to delight your taste buds. They even have chocolate coated bacon – what a dream!
Cooking and baking demonstrations will be held at the Omega & Neil Perry Kitchen every hour from 10.30am and live entertainment will add to the festive vibes of the event.
So make sure you get the most of this sweet event and be sure not to leave on an empty stomach!
This is a FREE event but do make sure you bring cash if you wish to buy desserts. For more information, visit the Prahran Market’s official website.
Dog Lovers Show
Friday, May 4 – Sunday, May 6 (9.30am – 5.00pm) | Royal Exhibition Building (9 Nicholson St, Carlton)
You’ll be in doggo heaven this weekend when the Dog Lovers Show rolls into town!
From pugs to pomeranians, the Dog Lovers Show is a celebration of man’s best friend and will give you a chance to not only be surrounded by pups but to also see how extraordinary they can be. Attractions of the event include the ROYAL CANIN Arena (which launches the inaugral 2018 Common Woof Games), the Black Hawk Dockdogs competition and the Hero Dog Tribute (a celebration of incredible dogs in all types of fields, from working dogs, therapy dogs, assistance dogs, and more!).
The Furbo Insta-Pooch red carpet will again be rolled out for dogs and their owners to truly feel like royalty. International recording superstar DJ Havana Brown will also be appearing with her dog at 3pm on the red carpet both on Saturday and Sunday!
Visitors are also encouraged to bring their dog along and join in on the fun!
For more information, visit the Dog Lovers Show’s official website.
Human Rights Arts and Film Festival
Thursday, May 3 – Thursday, May 17 (Various times) | ACMI (Federation Square, Corner Flinders St & Swanston St, Melbourne)
One of the year’s most important Australian film festivals returns with an incredible lineup of must-see films this year.
Those with a penchant for challenging and thought provoking films need not look further. From films about domestic violence against women (A Better Man) to indigenous land rights (Piripkura), this year’s program offers yet another close examination of the issues currently plaguing our society.
And don’t forget about the short films too. HRAFF’s lineup of Australian Shorts and International Shorts prove that there are so many diverse and important stories that need to be told.
For more information and to find out more about the program, visit the HRAFF official website.
Hungry Ghosts
Thursday, May 3 – Saturday, May 19 | Southbank Theatre – The Lawler (140 Southbank Boulevard, Southbank)
Support the local arts scene and visit the opening weekend of Hungry Ghosts, a new play that meshes the tragedy of flight MH370, Malaysia’s billion dollar 1MDB scandal with an unsolved mystery and exploration of queer identity.
Its premise is simple: when you’re a young queer Chinese-Malaysian Australian, how do you work out where you belong in the world?
The show is filled with humour and energy and may surprise attending audiences. Emina Ashman (Moths) and Jing-xuan Chan (The Family Law) star in a play produced by new playwright Jean Tong and directed by Petra Kalive (Melbourne Talam).
For more information, visit the Melbourne Theatre Company’s official website.