Festivals, Sunday sessions, and masterclasses. This weekend in Melbourne is all about Eat. Play. Love… Drink. Run away from the grueling marathons set to occur this weekend, and instead focus on the fun and frivolity to be had! There's always food—so much of it (thank goodness!)—but with a bit of music to spice things up, an event or two for a noble cause, and a few seriously serious alcohol-appreciation-explorations, this weekend in Melbourne is set to rock your boat (in only the best, cruisy sort of way)!
So brace yourself, Listers, and check out what's on this weekend in Melbourne town!
Thursday 13th
The Noble Experiment in Collingwood have this awesome gig called the Temperance Society, and you can thank them for bringing you an epic event for whisky lovers! The event will showcase 4 delicious Macallan drams, complemented with cheese—because what goes better? The evening will be hosted by Sarah Miller, the Macallan brand ambassador, and she'll ensure guests are whisked through a thoroughly enjoyable evening of tasting and toasting!
Macallan Whisky Master Class | The Noble Experiment in Collingwood
$30pp | 6:30pm | Bookings essential, 9416 0058
**PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT**
Love food and want to test out your culinary skills? Then this awesome collaboration between Fisher & Paykel, Queen Victoria Market, and Peter Rowland Catering is perfect for all you foodie fanatics! The Social Kitchen Cooking School is setting up shop in the Queen Victoria Market from today, and will run throughout summer! Offering two types of classes, participants will be invited to shop the Market, then cook up a storm in one of the onsite designer cooking stations. The best bit? Celebrity chefs! Cookers will be inspired by professional foodie figures such as Shane Delia, Scott Pickett and Darren Purchese.
The Social Kitchen Cooking School | Queen Victoria Market
7 Days a week from November 13th | Prices Vary
Tempt yourself to taste something delicious at this year's Taste of Melbourne. A four-day showcase of some of Melbourne's best restaurants, foodies you absolutely can't miss this one! There will be over 60 dishes represented, from 17 different restaurants. Try some tapas from Movida, or some spicy steak tartare with betel leaf, shisho and crispy wakame from Uncle! Sample wines, participate in classes, and soak up the festival atmosphere. Make your way down to Albert Park to taste something tantalising! Want to know more? Check out our article on the Festival Director's top ten picks!
Taste of Melbourne | Albert Park | Ticket prices vary
Thursday 13th November to Sunday 16th November
Melburnians, get your engines revving, because you're about to be among the first people in Australia to experience the pre-launch of the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron, the first Audi plug-in hybrid electric vehicle! With Top Gear's Steve Pizzati hosting fun events like a driving tutorial, and loads of other great activities, this is a fun-filled occasion for car nuts!
Audi e-tron Driving Experience | Melbourne International Karting Complex in Port Melbourne
Free (places limited) | Thursday 13th November to Sunday 16th November | Register here
Friday 14th
Whether you like them naughty with some XO sauce, or nice with loads of veggies, noodles are a pretty awesome comfort food. Which is why you should be darn excited about the Night Noodle Markets! Launching today for only two weeks, head down to visit hawker-style set-ups and food trucks from favourites such as Chin Chin, Hammer & Tong 412, Kong, Charlie Dumpling, Izakaya Den and Mr Miyagi! We're also super excited about the new Gogi Korean food truck from the Hammer & Tong crew, launching at the markets. Find out more about the Night Noodle Markets and their epic serving of awesome sauce here!
Night Noodle Markets | Birrarung Marr in Melbourne
5pm Friday 14th November to Sunday 30th November
In its fifth year and going strong, Melbourne Music Week 2014 will be a captivating 10 days, jam-packed full of imaginative music and arts events. Running over 110 events of free and affordable shows reflecting Melbourne's creative identity, MMW is a music festival that spans across music, art, multimedia and film. With an economic plan supporting the local industries, this is one for musos and muso appreciators. Get your jam on, Listers! Speaking of jam, if you're getting peckish in-between sets, check out the foodie offering of the Melbourne Music Week, with appearances from the likes of Hammer & Tong, Supernormal, Padre, Huxtaburger and more!
Melbourne Music Week | Various Locations | Prices Vary
Friday 14th November to Sunday 23rd November
Help raise funds for Diabetes Australia and get your blood pumping while you're at it! Today is Walk to Work Day, an annual event helping employers and employees build regular walking into their routine. Aiming to promote better physical, mental, and social health, and also aiming to cut down vehicle and public transport use to reduce unnecessary emissions, walk to work today and get on your feet with this great cause.
Diabetes Australia Walk to Work Day | Australia Wide | Register here
Saturday 15th
There's a new Reformer Pilates studio in River Street, South Yarra, and One Hot Yoga & Pilates are planning to celebrate! Join them for a complimentary express class in the brand new state of the art studios! With guest speakers, pop-up market stalls, music and giveaways, get yourself inspired!
One Hot Yoga & Pilates Open Day | 36-45 River Street in South Yarra | 10:00am - 2:00pm
Hosted by James Halliday himself, the West vs North East Victorian Wine Challenge is set to be an epic face off at Union Dining in Richmond. Guests become the judges, with a tutored judging session from 3pm – 5:30pm. The post-judging four-course meal will begin at 6:30pm, including eight winning wines. Whether you're judging, or just wining and dining, book your tickets for this rare vintage of an opportunity, pronto!
West vs North East Victorian Wine Challenge | Union Dining in Richmond
$30 judging, $95 dinner, $120 combined | 3pm judging, 6:30pm dinner
Book via phone 9428 2988 or online
Still looking for things to do in Melbourne this weekend? Bellas and bellos, don't miss St Dominic's Primary Italian Festa, where activities will include sipping on some fine wine and sampling authentic Italian cuisine! With a promise of handmade Italian doughnuts and cannoli (as well as much more), we're set to arrive with an empty stomach (we may need help rolling out—err, leaving—though)! With school performances, a silent auction and rides and activities for the littlies, head down this arvo for a fun filled time!
St Dominic's Primary Italian Festa | St Dominic's Primary School in Camberwell | 2pm - 8pm
Love eating? Check. Love drinking? Check. Love doing it for a great cause? Not even going to dignify that with an answer! Wine Rules is a super event where guests can attend a wine masterclass with UK wine expert, Matthew Dukes. The funds go to St Mary's House of Welcome, providing much needed support services for those experiencing homelessness, poverty and mental illness. So sip some wine, nibble some naughties, and help make a difference!
Fitzroy Foodies for Homelessness Masterclass | St Mary's House of Welcome in Fitzroy
$60pp | 6:00pm - 8:30pm | Book via phone 9417 7985 or email
MADA (Monash Art, Design and Architecture) are showing off their mad skills with collaborative exhibition, 'Wearing the City'. Exploring the crossover between fashion and architecture, the student work will showcase some pretty interesting techniques and talent. Running as part of the MPavillion's art event program, 'One Night Stand'. Don't miss this one, arty farties.
MADA presents: Wearing the City | MPavillion, Queen Victoria Gardens in Melbourne
6pm - 8pm | Free
Get your summer picking and finger lickin' on, with U-Pick evenings at Cherryhill in the Yarra Valley. Woah-oh-oh summer nights! Tell me more, tell me more… But seriously, spend a balmy evening picking deliciously sweet cherries straight from the trees, from 7pm tonight, and then all through summer!
U-Pick Evenings at Cherryhill | Cherryhill Orchards in Wandin East
$10 adults, $5 kids | 7pm | From 15th November through January
Sunday 16th
Partake in an epic Sunday session at Dr Morse, and be prepared to pig out! Every Sunday in November, Dr Morse in Abbotsford will be hosting Suckling Pig Sundays and Tap Takeovers! This Sunday sees Victorian craft brewer, Kooinda, showcasing their delicious craft beer. Spend your Sunday session soaking up the sun in Dr Morse's beer garden, and get excited for the suckling pig on the spit to quench your… hunger? For $20, guests will receive a pint and some delicious pork with crackling, potato and slaw. Pig & pints, sound epic? Yes, yes it does.
Suckling Pig Sundays & Tap Takeover | Dr Morse in Abbotsford
2pm Every Sunday in November | Bookings Advised phone 9416 1005 or email
Surf on down to the coast, and visit Frankston for the one-day-only Fluid Festival! With 20 stalls featuring local and international suppliers of beer, wine, bourbon and cider, the Daveys Hotel offers a truly frivolous festival experience. Guests can taste, meet and learn a bit about the industries while they get their drank on, but there's food and entertainment for the kiddie-winks too (if you're one of those stingy people who believe jumping castles and petting zoos are only for children!).
Fluid Festival | Daveys Hotel in Frankston | Free entry | 11am - 5pm
Polish off some pierogi in true Polish style at the Polish festival at Fed Square today! Celebrate and enjoy a showcase of Polish culture, with the festival providing a number of stalls and traditional performances. Jam-packed with kids' activities, craft demonstrations, art exhibits and loads more, pull your inner Pole out, and pole-vault to the Polish Festival!
Polish Festival | Federation Square in Melbourne | Free | Sunday 16th November, 10:00am - 5:00pm
Too much to choose from? We thought so. Don't stress, you have another week to recover before we spoil you with our next sweet-as round-up of things to do in Melbourne over the weekend!
Image Credit: Pinterest.