What to do in Melbourne this Spring

MELBOURNE IN BLOOM

Ditch your umbrella and file away those winter woollies – Melbourne is out of hibernation and ready to shine this spring. Along with welcoming the sunny rays, here’s five reasons to swoon over our city in September.

 

FRINGE BENEFITS

Fancy a Melbourne-esque dose of pure, unadulterated, uncurated and unexpected artistic fun? Make a beeline to The Melbourne Fringe Festival. It’s a celebration of cultural democracy and art for everyone, and features thousands of artists from every discipline you can name (plus a few others) performing 400+ events in more than 160 venues across the city. The celebrations kick off on September 14. For the full line-up and tickets, visit melbournefringe.com.au

 

GOOD CAUSE

You can both visit and help save animals when you drop into the Melbourne Zoo. The zoo is hosting the National Geographic Photo Ark, an exclusive photo exhibition using the power of photography to inspire people to save animals before it’s too late. National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore has visited 40 countries in his quest to create a photo archive of global biodiversity. To date, he’s completed intimate portraits of more than 6,000 species. The exhibition’s cover charge is included with your general admission ticket.

 

ON TREND

Only in our city is it possible to score yourself a front row seat or a VIP experience at Melbourne Fashion Week, which runs until September 8. Grab your besties and treat yourself to a night of previewing the latest threads, including designs from Akira, Alpha60, Ginger & Smart and Manning Cartell. Then, once your passion for fashion is fuelled, head to the National Gallery of Victoria for the unmissable House of Dior exhibit. The exclusive exhibition includes an incredible display of more than 140 garments designed by Christian Dior Couture between 1947 and 2017.

 

HOT DOGS

Sure, there’s a pretty famous horse race coming up later this spring, but there’s one other to run first. The Hophaus Annual Dachshund race returns to Southbank on September 23, with sausage dogs flocking to the Southgate Restaurant and Shopping Precinct in their racing fineries. If that doesn’t pull on the heart strings enough, all money raised goes to Dachshund Rescue Australia.

 

BEAT IT

We wholeheartedly dub Melbourne the country’s live music capital year-round, but there’s something extra special about gigs in spring. You can use the beer garden, you don’t have to check in a jacket and the days get a little longer so outdoor sessions are no longer out of the question. This month, The Pierce Brothers are at 170 Russell on the 15th, Kim Churchill is playing at The Corner Hotel on the 29th, or, for a little left of centre, try the Spice! Singalong at the Lithuanian Club on the 20th and 21st.