Back to Back Issues Page
Free-Things-To-Do-Melbourne March issue
February 28, 2014

Free Events in March 2014



Welcome to the March 2014 Events Newsletter.

Hello again! Don't these months pass a bit too quick these days?!



If you like this e-zine, please do a friend and me a big favor and let them know about it!

If a friend DID forward this to you and if you like what you read, please subscribe by visiting www.Free-Things-To-Do-Melbourne.com


Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd - Kids Cooking Classes. Grab the family and head to Queensbridge Square for free hands-on, cooking classes for kids. Budding mini-chefs can create their own piece of delicious culinary culture, rustling up three mouth-watering favourites from Greece, Japan and Vietnam. Part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. 1A Queensbridge Street, Southbank VIC 3006. All day both days.


Saturday 1st - Symphony under the Stars with Stonnington Symphony and special guest Dave Graney. Stonnington's Symphony's annual outdoor concert is always a highlight of summer in Stonnington's beautiful parks and gardens. Under the direction of extraordinary Artistic Director, Roy Theaker, this year's event will feature a superb range of symphonic music in a program designed to excite, inspire and enjoy. Joining the orchestra for a cameo performance will be the man with the twenty-five album catalogue, Melbourne's beloved "cryptic rock voyager" Dave Graney. Pack a picnic basket and share a wonderful evening with your community orchestra and host, Sian Prior. Malvern Gardens, High Street, Malvern. 7.00pm - 9.15pm


Saturday 1st to Sunday 30 March (open Wednesday to Sunday) Lightplay at Artplay, Birrarung Marr. Enter the dazzling world of LightPlay where children can explore their artistic potential in an interactive space created especially for them! Play with overhead projectors and illuminated light boxes and discover what happens when light is cast on different materials. Explore transparency, reflection and shadow as well as other properties of light. See the constantly evolving lightscape before your very eyes! Age: 3 to 12 years. Please note: exhibition will be closed during performances at ArtPlay over Moomba weekend (8,9 and 10 March), and on 12 and 13 March.


Sunday 2nd - Happy 10th Birthday ArtPlay! 10.30am to 2pm Featuring: Circus Oz, Pocketfool, Come in Outside, Bollywood dancers and MSO ArtPlay Ensemble Grads. Help celebrate 10 years of ArtPlay with free fun activities, performances and a massive group photo. Calling all those who have been to ArtPlay since 2004 – ArtPlay wants you to be in a photo with your family. That means if you were aged 12 in 2004, you'd be 22 years old now – wow! Or maybe you could be brand new to ArtPlay in 2014… Come along and join our special guest in a photo at ArtPlay at 11am sharp. Arrive early for free entertainment from 10.30am. The first 100 families will receive a special ArtPlay umbrella! See the giant photo wall (are you on it?), grab a free cupcake, enjoy food and drinks from the kiosk, or bring your own picnic. Let's celebrate! Age: Family


Sundays 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd - Gypsy Jazz on the Village Green at CERES. Starts 1pm. Join in, or like most people, just watch! www.ceres.org.au


Sunday 2nd – Take a Tour on HMAS Yarra (IV), 10am-3pm at Melbourne City Marina, 425 Docklands Drive  Docklands. As part of its port visit to Melbourne, HMAS Yarra (IV) will be open for public tours this Sunday 2 March from 10am to 3pm. Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Quentin Bryce AC CVO, will be presenting a Unit Citation for Gallantry (UCG) to the crew of HMAS Yarra (II) 'for extraordinary gallantry in action off Singapore on the 5th of February 1942 and in the Indian Ocean on the 4th of March 1942'.


Monday 3rd - Classics at Fed Square. See pianist Margaret Kong, 2011 3MBS Young performer of the Year in the Deakin Edge 12noon-1pm.


Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from Monday 3rd –  Fitness at Fed Square, Flinders Street Amphitheatre or River Terrace. Join workouts led by health coaches and fitness instructors from Healthy Lifestyle Lounge. These classes aim to help city workers keep fit and healthy. Fitness activities include circuit based exercise which will incorporate body weight exercises, cardio training and core strength movements. Classes are simple, fun and great for invigorating the mind, body and soul. All ages and fitness levels welcome. Times: Monday 6pm – 6.45pm, Wednesday 7am - 7.45am and Friday 7am – 7.45am.


Tuesday 4th - Southgate Silent Cinema. Chill out in a deckchair wearing headphones to watch the movie – definitely not your normal cinema experience – Tonight’s movie is Sideways. Starts 8pm but you’ll need to be early to get a seat! Location: 3 Southgate Avenue, Southbank.


Tuesdays 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th – Tai Chi in Main Square at Federation Square 7.30am – 8.30am.


Tuesdays 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th – Lunchtime Meditation in The Atrium at Federation Square 12.30-1pm.


Tuesday 4th - Southgate Silent Cinema. Chill out in a deckchair wearing headphones to watch the movie – definitely not your normal cinema experience – Tonight’s movie is Haute Cuisine. Starts 8pm but you’ll need to be early to get a seat! Location: 3 Southgate Avenue, Southbank.


Wednesdays 5th and 12th – Zumba at St Pauls Court, Federation Square 1pm-1.40pm.


Wednesdays 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th – Groove Dance 6pm-7pm. Fun and interactive dance class for beginners to advanced. St Pauls Court, Federation Square.


Wednesdays 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th – The Night Market (formerly Suzuki Night Market) at the Queen Victoria Market, located at corner of Victoria and Elizabeth Streets 5pm till 10pm. Great live music and not your normal market type stalls.


Wednesday 5th - Southgate Silent Cinema. Chill out in a deckchair wearing headphones to watch the movie – definitely not your normal cinema experience – Tonight’s movie is Bottle Shock. Starts 8pm but you’ll need to be early to get a seat! Location: 3 Southgate Avenue, Southbank.


Thursdays 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th – Organ Recital at St Michaels Church at 120 Collins Street. 1pm-1.30pm.


Thursday 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th - Fed Square Live 5.30pm - 7.30pm. Soak up the summer evenings with weekly acoustic and semi-acoustic performances featuring some of Melbourne's most talented artists. Presented by Melodic Music and MCS Music Group, Fed Square's free live music series features a huge line-up of independent and emerging acts that will launch you into the heart of Melbourne's music scene.


Thursday 6th - Movies Under the Stars at Docklands. Tonights movie is Finding Nemo. Site open from 6.30pm, feature movie at 8.30pm – bring a picnic. 1 Point Park Crescent, Docklands,  FREE return ferry service from Federation Square for first 120, FREE bean bag hire to the first 100 guests and FREE car parking - Gate 12 (opposite Vaughan Constructions, 880 Lorimer St).


Fridays 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th – Qigong (a sort of Tai Chi combining integrated movement, mental cultivation and regulated breathing) – Main Square at Federation Square 8am – 9am.


Friday 7th till Monday 10th – Moomba Festival. This year marks Moomba's milestone 60th festival and we're throwing one heck of a celebration! Moomba is one of the longest running community festivals in the world. Filling a gap left by once-popular Labor Day processions, Moomba was born in 1955 with Melbourne and its people as its heart. With a name that translates as 'let's get together and have fun,' Moomba unites people in a spirit of celebration, right in the heart of the city. This year's event seeks to celebrate the people of Melbourne who have been the lifeblood of the festival for 60 years. The program features a colourful mix of old and new elements. The Main Arena features a nightly 60th Celebration Show featuring Time of My Life, with four Aussie musical icons who have graced the Moomba stage over the years: Daryl Braithwaite, Joe Camilleri, James Reyne and Ross Wilson. The Moomba Parade, one of the oldest and best loved features of the event, sees the people of our city take centre stage, with a staggering 2500 participants tasked with one thing: celebrating! Central to the parade festivities, three 'People of Moomba' floats will feature a special selection of participants, representing the diversity of the people who have made Moomba Melbourne's best loved festival. In addition to the Parade, Moomba offers events for the whole family, including activities and workshops for little ones at Kid's Zone, Skate Park competitions and tutorials for young adults, and the world's best athletes competing in the Water program. Nightly displays of fireworks, the well-loved Birdman Rally, and the 'always open' carnival rides and games add to the old-world festival charm for which Moomba has become renowned. Fri: 7pm – 11pm, Sat: 11am – 11pm, Sun: 11am – 11pm and Mon: 11am – 11pm.


Fridays 7th and 21st - Tango at Fed Square (St Paul’s Court) 5.30pm – 7pm. Discover the passion of traditional Buenos Aires Tango dance with a free class at Fed Square.


Friday 7th – Abbotsford Suppermarket, 1 St Heliers Street, Melbourne. A great twilight market from 6pm-10pm with live music and roaming performers such as clowns, acrobats and magicians as well as the stalls. It's the last one of the summer so don't miss it! www.free-things-to-do-melbourne.com/abbotsford-suppermarket.html 


Saturday 8th, 9th and 10th Triangulate at Artplay. Presented as part of the Moomba Festival – noon to 4pm. Come to ArtPlay’s open studio to make, build and create with the triangle shape! Explore all the different ways you can experiment with three sides and a bit of imagination. Test your skills in two or three dimensions using recycled cardboard, toothpicks, dowels, tapioca balls, plasticine, paper, sticky tape, pencils, straws, string, and more. Build large or small, draw, collage, decorate, bind, tie or puncture… it doesn’t matter, as long as it’s made of triangles! Why triangles you ask? Well, did you know the triangle is the strongest geometric shape for building things? And it’s also rather mysterious. There is a special shape known as the Sierpinski Triangle that (in theory) fits an infinite number of smaller triangles inside its three walls! What a feat! Find out more about the trusty triangle and its tremendous talents at this event. There will be examples to guide you and all materials will be provided. Age: Family


Sunday 9th - Learn French. (Every second Sunday of the month) noon – 1pm at St Michael's Uniting Church 120 Collins Street. Did you ever want to learn French? Join a French native speaker for a fun, free class. The classes allow those who have wanted to speak French to gain some pointers in basic French conversation and to practise their French in a fun, themed French conversation class. Sessions offer some notes and instructions, followed by conversation on a theme in small groups or pairs as the teacher assists.


Monday 10th - Southgate Silent Cinema. Chill out in a deckchair wearing headphones to watch the movie – definitely not your normal cinema experience – Tonight’s movie is Chocolat. Starts 8pm but you’ll need to be early to get a seat! Location: 3 Southgate Avenue, Southbank.


Tuesday 11th - Southgate Silent Cinema. Chill out in a deckchair wearing headphones to watch the movie – definitely not your normal cinema experience – Tonight’s movie is Delicatessen. Starts 8pm but you’ll need to be early to get a seat! Location: 3 Southgate Avenue, Southbank.


Wednesday 12th - Southgate Silent Cinema. Chill out in a deckchair wearing headphones to watch the movie – definitely not your normal cinema experience – Tonight’s movie is Mondo Vino. Starts 8pm but you’ll need to be early to get a seat! Location: 3 Southgate Avenue, Southbank.


Thursdays 13th and 27th – Belly Dancing – The Atrium at Federation Square 12.30pm-1pm.


Thursday 13th - The Saturday Night Fever Workshop at The Hub in Docklands. This is a fun, action-packed 45-minute disco dance class. Learn moves and groove just like John Travolta and his glamorous co-stars from the movie! Warm up, stretch and dance routines, all performed to the classic motion picture soundtrack .80 Harbour Esplanade , Docklands 12.30pm – 1.15pm.


Thursday 13th - Movies Under the Stars at Docklands. Tonights movie is The Great Gatsby. Site open from 6.30pm, feature movie at 8.30pm – bring a picnic. 1 Point Park Crescent, Docklands,  FREE return ferry service from Federation Square for first 120, FREE bean bag hire to the first 100 guests and FREE car parking - Gate 12 (opposite Vaughan Constructions, 880 Lorimer St).


Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th - Thai Culture and Food Festival. Join the Thai community as they celebrate and showcase their rich and historical culture with two days of fun, filled with the sights, tastes and sounds of Thailand. The celebrations begin with Thai Street Culture by the River on the River Terrace at Federation Square, where visitors can experience Thai street food and Thai BBQ, Thai massage and products, live music at the Singha Beer Garden and lots of fun and activities. The River Terrace will be bedecked with food tents featuring 20 of Melbourne's premier Thai restaurants serving Thai delicacies and highlighting regional food and drink specialities. Next day, the Thai Culture and Food Festival will begin with a traditional blessing by Buddhist monks, and an opening ceremony. Federation Square will be transformed into a haven of Thai culture together with the Thai Temple Fun Fair showcasing Thai arts, crafts, massage, games and more. Travel and general Information about Thailand and its people will be available to answer all your questions. There will be continuous entertainment on stage with performances of Thai dance, Thai kickboxing and the Miss Thailand beauty contest, a Thai market and product stalls selling Thai produce. Visitors to the Festival will also be treated to an afternoon of Thai Cooking demonstrated by celebrity Chef Duncan Robertson. Sat: 11am – 6pmSun: 10am – 9pm. The Saturday event is along the River Terrace; the Sunday event all areas of Fed Square.


Saturday 15th - Flavours. Smell the spices, feel the rhythm of the drums and sample something from every corner of the globe. Flavours festival brings the world to you through music, dance workshops, cooking demonstrations, craft activities and market stalls. Bring your friends and family down to Prahran’s Grattan Gardens, cnr Grattan and Greville Streets, Prahran while celebrating cultural diversity in Australia. 11am-4pm.


Saturday 15th – Poetry – Normally 2 feature poets and the opportunity to read out your own at The Atrium in Federation Square 2pm – 4pm.


Sunday 16th - Single Parent's FREE Family Fun Day in Altona! If you're a single parent please feel free to bring yourself and the kids along to our FREE Family Fun Day!  A great day out amongst like-minded people is promised, including a free sausage sizzle, face painting for the kids, and children's entertainment! Single Parents Active Kids are a social group for single parent families, we run loads of events, activities and camps all over Melbourne!  Our Family Fun Day's are a great way to 'test the water' and get a taste of what our group is all about! Please RSVP to Moush at info@singleparentsactivekids.org, or phone 0430 504 119.  We hope to see you there!


Tuesday 18th – Discover Williamstown with a free guided walk. Meet 2pm at the Visitor Info Centre, Nelson Place, Williamstown.


Tuesday 18th - Southgate Silent Cinema. Chill out in a deckchair wearing headphones to watch the movie – definitely not your normal cinema experience – Tonight’s movie is The Great Gatsby. Starts 8pm but you’ll need to be early to get a seat! Location: 3 Southgate Avenue, Southbank.


Friday 21st – Discover Williamstown with a free guided walk. Meet 2pm at the Visitor Info Centre, Nelson Place, Williamstown.


Friday 21st - The Cat Empire at Federation Square from 7pm. See this Melbourne bands 1000th concert.


Saturday 22nd – Pets in the Park. Pets are the stars of this fun, free, annual event for the whole family. Bring your furry, scaly and feathered friends to Central Park for a day of entertainment, competitions, information and demonstrations. The main stage will feature live music, pet parades, presentations and an array of stalls will offer the latest pet products, health tips and information on responsible pet ownership. Central Park, Malvern East 11am-4pm.


Tuesday 25th - Southgate Silent Cinema. Chill out in a deckchair wearing headphones to watch the movie – definitely not your normal cinema experience – Tonight’s movie is Iron Man 3. Starts 8pm but you’ll need to be early to get a seat! Location: 3 Southgate Avenue, Southbank.


Sunday 30th – Classic Car Club featuring Confederation of Australian Motorsport Ltd 11am – 2.30pm on Flinders Street section of Federation Square by ACMI.


Back to Back Issues Page