The most extraordinary things to do in Melbourne this July

The popular Firelight Festival is coming back to Docklands this July. Warm up by fiery sculptures and fire pits, see fire artists, tuck into some toasty food and check out a new laser and light show. It’s free to attend, and on from July 3 to 5.

Whether or not you’re familiar with Jane Austen’s iconic love story, Pride and Prejudice (*sort of) is destined to win your heart. This contemporary reimagining of the classic tale is set in Regency-era England, where men, money and microphones are fought over in a riotous assembly of chaos and comedy. A five star show needs a five star soundtrack to match, and this irresistible playlist ensures that you’ll be humming along, long after the final curtain call. Don’t miss Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) at the Athenaeum Theatre from now until July 11.

The Immigration Museum is lighting up with the striking, immersive show, Eonarium: Enlightenment. Paired with Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, you’ll feel hypnotised by colourful projections that will sweep you away on a journey through spring, summer, autumn and winter. This experience ends on July 5. Get your tickets here.

Explore a whole new world of magic and enchantment at Disney On Ice. Watch your favourite characters come to life, while performing high-flying acrobatics, surprising stunts and of course, world-class ice skating. Find it at Rod Laver Arena from July 2 to 6.

The tasty cheese festival Mould is pairing up with the popular pinot party, Pinot Palooza. Sip and sample your way through this indulgent festival for foodies. Expect over 50 varieties of artisan cheese and over 50 types of pinot noir from Australia and beyond. Mould x Pinot Palooza will take place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from Friday, July 3 to Sunday, July 5.

Head to the Royal Exhibition Building and discover over 100 stalls and 400 kinds of sake to try at the Australian Sake Festival. When you’re not drinking, feast on delicious Japanese food, learn something at a workshop and more. The festival will take place on Saturday, July 4 and Sunday, July 5. Learn more here.

Celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at NAIDOC Week. Visit Fed Square for NAIDOC in the City and listen to performances on July 10. While you’re there, browse through a First Peoples Art and Design Market. Watch a special performance with Emma Donovan and the MSO at Hamer Hall on July 10. Visit libraries around the city for reading parties. And more! NAIDOC Week will run from July 5 to 12. 

The candlelit performances have taken place at venues like The Athenaeum and The Astor Theatre as well as at The Timber Yard, the Meat Market and Fed Square. With more venues being added to the growing list, there’s a Candlelight concert around every corner.

Candlelight concerts in July include a tribute to ABBA at the aquarium, a gentle show for babies and more. See what’s on here.

See the largest magic festival of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, right here in Melbourne. This year, feel enchanted by 320 performances in 59 different shows. The Melbourne Magic Festival will run from June 29 to July 11. More info here.

The Finders Keepers Market is back in Melbourne this July. Head to the Royal Exhibition Building and discover over 230 stallholders. Find something unique to take home, then grab a bite to eat and a drink from the bar. This market will run from Friday July 10 to Sunday July 12. More info here.

The annual Bastille Day French Festival is returning to Melbourne this July. Browse through a French winter market for pastries, cheese, wine and more. On top of the market, which is free to attend, there will also be a ticketed program with talks, masterclasses and more. Find it at Queen Victoria Market on Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12.

Head over to Queen Victoria Market and warm up with roaring fires, toasty street food, cosy drinks and blazing entertainment. Winter Night Market will run on Wednesday nights from 5pm to 10pm, from now until August 26.

If you’ve ever wanted to wander through a dreamscape made of shimmering bubbles and glowing colours, here’s your moment: Bubble Planet is drifting into Melbourne. This immersive, multi-sensory experience invites you to explore 10 playful, interactive environments designed to awaken your senses and bring out your inner child. Find it at the Fever Exhibition and Experience Centre in Brunswick. Get your tickets here.

The gorgeous, after-dark experience, Lightscape, is back in the Royal Botanic Gardens for a fifth season. Wander through the green heart of Melbourne and feel enchanted by 15 new and returning installations. Lightscape will illuminate Melbourne from now until Sunday, August 2.

Grazeland is celebrating the winter school holidays with festive vibes, including falling snow, twinkling lights and seasonal dishes. Throughout winter, they will also be showing FIFA World Cup matches live, as well as AFL and NRL games. While you’re there, take advantage of their $25 feeds, which include one main meal and one dessert. More details here.

Challenge yourself and your teammates to escape Prison Island. Instead of breaking out from a single room, you’ll take on a series of tasks in multiple cells and race against the clock. Find it at The District Docklands. Grab your tickets here.

After welcoming 5,000 visitors a day last year, Winterfest is coming back to St Paul’s Cathedral. Browse through a market, showcasing a curated selection of goods from local makers, artists and artisans, and see a series of installations inspired by the joys of childhood. Ten per cent of the sales will be donated to the Monash Children’s Hospital, to help them purchase a 3D printer, which will produce special components for surgical procedures. There will also be donation towers, so you can contribute directly. Winterfest will run on select dates from July 5 to 12.

Nearly 400 sparkling jewels, tiaras, necklaces, brooches and more are sparkling at NGV. Coming exclusively to Melbourne from London’s Victoria & Albert Museum, the Cartier exhibition features glittering pieces worn by Elizabeth Taylor, Rihanna, Princess Margaret, Dame Nellie Melba and more. It also showcases plenty of stunning jewels and objects that have never been seen in Australia before. Find it at NGV International from now until October 4.

The popular NGV Friday Nights is back in celebration of the Cartier exhibition. Explore the exhibition after hours, then stick around for live music, food and drinks. The festivities will take place every Friday night from now until October 2.

You’ll be on the edge of your seat throughout your time at 123Boom!, an immersive puzzle adventure where you and your team are tasked with diffusing a ‘bomb’ to save the day. To do so, you’ll require teamwork, skill, and problem-solving, all racing against the clock as the story advances and the seconds tick down. It’s open now, and you can find your tickets here.

Journey 450 years ago to the legendary Inca citadel. Developed with leading archaeological experts, this virtual reality experience, you’ll explore Machu Picchu and see the agricultural terraces, the Temple of the Sun and more, surrounded by the majestic Andes. Find it at 206 Bourke St. Get your tickets here. 

See incredible documentaries from Australia and around the world at this film festival. The Melbourne Documentary Film Festival will run in cinema from July 7 to 19, and stream online from July 1 to 31. Learn more here.

Journey back in time to when dinosaurs roamed the Earth at Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary. Wander along trails and marvel at over 60 animatronic dinosaurs in this prehistoric event. Dinos at the Zoo will run from now until Sunday, July 12.

A month-long winter festival is coming to Chadstone for the very first time. At Light to Night, you can expect immersive art, dining experiences, community events, after-dark music events and more. The festival is on from now until Sunday, July 12.

Based on the beloved rom-com starring Julia Roberts, Pretty Woman: The Musical is playing in Melbourne. Go back to Hollywood in the ’80s, when Vivian met Edward and her life changed forever. Find it at the Regent Theatre from July 14. Learn more here.

Celebrate Australian food and drink at The Little Food Market. Created by the same team behind The Big Design Market, you can shop from over 200 producers, see live demos and sip and savour plenty of delicious treats. Find it at the Royal Exhibition Building from July 17 to 19. More info here.

Watch as talented ballet dancers bring your favourite stories to life, while performing in glowing costumes. Find Ballet of Lights at the Capitol Theatre. See what’s playing here.

A empty industrial space in Kensington will transform into an immersive space. Move through a darkened environment, where kinetic lighting and a soundscape will unfold in response. Converge will take place on July 18.

The Mormons are back! After delighting theatregoers in 2015, The Book of Mormon is making its return to Melbourne. This hilarious, Tony Award-winning musical follows a pair of mismatched Mormon boys, who are sent on a mission to a place that’s as far from Salt Lake City as you can get. Find it at the Princess Theatre from now until July 19.

The Broadway musical, Waitress, has made its Australian premiere in Melbourne. Follow Jenna, a small-town waitress and expert pie maker, who longs to escape her marriage and start again. Find it at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne, from now until July 19. Learn more here.

Witness death-defying acrobatics, hilarious clowning and whimsical characters under the Big Top at KOOZA by Cirque du Soleil. Find it at Flemington Racecourse from now until July 19.

Listen to talented musicians bring your favourite jazz songs to life in The Jazz Room. Grab a drink, soak in the tunes, and feel amazed by spontaneous solos and improv. There’s a few sessions happening around Melbourne for you to enjoy. Get your tickets here.

Leaps and Bounds Music Festival is coming back, with live shows spanning a vast range of genres, as well as record fairs, DJ sets, live broadcasts and more. This festival is on from Thursday, July 16 to Sunday, July 26. Check out the program here.

Dive into the world of rare and collectable books at the beloved annual event, Melbourne Rare Book Week. This year, there’s 40 free events to look forward to, with exhibitions, a book fair, talks, tours and more. It’s all happening from Thursday, July 23 to Saturday, August 1. See the program here.

Round up some friends and tackle some fun challenges at SENSAS. Test all five of your senses in some wacky experiences. This playful space is now open. Get your tickets here.

See original statues, mosaics, frescos and more at the Melbourne-exclusive exhibition, Rome: Empire, Power, People. Learn all about the spectacle, rise, rule and legacy of this powerful civilisation. The exhibition is now on display at Melbourne Museum. While you’re there, don’t forget to check out the extended program, like a Brunetti Classico pop-up or art classes.

Artists, scientists and collaborators from around the world will explore how we adapt to a world burdened by ecological collapse, technological accelartion and social upheaval in the EMERGENCE[Y] exhibition at Melbourne Science Gallery. It’s on display from now until December 5. See more here.

The Westin Melbourne has brought back the delectable High Cheese experience. Warm up this winter with three decadent tiers of cheesy goodness. This reimagined high tea experience is available from Tuesday to Saturday nights, from now until October 17.

Take an intimate look at the human body in the thought-provoking exhibition, BODY WORLDS: The Anatomy of Happiness. Witness real human specimens, frozen in time, and learn how emotions can change the body from the inside out. Find it at The District Docklands. 

In The Vinyl Factory: Reverb, you’ll explore the influence of vinyl culture and music on art, fashion, film and social movements. This exhibition at ACMI showcases The Vinyl Factory Collection and takes a deep dive into different eras of music. Expect a deep listening room, interactive moments, large-scale installations and more. It’s on from now until Monday, August 31.

You’ve been called for jury duty. In this live theatre courtroom drama, you’ll listen to the case and decide who is guilty or not guilty. There’s a few different sessions around Melbourne of The Jury Experience for you to try.

See fan favourites from RuPaul’s Drag Race and Australia’s fiercest drag performers at Drag Roast. Hosted by Reuben Kaye, you can expect plenty of comedy and chaos from artists like Kween Kong, Art Simone, Raja and more. It’s all happening at Melbourne Town Hall on Friday, July 24. Learn more here.

Throw it back, and dance all night long to your favourite disco tunes from ABBA, The Bee Gees, Cher and more. Disco attire is encouraged! Find the Gimme Gimme Disco at Ms Collins on Friday July 25. Get your tickets here.

The blockbuster exhibition Discovering the Impressionists: Paul Durand-Ruel, art dealer among the artists is now showing at Geelong Gallery. See over 70 paintings from two generations of Impressionist artists, including Monet, Renoir, Berthe Morisot and Camille Pissarro. Many of them have come from private collections in France, and have never been seen before in Australia. Stretching across five galleries, this exhibition will look at the legacy of Paul Durand-Ruel, the first art dealer who supported the Impressionist artists. This exhibition will run from now until October 11.

Adventure Park has brought back their dazzling Winter Glow experience. Escape to their delightful winter wonderland, and frolic in the snow, go on the rides, see ice sculpting displays, get a makeover in the Enchanted Snow Salon and more. This event is on from now until August 29. Find out more.

Stroll through this gold rush attraction in Ballarat, and gaze in wonder as the streetscapes and goldfields transform into a winter wonderland. Look forward to dazzling light projections, falling snow, fun activities, live music and more. Winter Wonderlights will return from June 26 to July 19.

Get into the winter spirit in Ballarat, with heaps of fun experiences. Go ice skating, head to Get into the winter spirit in Ballarat, with heaps of fun experiences. Go ice skating, head to Kryal Castle, sip on hot chocolate and more! The Ballarat Winter Festival is on from Saturday June 27 to Sunday July 19.

The beautiful town of Bright is lighting up for the season with the Bright Winter Festival. Walk beneath falling snow and twinkling lights, warm up with roaring fires and mulled wine, dance at a winter ball and more! The festival will run from Friday, July 24 to Saturday, August 1.

Bendigo will light up with projections, light shows and interactive moments in Rosalind Park. Electric Wonderland will return for the winter school holidays from June 26 to July 12.

Going whale watching this winter? Head over to Phillip Island and admire these majestic creatures at the Island Whale Festival. Look out for whales, take part in workshops and activities, learn from scientists and more. The festival will run from Friday, July 3 to Sunday, July 5. See more here.

The annual East Gippsland Winter Festival is returning for the sixth time, celebrating art, food, culture and nature over one glorious month. With over 100 events to look forward to, there’s a lot of reasons for you to drive out of Melbourne and explore the region this winter. Expect a series of free events, dining experiences, picturesque locations and more. The festival is on from now until Sunday July 19.

Snow season is here! Discover the amazing alpine regions of Victoria, hit the slopes, build a snowman and more. Find out where to see snow in Victoria here.

A festival dedicated to hot air balloons is floating over to Mildura. Watch in wonder as over 30 hot air balloons take to the skies across the region, see cool competitions, and join the action by hopping on your own balloon ride. The Balloons Over Mildura festival will run from July 4 to 12. But, you can also visit during the school holidays for sunrise and afternoon flights. Hot air balloon rides are available before the festival from June 27 to July 3, and during the festival from July 4 to 12.