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Is there a greater phrase within the present high-cost-of-living hellscape than “free”? Melbourne has an enormous calendar of free occasions lined up over the following couple of months with a great deal of reside music, unimaginable artwork and tradition and summer time nights full of town’s finest meals vans. There are new installations within the NGV, a revamped St Kilda Pageant and the thrilling new MPavilion design. Right here is our inflation-busting checklist of issues to do within the metropolis.
Summer time of Play at Melbourne Museum
The Summer time of Play has turned the plaza between the Melbourne Museum and the Royal Exhibition Constructing in an enormous, momentary playground stuffed with ping pong tables, hopscotch courts and working tracks. The entire place comes alive when the solar goes down because the play gear will get the neon therapy with interactive mild see saws and illuminated swings topped with spaceships.
Fed Dwell at Federation Sq.

King Stingray will play a free present at Federation Sq. on January 21. Picture: Nate Hill
Music lovers will probably be packing Fed Sq. this summer time for the return of the Fed Dwell live performance sequence that sees Arnhem Land surf rockers King Stingray (January 21) and singer-songwriters Vera Blue and Gretta Ray (February 18) play the primary stage. There are a number of bands on every evening and the concert events are free for all ages, so seize some buddies and head down early to try to snag one of many prized deckchairs.
See fedsquare.com/occasions/fed-live
Free exhibitions and installations at Melbourne’s galleries

The doorway to the NGV Worldwide. Picture: Robert Blackburn
Sure, there are the blockbusters just like the NGV Worldwide’s Alexander McQueen: Thoughts Mythos Muse on this 12 months, however there may be nonetheless a complete summer time’s price of free artwork to absorb. Try Adam Newman and Kelvin Tsang’s reimagining of the Parthenon within the NGV’s Grollo Esquiset Backyard (til January 29) plus the NGV’s everlasting assortment. Head into the revamped ACMI to your repair of movie, TV and online game displays. Tune in to your music historical past on the Australian Music Vault which lately turned 5 years previous. Or head to the Australian Centre for Up to date Artwork (ACCA) in Southbank.
See ngv.vic.gov.au; acmi.web.au; australianmusicvault.com.au; acca.melbourne
Summer time Night time Market at Queen Victoria Market

Seize a salmon nori taco from Mr Miyagi, some barbecue goodness from Hoy Pinoy or some severely oozy raclette from Frencheese. Taking a wander by the bustling stalls on a heat summer time evening is free however if you’re feeling indulgent you’ll be able to e-book a desk for 4 for $40 if you wish to beat the crowds.
A packed program on the new MPavilion

An artist’s render of this 12 months’s MPavilion.
The brand new MPavilion – an annual structure fee that sees an revolutionary pavilion design land within the Queen Victoria Gardens – touched down late final 12 months; a whimsical, jellyfish-like cover from Bangkok architects all(zone). There’s a free program of occasions by to April with MKids occasions for youngsters, DJ units on a Friday afternoon and even Pilates within the park. There’s additionally an enormous program of talks with matters like It Takes a Village: Empathy and Company in Designing our Cities.
See mpavilion.org
Dwell music and enjoyable at St Kilda Pageant

Picture: Scott McNaughton
Again to full power after a pandemic-blighted three years, the St Kilda Pageant (February 18-19) is a neighborhood competition that has been celebrating Australian expertise since 1980. Within the 2023 version you will notice Hoodoo Gurus, Christine Anu and Confidence Man headlining with lots extra acts but to be introduced. The primary day of the fest is First Peoples First, an enormous celebration of First Nations artists on the St Kilda foreshore.
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