WELCOME the Christmas season with the launch of the Christmas Festival, party at Fed Square on Election Day in Democracy Live, grab some early Christmas gifts at the Etsy Night Out, or kick back at the Docklands Festival of Giving. Anthea Batsakis gives you the vibe for this weekend.
Etsy Night Out
Friday, November 28 (6.00pm – 10.00pm); 60 Rose St, Fitzroy
Photo: Moon Angel via Flickr
The famous Rose Street Artist’s Market will be converted into an offline Etsy market for the first time!
Etsy is a renowned global, online market for vintage and handmade products. It is free to join and gives people the ability to start their own mini business online.
This offline market is the perfect opportunity to pick up one-off Christmas gifts. Rather than scrolling through endless pages on Etsy, you can head down to Rose Street and instead enjoy a social shopping experience with fellow Etsy lovers!
A large number of Etsy’s best local retailers will be selling a range of products varying from jewellery and art, to fashion and homewares.
Apart from the market, there will also be a photobooth, goodie bags, as well as food and drink – provided by the neighbouring Young Bloods Diner.
To get more information, visit the Etsy Blog dedicated for this one night event.
Democracy Live!
Saturday, November 29 (6.30pm – 10.30pm); Federation Square, Melbourne
Photo: Rexness via Flickr
Having no plans yet for the Election Day? You might be interested in celebrating Australia’s democracy at Federation Square this Saturday for live election updates together with a liberal amount of labour-intensive free entertainment.
Warm your body with free coffee and hot chocolate; dance to live music from Johnny Wonderpants and DJ Bud Bounder; and be amazed by mind-boggling circus acts ranging from fire-breathers through stilt-walkers to mime artists.
But that’s not all – Born in a Taxi’s Theatre Group presents the laugh-out-loud comedy of the Fallen Angels.
So if you want to enjoy the lighter side of politics, visit Federation Square this Saturday!
To find out more details about the event, head to Federation Square’s official website.
Christmas Festival Launch
Friday, November 28 (7.30pm – 9.00pm); City Square, Melbourne
Photo: Steve Davidson via Flickr
This year’s Christmas Festival will be officially launched at City Square (renamed Christmas Square during December) this Friday with a Christmas concert, Santa’s long awaited arrival and the lighting of the Christmas tree!
The Christmas Festival will offer a variety of unique shopping, dining and entertainment experiences you won’t want to miss. Festive Christmas markets will be scattered around Melbourne, ranging from Queen Victoria’s Thursday Christmas Market to the Kensington Craft Market. The Flinders Quarter Shopping Night as well as the Spirit of the Square are just some of the events that you can also look forward to this December.
So don’t miss this exciting launch to welcome the Christmas season!
Additional details about the launch can be found at the City of Melbourne’s event page.
The Docklands Festival of Giving
Saturday, 29 November – Sunday, November 30 (10:00am – 6:30pm); Docklands, Melbourne
Image: Docklands Festival of Giving’s Official Facebook Page
To celebrate the coming of the Christmas season and the joy of giving, Rotary Docklands will present the Docklands Festival of Giving.
This free event will showcase the generosity of the Docklands community. With local multicultural food, celebrity guests, live music, and interactive activities, this vibrant array of entertainment isn’t to be missed! Some of the festival’s highlights include the following: Show ‘n’ Shine Car Show, featuring more than 100 of shiny, impressive cars; Zumbathon, where more than 200 adults and children will be taking part; stilt walkers, clowns, and face-painters, which add to the festival’s vibrancy; and discounted pleasure boat rides!
In true giving nature, all the profits from this event will be donated to the Royal Children’s Hospital.
For more information about the event, head to the event’s official Facebook page.