It’s hard to believe, but we’re already thinking about what’s on in Melbourne for November 2024 and with so much to see and do in this fine city of ours, it can be hard to know where to start. So, to help you make the most of this time with your family and friends, we’ve once again put together a list of all the top things to see and do with kids in Melbourne for the month of November!

From the most exciting festivals to the best and most enjoyable family-friendly events and activities, we’ve got you covered. As always, there are a ton of great events happening around the city and we’re dedicated to making sure that this list is as up-to-date as possible by regularly adding new events we’ve found.

Be sure to check back often for updates and to see what’s on in Melbourne today and this weekend, as well as what’s happening for the whole month.

WHAT’S ON MELBOURNE – CBD/DOCKLANDS

• Garage Sales all over Australia (Sat 9 Nov, Sun 10 Nov, Sat 16 Nov, and Sun 17 Nov) – A second-hand festival with vintage fashion, pre-loved treasures, repair workshops, and free family entertainment.
• Docklands Community Market (Sun 10 Nov) – Grab your early morning coffee, enjoy a lovely stroll & support your local producers at this lovely market.
• The Story of the Moving Image (ongoing) – Journey through the past, present and future of the moving image through interactive experiences, digital innovation and captivating stories. Read the Story of the Moving Image ACMI Review.

• 2024 African Music and Cultural Festival (Fri 15 Nov – Sun 17 Nov) – Experience the vibrant tapestry of African culture at this three-day spring festival. It’s a unique showcase of over 35 African countries and community groups through music, food, fashion, film, dance, art, and more, all in the heart of Melbourne.
• Lankan Fest (Sat 23 Nov) – A celebration of Sri Lankan culture at Fed Square with live music, dancers, DJ sets, cooking demonstrations, crafts, tea, spices, and traditional street food.
• Melbourne Book Market (Saturdays & Sundays) – curated collection of more than 5,000 new and pre-loved titles selected and presented by 15 of Melbourne’s most experienced booksellers.
• THE LUME Melbourne (ongoing) – Connection was created to celebrate the beautiful art and music of First Peoples and give back to their communities. This special experience tells the story of our country’s rich cultural history through paintings and music. Check out our recent visit here.

• SEALIFE Melbourne Aquarium (ongoing) – See some of the world’s most incredible animals, including penguins, a 6-metre-long crocodile and thousands of tropical fish, plus the newly reopened oceanarium.
• Soft Play (ongoing) – Play with your child and make community connections in a safe and fun indoor environment.
• Kids Passport Queen Victoria Market (ongoing) Collect your passport, then journey around the Market collecting stamps from our friendly traders, before making your way to the Queen Victoria Market Visitor Hub to claim your prize.
• Shrine Kids (ongoing) – The Shrine of Remembrance is the National War Memorial of Victoria and it makes for an educational (and sobering) outing for families. Read the Shrine Kids Review.

WHAT’S ON MELBOURNE – NORTH / NORTH-EAST

• T.REX 3D (Fri 21 Jun – Sat 21 Dec) – Narrated by Sam Neill, experience the iconic T. rex come to life on the world’s biggest, best screen in this thrilling IMAX 3D documentary!
• Tiny Tour Melbourne Museum (Fridays) – a 45-minute tour created for early-year audiences that will invite them to wonder, discover and be amazed.Tiny Tour Melbourne Museum (Fridays) – a 45-minute tour created for early-year audiences that will invite them to wonder, discover and be amazed.
• Heide Art Babies (Tuesdays) – 30 minutes of sensory play in the gallery, looking, thinking and talking about art. Read the Heide Art Babies Review.
• Fitzroy Market (Saturdays) – a one-stop hub for everything produce, food, artisan, handcrafted, vintage, second hand and local.
• Heide Gallery Kids  (Fridays during school term) – Join Art Therapist Tanis Douglas, who supports pre-school children and their carers to gain confidence observing artworks in a small group.
• Abbotsford Farmers Market (Saturday) – Shop local and seasonal produce and visit the Collingwood Children’s Farm which is just next door.
• Rose Street Artists’ Market (Saturdays and Sundays) – Shop directly from Melbourne’s best artists, designers, crafters and makers at Fitzroy’s iconic Rose Street Market.
• Mini Mega Model Museum (ongoing) – an exhibition featuring small and big things at Melbourne Museum. Read the Mini Mega Model Museum review. 
• Diamond Valley Railway (Sundays) – miniature railway with a playground next door. Read the Diamond Valley Railway Review.

• Keeper Kids Melbourne Zoo (ongoing) – Educator-led daily activities that promote learning through storytelling, craft and play.
• Sensory Tray Sessions (ongoing) – Sensory Tray Session (Various dates) – Pour, scoop, splash and more at our sensory tray sessions!
• Pauline Gandel Children’s Gallery (Ongoing) – A world-class immersive learning and play experience – and a wonderland for little learners! The exhibition combines hands-on exploration and discovery, open-ended play-based learning, extraordinary immersive environments and unique museum collection objects.
• Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs (ongoing) – An immersive voyage into a lost world, where visitors will explore the landscapes of the Cretaceous and get to know the creatures that thrived there.
• Dinosaur Walk (ongoing) – Check out the real dinosaur bones at Melbourne Museum’s permanent exhibition featuring ten dinosaur skeletons, three pterosaurs, and other select megafauna artefacts such as huge teeth
• Mini Twitchers Heide (Ongoing) – Be a twitcher for a day and spot some beautiful birds in the Heide Sculpture park! Use a map to locate each area where the twelve painted birds are hidden in trees in the sculpture park.

WHAT’S ON MELBOURNE – SOUTH / SOUTH-EAST / BAYSIDE

• Monster Party takes over LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre this Halloween (Thu 24 Oct – Sun 10 Nov) – Dress up for a Monster Party! Create LEGO® monsters to add to the MINILAND monster takeover and discover a pumpkin patch built entirely of LEGO.
• Mt Martha South Beach Market (Tue 5 Nov) – Visit the market at Mount Martha House Lawn on Melbourne Cup day, featuring 60+ stallholders.
• Diwali in Glen Eira (Sat 2 Nov) – Celebrate the Festival of Lights at Booran Reserve, Glen Huntly. Free family event with various activities and entertainment.
• Hampton East Makers Market (Sun 10 Nov) – With 100+ stalls, local handmade makers, and more at Basterfield Park, Hampton East.
• East Malvern Food & Wine Festival (Sun 17 Nov) – The 5th annual East Malvern Food & Wine Festival is back, and they’ve got a vast range of exquisite wineries from all across Victoria, artisan provedores & entertainment! The free event is on from 11 am – 5 pm.

• Marg Truck at East Malvern Food & Wine Festival (Sun 17 Nov) – El Jimador’s Marg Truck is coming to East Malvern Food & Wine Festival with free margs. There’s something for the whole family at this festival!
• Frankston’s Christmas Festival of Lights (Sat 25 Nov) – Celebrate 25 years of the Festival with tree lighting, fireworks, Santa, live music, and more. Located on Davey St, Frankston.
• Young At Art (Tuesdays) – With the guidance of an experienced early childhood educator, participants work on a different hands-on creative activity every week, using materials from the take-home art materials box supplied each session.
• Bentleigh Sunday Market (Sundays) – plants, clothing, cosmetics, jewellery, books, videos, tools, antiques, crafts, pre-loved goods and more! Every Sunday. 
• Mornington Railway (Sundays) – Climb aboard the Mornington Railway steam train for a fun-filled outing.
• Aboriginal Heritage Walk (Until Sun 31 Dec) – Explore the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne with a First Peoples guide, delving into the cultural significance of this site for the local Kulin Nation. Gain profound insights into the history, customs, and enduring bond with Country of Australia’s First Peoples through the identification of native plants and their traditional uses within the Gardens.
• Gasworks Farmers’ Market (Third Saturday of every month until Sat 21 Dec) – On Saturdays soak up the vibrant atmosphere and sample the very best of local Victorian produce directly from Victorian farmers and specialty makers.

• The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden (Ongoing) – A dedicated, fully fenced space for families featuring plants, water, structures, and pathways that reflect Melbourne’s changing seasons.
• The Explorer – Melbourne Gardens (Ongoing) – Discover the beauty of this inner-city oasis and enjoy live commentary in the comfort of an open-air minibus.
• WIIILD Wednesdays, Gumbuya World (Ongoing) – Dive into Wildlife Wanderers, the trail of free-roaming wildlife, savor two interactive shows, and hop on junior rides! Get up close with exotic animals, connect with nature, and enjoy exciting entertainment every week!
• Stories and Songs in the Square (Ongoing) – Nurture your child’s early literacy skills by joining in to read aloud stories and sing action songs and rhymes.
• Eastland (Ongoing) – Sign up to the free mini & me kids club at Eastland (for kids 4 and under) and receive exclusive offers, invites to free events and $5 valet parking!
• St Kilda Breakwater (Ongoing) – Spot the Little Penguin colony just before dusk coming ashore from the promenade.
• Little Lunies at Luna Park (Ongoing) – Discover a fantastic world of rides, attractions, and games to suit Little and Big Lunies! There’s something for everyone from old favorites like The Great Scenic Railway, Ghost Train, & Carousel to the big thrill rides like the Power Surge, Sky Rider, Twin Dragon, and more!
• Nature Play (Ongoing) – Come along to Alex Wilkie Nature Reserve for Nature Play, an outdoor, child-led playgroup session facilitated by a qualified ranger.
• Shrine Kids (Daily) – The Shrine of Remembrance is the National War Memorial of Victoria and it makes for an educational (and sobering) outing for families. Read the Shrine Kids Review.
• Little Play Squad Legoland (Ongoing) – An interactive parent-child Play & Learn session based on LEGO® DUPLO®. Read the DUPLO Farm Adventure Review.

WHAT’S ON MELBOURNE – EAST

• Tecoma Twilight Ethical Market (Sun 17 Nov) – Ethical shopping can be challenging and time-consuming, so allow the Tecoma Twilight Ethical Market to make things much simpler.
• Afternoons of Awesome at LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre (Mon 26 Feb – Fri 6 Dec) – Young builders can blast out of the classroom into a world of creativity, hop on electrifying rides, and set off on epic afternoon LEGO adventure!
• Mini Explorers (Every Sunday) – Unlock the wonders of the world with Mini Explorers, a program built to help children develop through place-based learning and nature-based crafts
• Heide Art Babies (Tuesdays) – 30 minutes of sensory play in the gallery, looking, thinking and talking about art. Read the Heide Art Babies Review.
• Mooroolbark Miniature Railway (Runs 4th Sunday each month) – miniature rail running every 4th Sunday.
• ECOSS Valley Market (Every Friday) – Experience the vibrant Valley Markets, connecting local growers, artisans, and musicians in the heart of the Yarra Valley.
• Spirits of the Sky (Ongoing) – See the natural behaviours of a variety of native birds at Healesville Sanctuary which may include the Wedge-tailed Eagle, Black-breasted Buzzard, Barking Owl, magnificent parrots and more.
• Yarra Valley Railway (Every Sun) – take a trip on the historic Walker RM22 Railmotor from Healesville to Tunnel Hill. Read the Yarra Valley Review.

WHAT’S ON MELBOURNE – WEST

• Musical Minds Workshop 2024 (Mon 7 Oct – Mon 16 Dec) – Musical Minds is a fun, educational experience for kids and their caregivers to explore music together. Sing songs, play instruments, dance, and learn how actions and Auslan enhance song memory. It’s a playful way for kids to learn music while developing skills for home and school.
• Werribee Craft Festival (Fri 8 Nov – Sat 9 Nov) – Werribee Craft Festival 2023, an annual event occurring the weekend after Melbourne Cup Day, showcases high-quality, handmade crafts
• State Rose & Garden Show (Sat 9 Nov – Sun 10 Nov) – Attend the State Rose & Garden Show to admire beautiful roses and gardens.
• Spring Festival 2024 (Thu 14 Nov – Sun 17 Nov) – Join the Spring Festival with exciting activities and events in Beckley Park Geelong.
• That’s Mine Makers & Farmers Christmas Market (Sun 17 Nov) – Get your Christmas shopping done at ‘That’s Mine’ Makers & Farmers Christmas Market at Werribee Racecourse.
• Inner West Art Fair (Fri 22 Nov – Sun 24 Nov) – Explore original artworks and meet artists at this three-day art event featuring a range of art forms.

• Djerriwarrh Festival, Melton (Sat 23 Nov) – Headlined by Regurgitator and Pseudo Echo. A spectacular day of live music, a street parade, free kids’ activities and performances, local artists and designers market, food trucks, a pet expo, and intercultural acts.
• Scottish Festival Overnewton Castle (Sun 24 Nov) – Annual Scottish festival and market day at Overnewton Castle, celebrating St. Andrew’s Day and the rich Scottish heritage of the Castle.
• Outdoor play day at Moonee Valley Toy Library – (Sat 25 Nov) Join us for a morning in the (hopefully) sun engaging in messy sensory play. Come explore different textures, colours and smells. There will be coffee!
• Yarraville Village Farmers Market (3rd Saturday of Each Month) – enjoy a wonderful, relaxed community environment, and sample the freshest products direct from the farmers and producers as you shop in the open.
• Bulla Railway (3rd Sunday of each month) – Ride the dinosaur trail on the miniature railway. Read the Bulla Railway Review.
• Altona Miniature Railway (3rd Sunday of the month) – between 10 am and 3 pm ride this wonderful Miniature Railway. Read the Altona Miniature Railway review.

• Grazeland (Fridays – Sundays) – huge dining precinct with city views and 50 stalls to choose from. Read the Grazeland Review
• Essendon Traffic School (Saturdays) – Essendon Traffic School is a mini road set up for kids aged two to ten years, complete with road signs, railway bells and traffic lights. Read the Essendon Traffic School review.
• Enterprize Sail Williamstown (usually sails the third Sunday of every month) – go for a one-hour sail on the tall ship Enterprize in Williamstown
• Art in the garden (Last Friday of the month) – It’s a combination of nature play, sensory play, process art, and playgroup. Run by ‘The Fun In Art’.
• Playnastics (Wednesdays & Thursdays) – Casual open play sessions using a selection of Preschool Gymnastics equipment and resources, as well as puzzles, blocks and more.
• Toddler and Kids Art Classes (Various dates) – ‘The Fun In Art’ provides art classes for toddlers and kids where they’re more about the fun of creation and less about the outcome of the artwork.
• Incy Wincy Babies (Fridays) – Barking Spider Creative artist guides carers with their babies through a visual art experience at the Gallery.
• Melbourne Planetarium (Ongoing) – Sit back and enjoy the wonder of the stars regardless of the time of day – or the weather!

• Clocktower Centre Children’s Space (Ongoing) – Parents and carers can sit back and relax with a coffee and a snack from the Clocktower Café while the kids explore the space, watch the trams go by or listen to their favourite book with the interactive Storytime Pod.
• Bounce Play Dates Essendon Fields (Ongoing) – It’s not just jumping and rock climbing for kids, enjoy a minibouncer zone exclusive for toddlers (for kids <110 cm in height).
• Ground Up: Building Big Ideas, Together (Ongoing) – An exhibition for babies to five-year-olds where curiosity is rewarded around each bend with surprising and intriguing sights, sounds and touch sensations.
• Werribee Open Range Zoo (Ongoing) – Stroll through the Zoo spotting lions, hippos, cheetahs, monkeys, gorillas and more, catch the safari bus tour or explore the Ranger Kids indoor play space and Village Kids outdoor playground.
• Air Playground (Ongoing) – Air Playground has launched at Scienceworks. Levitate objects, engineer paper planes, & learn the physics of airflow.
• Sunday Funday Station Hotel (Sundays) – Every Sunday The Station Hotel prepares an animal farm and other entertaining activities to keep the little ones busy while you sit back and relax. Read the Station Hotel Review

The Station Hotel

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