Things to do in Melbourne in March

For the first time ever, the iconic Albert Park F1 circuit will open its gates at the beginning of the race weekend, giving everyday runners the chance to hit the Formula One Australian Grand Prix track before the race cars do. Gatorade Run The Track is taking place at 5.30am on Thursday, March 5 – just one day before the high-octane action roars into Melbourne. Runners, walkers and F1 fanatics can complete the legendary circuit – the very same stretch of tarmac the world’s fastest drivers will tackle in their bid to win the first race of the 2026 F1 season. Normally completely off-limits during race week, this is a bucket-list moment for anyone who loves running as much as they love Oscar Piastri.  Gates open at the crack of dawn, with the run kicking off at sunrise. Expect the track lights blazing, the official Mercedes-AMG safety car leading the pack and live race-style commentary from elite athlete and broadcaster Kate McCarthy alongside Australian trail runner Majell Backhausen. Every participant will receive a custom race bib linked to official track timing technology, ensuring a fully timed experience. Gatorade will keep everyone fuelled and firing on all cylinders during the event and post-race, with former AFL player Dan Gorringe stepping in as chief hydration officer Fast feet followed by even faster cars – we’re in! Tickets are $99 plus fees, with space for just 2,400 runners. You can score yours here.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne...

Finding something that keeps both you and the little ones happy isn’t always easy. Enter the Moonee Valley Festival. The sun’s out, the kids are playing, you’ve got something tasty in hand, and live tunes are drifting across the park. Sounds pretty good, right? Oh, and did we mention it’s completely free?  The Moonee Valley Festival returns to Queens Park in Moonee Ponds on Sunday, March 15, bringing a full day of live music, food, entertainment, and good ol’ community spirit. This year is shaping up to be another big one, with all the crowd favourites returning. There will be live performances – this year headlined by Australian soul and funk vocalist Kylie Auldist – plus bands, dancers, local vendors, market stalls, and food trucks from across the area. Kids can enjoy live music, circus school, a wildlife show, roller‑skating demonstrations, face painting and more.  One of the biggest events on the Moonee Valley calendar, the festival is a feel-good celebration of the vibrant and diverse local community, and the free entry is just the cherry on top.  For more information and to stay up to date with any event changes (including weather updates), visit the Moonee Valley City Council website.

Did you know that Ballarat is home to thousands of begonias, including more than 600 unique varieties? In fact, the impressive collection is the rarest in the Southern Hemisphere, and they're all housed in the city's historic botanical gardens. To celebrate this floral feat, the city has hosted the Ballarat Begonia Festival annually since 1953 – yup, it's been held for more than 70 years.  When is the Ballarat Begonia Festival taking place?  If you're keen to see the colourful (and highly 'grammable) flower fest in full bloom, make your way to the Ballarat Botanical Gardens on the Labour Day long weekend from March 7-9, 2026. The floral festivities run across three days, so you'll have ample opportunity to explore the vibrant floral displays that fill these historic gardens.  What kinds of begonias will be on display? At the heart of it all is the stunning Robert Clark Conservatory, home to Ballarat’s renowned begonia collection. Each year, the Botanical Gardens team grows more than 600 begonia varieties, from heirlooms to unique hybrids cultivated exclusively for the festival. The result? A bountiful display of begonias that draws everyone from green thumbs and nature enthusiasts to families and interstate visitors. What else is on at the Ballarat Begonia Festival?  The 2026 program goes beyond the blooms. Making its debut is The Musical Plants by Playable Streets, an installation that turns living plants into musical instruments you can actually play on. The Begonia...

From the orchestral jump scares of Aliens to the lush classicism of Titanic and the trumpet flourishes of Avatar, composer James Horner is responsible for some of cinema’s most memorable scores. This March, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is bringing Hollywood to the laneway city, paying tribute to Horner's illustrious career with three live performances of Art of the Score: James Horner at Hamer Hall. The concert is led by conductor Nicholas Buc, and self-described “film score geeks” Art of the Score podcast co-hosts Andrew Pogson and Dr Dan Golding will be there on the night. They'll delve into the stories behind Horner’s most beloved works and long list of accolades, among which he claims 10 Oscar nominations, two wins, and holds the title for the highest-selling orchestral soundtrack in history — yes, we’re talking about Titanic. The MSO has previously collaborated with Art of the Score on sell-out concerts celebrating the great John Williams and Hans Zimmer. This year, audiences can expect an immersive journey through Horner’s musical universe and back catalogue. Expect songs from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Apollo 13, Aliens, The Rocketeer, Braveheart, Titanic, Avatar and more. The Music of James Horner is coming to Hamer Hall on Friday, March 27 at 7:30pm, Saturday March 28 at 7:30pm and Sunday, March 29 at 2pm. Tickets range from $93 to $150. Get yours here.  Better yet? Time Out readers can score 20 per cent off tickets with code TIMEOUT. Cha-ching!

Calling all fashionistas! On March 21 and 22, the National Trust's beloved annual vintage sale is returning to the Abbotsford Convent. This year, the sale will be taking place at the massive Magdalen Laundry. You'll be able to peruse a huge selection of vintage and pre-loved designer clothing and accessories – in the past, brands like Armani, Alexander McQueen, Diane von Fürstenberg and Marimekko have been up for grabs. A lot of household linen, furnishings, dress fabrics, shoes, bags, jewellery and even haberdashery will also be on offer. New stock will be released on the Sunday morning (perfect if you’re planning a second visit) and from 3-5pm that afternoon you will also be able to take 50 per cent off all remaining items. Plus, if you're a member, you can score early access from 9-10am each day – you can join up here when allocations open in early March. Bring a gold coin donation for entry and prepare to refresh your wardrobe with fun new designer finds for a fraction of the price. Best of all, proceeds from the sale support the work of the National Trust in conserving our state's cultural and built heritage. Donations are also accepted in the lead-up to the event, so if you have some quality items you'd like to offload in the name of a good cause, now's your chance. For more information on donating and the event, visit the website here. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. Want more...

It's your last chance to power up, unlock that final level and beat the big boss, because ACMI's Game Worlds is about to be clocked (aka it's finishing up soon). So don't let it be game over before you get a chance to enter this immersive, fully playable exhibition. Perfect for fans of The Sims, Neopets or World of Warcraft, this blockbuster celebration of video games will transport you into the worlds of more than 30 iconic titles, including Final Fantasy XIV Online, Minecraft, Doom and Stardew Valley. Also featured are classics like Maze War and Zork, fan faves with cult followings like The Elder Scrolls Online, and new releases like Guardian Maia. Spanning games from the 1970s right through to this year, you'll be able to check out rare concept art, original design materials, early hands-on protoypes and so much more. There are 44 fully playable experiences (think Celeste speedruns on two huge screens), and four new microgames by emerging and established Aussie game developers have been specially commissioned for the exhibition.   “Our exhibition honours the real-life experiences that are made possible by and through videogames, highlighting the players and developers – and stories that bring videogame worlds to life,” said co-curators Bethan Johnson and Jini Maxwell. Want to take a part of the exhibition home with you? There's limited-edition merch and exclusive books available for purchase at the ACMI shop. Game Worlds is now on at ACMI until March 29. For more...

Want to frolic through a field of flowers? You don't have to wait until spring. Head to Melbourne's Dandenong Ranges to enjoy the Tesselaar KaBloom, Festival of Flowers this autumn. Open daily from Saturday, March 21 to Sunday, April 19, it's a perfect day trip to take during the Easter school holidays.  In case the name sounds familiar, it's because the Tesselaar team are the same peeps who bring us the beloved annual Dutch tulip festival. Wander through fields filled with sunflowers, salvias, marigolds, dahlias and more – just watch out for those snap-happy Instagrammers!   When is the Tesselaar KaBloom Festival on?  The festival runs every day between March 21 to April 19 – yes, even on the Easter weekend public holidays – and it's open from 10am to 5pm.  With more than a million gorgeous blooms across five acres, KaBloom invites visitors to wander through fields of diffferent flowers arranged in stunning designs that blend nature, art and creativity. What else does the Tesselaar KaBloom Festival offer? For something different, take a ride on the ferris wheel to get an aerial view of the floral arrangements. The festival also features a host of kid-friendly events among the flower fields with garden games, obstacle courses and hands-on workshops. Playful characters and storytellers will keep little ones busy and they're sure to love a ride on the tractor train. Add in a vibrant Market Faire that's brimming with handcrafted items, fresh flowers to take home and food...

Pack a picnic rug and head to Narre Warren where the south east’s creative hub Bunjil Place is throwing its biggest outdoor event of all time.  Open Space is a free, evening festival running across seven Saturdays from February 7, packed with live music, an open-air cinema, food trucks (or BYO dinner), and family-friendly fun that’ll keep you going and coming back for more. Opening night sets the bar high with a stellar line-up of musical acts including the soulful Canisha, smooth reggae from Paulo Almeida and his band and then an ace team-up of two Aussie powerhouses as Kutcha Edwards takes the stage with Cash Savage and the Last Drinks. Highlights don’t stop there: cozy up for a Valentine’s Day screening of the sci-fi horror classic Tarantula!; catch a performance from the Hung Hing Lion Dance in action; relive the ‘80s with synth-pop legends Pseudo Echo; swoon to country ballads from Golden Guitar winner Andrew Swift; or get funky with Cookin’ On 3 Burners, Stella Angelico, and the GRID Series Launch Party featuring Kiid KODA, ACP Martha and Jordz. The finale? A full-on spectacle with Kerfew Collective, Hari Sivanesan, Studio J Dance, and Wild Gloriosa. Plus catch an exclusive first look at the new gallery exhibition The Offbeat Sari. Open Space Bunjil Place will run every Saturday from 6pm to 9.30pm from February 7 to March 21. Find the full program here. 

Merri-bek dwellers are spoiled for choice when it comes to musical talent, and never more than during the annual Brunswick Music Festival, when international and local acts come together for a celebration of great music. 2026 marks the 38th year of the festival, and you can look forward to eight jam-packed days, featuring more than 40 gigs across the suburb and surrounds. Everything kicks off with the famous Sydney Road Street Party on Sunday, March 1. This free one-day festival takes over Brunswick’s main road  – which happens to be the longest continuous shopping strip in the southern hemisphere. Expect roving performers, amazing beats and pop-up acoustic sets, with rhythm happening everywhere you turn. The festival is also bringing in a whole lot of international headliners, with each one providing a special something. From French disco lord François K and Cretan sibling-duo Xylourides to Japanese hip-hop powerhouse DJ Krush, the globe is well represented.  You can also expect to get down with a heap of homegrown talent, dance to the uproarious bellow of Horns of Leroy's big brass brand, and hop through a series of epic, special sets at some of Brunswick's best live music locales, including Howler, the Retreat and Jazzlab.  This year, there'll also be an exciting return of the Merri-Bek 'Neighbourhood Noise' program. Creative spaces like Brunswick Library, Next Wave, Balam Balam Place and Blak Dot Gallery are all set to fling open their doors and become home to live...

Expansive and dreamy, bright and whimsical, and with a strong 'no dickhead' policy, there's a whole lot to love about Golden Plains. Known as the younger sister to Victoria's much-loved Meredith Music Festival, Golden Plains is also held at the Supernatural Amphitheatre in Meredith, and 2026 marks its 18th year on the block.  As always, you can expect no commercial sponsors, free range camping, BYO and a heap of good times over two days and two nights, with this year's festival running from March 7-9, just in time for the Labour Day long weekend.  The full line-up for 2026 is absolutely stacked with in-demand international artists as well as local favourites. The headliners for this year are revered Canadian jazz gods BADBADNOTGOOD, the incredible Basement Jaxx, dreamy toned Marlon Williams, the ethereal sounds of Ty Seagall and the dancing frenzied magic of DEVAURA.  You can also expect to get down with Frankston local lads, The Gnomes, groove with Way Dynamic, and get blissed out with techno beats from Hybrid Man duo. You can see the full-line-up in all its glory here.  Although tickets are currently sold out, you can keep your eyes peeled for updates on  the website.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. Keen to get to a gig? Head to one of the best live music venues in Melbourne.