Alyssa Forato

Off the back of the footy finals and long weekend in Melbourne, we're feeling refreshed, revved up and ready to go, especially since daylight savings is blessing us with later sunsets this Sunday! Warmer weather, later nights and rooftop sunset tipples are in sight. There are plenty of festivals, shows and exhibitions, for those looking to get off the couch and make the most of their weekend, even though it isn't an extended one. If you want to bust out of the city, here are the best places near Melbourne to see gorgeous spring blooms – think roses, tulips and wildflowers. We suggest you catch the last of the CherryHill Blossom Festival for a taste of Japan in Melbourne. It's looking like it'll be a bit of a rainy one, so if you'd rather keep dry, NGV Friday Nights has its last session for the Cartier exhibition. Otherwise, we suggest attending the best-selling ballet, Dracula: Ballet at its Darkest. Want to get a little weird? Melbourne's Fringe Festival officially kicked off this week, and brings a wave of quirky, audacious and boundary-pushing performances to Melbourne's arts and culture scene. And remember, you can always rely on our catch-all lists of Melbourne's best bars, restaurants, museums, parks and galleries, or consult our bucket list of the best things to do in Melbourne before you die.   Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. The fun doesn't stop on Monday! These are the best thing

Melbourne's most fashionable time of year is upon us once again. ICYMI, Melbourne Fashion Week (M/FW) will return from October 19-25, putting a spotlight on the city's diverse fashion scene. Expect incredible outfits (both on the runways and in the audience, our city's street style scene is unmatched), lots of events and plenty of shopping inspo. This year's theme is 'Wear the Moment', which is all about embodying self-expression and inclusivity – fitting for Australia's most stylish city (if we do say so ourselves). More than 300 local designers, big and small, will show off their latest designs over the course of the week. There's over 100 free and ticketed events including premium runways, independent runways, workshops, panel discussions and clothing swaps. In a M/FW first, the opening ganbu marra runway, which spotlights First Nations designers including Atyene Clothing, Ebony Noire, Kaninda, and Marnin Studiowill be held at the NGV. The iconic Student Collections Runway will return to the heritage wool trade site Younghusband, where fashion design students from Box Hill Institute, RMIT School of Fashion and Textiles, Whitehouse Institute of Design Australia and LCI Institute showcase the three-piece collections they have designed and brought to life over the year. The City Square Runway, featuring designers including Clothing The Gaps, ELK the Label and HoMie has a combination of ticketed seats and free standing room – a great free runway to go to if you can get in earl

If you're a lover of plaid, you'll be pleased to hear that beloved Australian label Katharina Lou is taking over Brunswick Street in Fitzroy for a a week-long pop-up. It's here you'll be able to try on the brand's best-selling styles and shop pieces exclusive to the Melbourne event.  While the brand does a pop-up every year or so, it's going above-and-beyond with this year's Katharinaland. While the pop-up doesn't officially open until October 10, there will be a scavenger hunt on October 8 beginning at 5pm, and an exclusive bagel collab with cult-favourite Masses Bagels – although details for what they have in store for us have been kept tightly under wraps so far. Come opening day, the first two people in line will receive a $100 voucher to use at the pop-up, and the following 18 customers will be given $25 vouchers. The festivities don't stop at being able to shop the range in-person, however. You can get tickets to the Katharina Lou 'Girl Dinner' hosted at Hope St Radio, wherein you'll enjoy a four-course dinner, wine and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as be sent home with a $40 Katharina Lou voucher and a goodie bag. The pop-up will also be open for late night shopping on Thursday October 15 until 7pm. If you've been meaning to treat yourself, now's your chance! You'll find the Katharinaland pop-up at 318 Brunswick St, Fitzroy. 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