What's On 25 June – 1 July 2026
Winter school holidays kick off on Saturday and Melbourne is stacked: the Socceroos' final group stage match hits Fed Square on Friday lunchtime, Fondue Chalet at Fed Square closes for good on Saturday (last chance, don't sleep on it), and Lightscape goes daily from Saturday. This is one of the best weeks of the Melbourne winter — no excuses to stay on the couch.
Plan this week with plansorted →Week at a glance
Socceroos v Paraguay — World Cup Live Site
The Socceroos' last group stage match screens free at Fed Square and AAMI Park on Friday 26 June at 12pm — get in early, it will fill fast.
Lightscape — Royal Botanic Gardens
School holidays start Saturday and Lightscape goes daily from 27 June — book a weeknight session now before it becomes a nightmare.
Fondue Chalet, Fed Square
The French alpine pop-up closes Sunday 28 June — this is genuinely your final weekend for bubbling cheese and mulled wine in a wooden chalet.
Postmodern Jukebox — Hamer Hall
Friday night at Hamer Hall: Scott Bradlee's crew reimagines pop hits in jazz-era swing and vintage soul — dress your best 1920s and enjoy the ride.
Hawthorn v GWS Giants — MCG
Friday night footy under lights at the 'G — the Hawks (9-1-4) are hunting a top-four spot and need to keep rolling.
Fireside Wine Trail — Healesville
Twenty-eight Yarra Valley wineries across six warm venues with a hop-on shuttle — the best Saturday night within an hour of the city.
Lead Pick
Healesville Fireside Wine Trail, Saturday night
Twenty-eight Yarra Valley wineries, six venues, one hop-on shuttle — the Yarra Valley's best winter night out.
The Fireside Wine Trail takes over Healesville on Saturday 27 June, 5pm–10pm. Your ticket gets you a souvenir glass, unlimited tastings across Barrique, Healesville Hotel, Four Pillars Distillery, Payten & Jones, Jayden Ong Winery, and Giammarino Wines, plus a complimentary shuttle between all six stops. It's about an hour's drive from the CBD or book the Eltham/Lilydale return shuttle for a no-fuss night. Book via Humanitix — wineyarravalley.com.au/fireside-festival-2026.
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Sort my week →Worth Knowing Before You Plan
Winter school holidays start Saturday 27 June — Lightscape, Dinos at the Zoo and family events will get significantly more crowded from this weekend. Book anything you've been putting off right now. Puffing Billy's Train of Lights kicks off Friday 26 June but is completely sold out — don't bother trying; instead, head to a free roadside vantage point in the Dandenong Ranges if you're keen to see it roll past.
What's On
Free community music festival kicks off with ARIA-winner Clare Bowditch in conversation, DJ sets and vintage rock from CJ Cummerford and the Supertones.
⚡ Free entry, check venue for registration
Great low-key Thursday night in Moonee Valley — catch multiple acts across two weekends at local pubs and bars.
Scott Bradlee's ensemble turns modern pop hits into jazz-era swing and vintage soul for a genuinely theatrical Friday night at Melbourne's best concert hall.
⚡ Book via Ticketek — artscentremelbourne.com.au
Dress in your vintage best as per the show's brief — it genuinely adds to the atmosphere.
Nearly 400 Cartier jewellery pieces after dark, with live music from rotating residencies, MSO performances, French food, champagne and film screenings.
⚡ Book in advance at ngv.vic.gov.au — limited door tickets
Best for a polished Friday date night or group catch-up — pair with dinner on St Kilda Road beforehand.
Two consecutive Victorian Tourism Awards gold winner — a 2.1km trail of world-class light installations through the Gardens, with mulled wine and hot chocolate on the way.
⚡ Book via Ticketek — popular sessions book out, especially weekends
Now accessible directly from the new ANZAC Station. Go midweek for cheaper tickets and smaller crowds.
Twenty-eight Yarra Valley wineries packed into six warm venues with fireside food, live music, and a hop-on hop-off shuttle — the Yarra Valley's unmissable winter night.
⚡ Book via Humanitix — return shuttles from Eltham/Lilydale also available
About 60–70 minutes from Melbourne CBD. Book your return shuttle if you don't want to drive.
The French alpine dining pop-up — private wooden chalets, cheese fondue or raclette, mulled wine and fire pits — shuts for good this Sunday, 28 June.
⚡ Bookings via fonduechalet.com.au — last-minute spots very limited
Genuinely hard to find a spot at this late stage — check the website daily for cancellations.
Sport
The Hawks (9-1-4) welcome GWS for a rare MCG visit — Hawthorn are chasing the top four and this is a must-win to keep the pressure on.
⚡ Tickets via AFL.com.au or Ticketek
An MCG derby with genuine edge — Collingwood looking to hold off a charging pack while Richmond try to salvage pride late in a tough season.
⚡ Tickets via AFL.com.au or Ticketek
The Roos (7-7) have won seven for the first time since 2019 and snapped a 12-game losing streak against Essendon earlier this year — they'll want to make it two in a row.
⚡ Tickets via AFL.com.au
Food & Deals
Free entry every Wednesday 5–10pm at Queen Victoria Market: global street food, fire pits, duelling pianos and the best mid-week winter ritual in the city — arrive before 6pm to beat the queues.
This is it: the last days of Fed Square's French alpine pop-up — fondue or raclette, mulled wine, marshmallows on the fire, and private chalets from $79pp (groups of 6–8).
One ticket, six Healesville venues, 28 wineries, souvenir glass and a hop-on shuttle — this is the Yarra Valley doing winter properly on Saturday night.
Mulled wine, hot chocolate and winter eats are available along the Lightscape trail inside the Botanic Gardens — no need to eat before you go.
Free This Week
Catch Australia's final World Cup group stage match on the big screen Friday 26 June at 12pm — free entry at Fed Square or AAMI Park, just get there early as both fill up fast.
All-free, all-local live music across Moonee Valley pubs and bars from Thursday 25 June to Sunday 5 July — jazz, folk, indie, soul and yes, a nu-metal tribute band on 4 July.
Free entry every Wednesday night at Queen Victoria Market — street food from around the world, fire pits, live music and shopping under the sheds from 5–10pm.
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