Forget New Year’s resolutions, it’s time for winter resolutions!
As the temperature drops, so does our motivation to spend time outside. So instead of binge-watching your favourite TV show, this winter may be the time to ditch the remote and check out some of the festivals and festivities in and around Melbourne. Here are four things you can do while you wait for the warmer months to come back around.
Delve into the (Indoor) World of Art and Culture
Melbourne is the cultural capital of Australia, and the list of things to do doesn’t simmer down in winter. Melbourne is abuzz with art and cultural wonderlands if you know where to look.
If you love movies, music and pop culture, then winter has some great festivals on like the Melbourne International Film Festival, The Melbourne International Jazz Festival, Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N exhibition and OZ Comic-Con.
And for those who prefer art and history, it might be the best time to visit the art galleries and museum exhibitions on your to-do list. The ACMI, Melbourne Museum, National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Australian Centre for Contemporary Art and the Ian Potter Museum of Art are all offering exclusive exhibitions from Wonderland to MoMA. If that’s not enough, there’s always local art galleries, community centres and live theatre performances to add colour to the cold season.
Visit Markets and Festivals
The Winter Night Market at Queen Victoria Market runs every Wednesday night right until the season’s end on 29 August. If you love good food and live entertainment, you can warm your belly at over 30 food stalls, peruse 50 retail stalls and enjoy live entertainment. If you’re on the hunt for a more traditional daytime market, you can visit the Sunday Market events at Queen Victoria Market, the Arts Centre in Southbank, and in Docklands.
You can also grab your parka and head out to the winter festivals happening in and around Melbourne, from the Firelight festival and OZ Comic-Con to the Refugee Week Melbourne Launch. You can check out City of Melbourne’s website for a list of events.
Get into the Reading Habit
Did you know in 2008 Melbourne joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as Australia’s only designated City of Literature? Melbourne is Australia’s literary capital and home to writers, independent booksellers, bookstores, 289 local libraries and the Melbourne Writers’ Festival in August.
On average, Victorian’s read for pleasure more than any other state. If you’re out and about in Melbourne CBD, you can browse the rare book collection and galleries of art in the State Library of Victoria, Australia’s oldest library, or take a tour of the local bookstores in or close to Melbourne’s CBD to find the next book to take home and curl up with.
And if that doesn’t tickle your literary itch, then Melbourne is also home to CAE Book Groups, Australia’s largest book club that supplies books and reading guides to hundreds of book groups across mainland Australia. If you’ve always wanted to join a face-to-face book club, then winter is a cosy time to talk about all things book-related with people who share your love of storytelling. Why not give it a go? The first session is always free.
Learn New Skills
For those of you who dare to leave the warmth of your home, picking up an active skill or hobby can be a way to fend off the winter blues. There are tons of fitness options in and around Melbourne such as local gyms, fitness centres, exercise classes (from yoga to pole dancing) and the free MindBodySpirit festival.
If you’re looking for the perfect indoor hobby to keep your hands occupied and mind busy, then get crafty with knitting, sewing, jewellery making, cooking, reading, digital design and art, which can be great indoor hobbies. There are a great number of craft shops in and around the CBD that will supply you with everything you need to knit a new scarf or practice your brush strokes. You can even pick up a new skill or hobby from our range of hands-on short courses.