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Four people walking through a cherry orchard with the trees in bloom.
Photograph: Supplied | CherryHill Orchard Blossom Festival
Photograph: Supplied

Things to do in Melbourne in September

Spring has arrived, and September is looking like a glorious time to be in Melbourne – here are the best events and activities to keep you busy

Leah Glynn
Written by Leah Glynn
Melbourne Editor
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It's official: Winter is (finally) over and spring has sprung! Well done, everybody – we survived another chilly season in Melbourne. And now, it's time to welcome longer days, more sunshine, warmer temps and an action-packed events calendar.

Starting with what could be the biggest sporting event of the year. No, we're not talking about the AFL Grand Final (although that's coming up on September 26). The NFL is rolling into town and the MCG will be playing host to the San Francisco 49ers and the LA Rams in the first-ever regular-season game to be held Down Under. 

It's all going down on September 11, but you can join in the festivities at the three-day Kickoff Festival, which will feature NFL exhibits, team activations, retail pop-ups, official watch parties and a stacked live music program.

On the flower front, the Tesselaar Tulip Festival returns in a sea of colour, and you can see cherry blossoms in full bloom at Cherry Hill Orchard's Blossom Festival. Two major environmentally focused events are also taking place, with RESET Festival and Birrarung Riverfest returning to celebrate biodiversity, nature and sustainability.

Over at the Australian Museum of Performing Arts is Encore! 50 Objects. 50 Years. One Collection. This brand new exhibition will showcase 50 extraordinary pieces of Australian performing arts history – think Kylie Minogue's gold hot pants, the maracas that Peter Allen shook in his 1977 performance of ‘I Go To Rio’ and costumes worn by Olivia Newton-John and Hugh Jackman.

And with the school holidays running from September 19 to October 4, it's set to be a busy month. See you out there!

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 make the most of the spring? Here are five magical spots to see blooms in Victoria.

Best things to do in Melbourne in September

1. LEGO® Pokémon™ SMART Play™ experience

  • Things to do
  • Games and hobbies
  • Melbourne
LEGO® Pokémon™ SMART Play™ experience
LEGO® Pokémon™ SMART Play™ experience
Photograph: Supplied
Screen-free interactive gameplay is back – and it’s taking over the LEGO Store Melbourne Central for the school holidays. Through every exciting iteration, LEGO® bricks and Pokémon™ have nestled their way into the hearts of every generation. If your kids have ever dreamt of hopping into The Town Map to enter the world of LEGO bricks and Pokémon, we’ve got good news. Now, they can. For a limited time, the LEGO Store Melbourne Central flagship is using SMART Play™ technology to bring the world of Pokémon to life – and the experience is free. From Saturday, September 19, get immersed in the ultimate family-friendly fun (ideal for kids and your inner kid-ult) by simply heading in-store to the LEGO® Pokémon™ SMART Play™ Zone and joining a free demonstration held by a LEGO Brick Specialist 12pm to 5pm daily. From channeling your inner trainer to winning some sweet Pokémon GO rewards, which includes A LEGO® Pokémon sticker, plus a Pokémon GO passport stamp!* The new range will be primed and ready for trialling through the interactive set-up. It’s the perfect opportunity to give the entire range a red-hot go. Get a feel of the LEGO Pokémon SMART Play(™) sets that include SMART tags that encourage world-building without a screen, assisting kids in creating and escaping into their own adventures for a while. Then, there’s the innovative SMART Brick, which adapts to children’s playing styles with turns, twists, taps and colour-identifying games. The best part? The LEGO Store...
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2. The Spring Series at Queen Victoria Market

  • Things to do
  • Melbourne
The Spring Series at Queen Victoria Market
The Spring Series at Queen Victoria Market
Photograph: Supplied
If you’ve had the pleasure of hitting up Queen Victoria Market, you’re familiar with the healthy dose of serotonin you get while leisurely strolling through its exciting selection of vendors year-round. But sunshine-filled days that yield the freshest produce and vibrant florals paired with the sweet smell of donuts and dumplings in the air? There truly is no time like spring at QVM.  It’s blooming season at the Queen Street mainstay, and this year’s harvest reset is nothing short of bountiful. Starting from Tuesday, September 1, you can dive headfirst into The Spring Series at Queen Victoria Market. QVM will see the return of top-notch seasonal fruit and veg like strawberries, artichokes, asparagus, Asian greens and zucchini, plus stellar seafood and coveted cuts of spring lamb.  At String Bean Alley, you can nab artisanal wares made with stunning craftsmanship. Expect to find a unique array of bespoke accessories, including custom jewellery, wooden utensils for your next charcuterie night, sturdy tote bags and bouquets of blossoming flowers to breathe new life into your space.  And to top things off, QVM is hosting a whole bunch of food fests and crafty events. The massive three-month stint, ending on Monday, November 30th, is putting community at the forefront, with the likes of the Melbourne International Dumpling Festival, an exclusive swap meet and Ripe Cheese’s luxe special – an incredibly decadent cheese toastie starring a whopping 25g of Petuna Tasmanian ocean...
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3. CherryHill Blossom Festival

  • Things to do
  • Fairs and festivals
  • Yarra Valley
  • Recommended
CherryHill Blossom Festival
CherryHill Blossom Festival
Photograph: Supplied
While sakura season might be over in Japan, you can still get your cherry blossom fix right here in Victoria. Simply make the one-hour trip from Melbourne to CherryHill Orchards, where hundreds of cherry trees burst into bloom for the annual Blossom Festival. Better yet, it coincides with the school holidays, making it an excellent excuse for a family day out. Wander beneath the trees with their ethereal white and pink flowers (there are more than 13 varieties of cherry trees here); snap the perfect spring fling pic for the 'gram; and settle in for a scenic picnic. Speaking of which, you can pre-purchase a retro picnic pack when booking your tickets, or BYO your own spread and find a spot beneath the trees to drink in those views. The on-site café also serves sweet and savoury treats – we can’t go past CherryHill’s famous cherry ice cream and cherry Spritzers. On weekends and public holidays, vendors and market stallholders add to the festive atmosphere, while the farm shop serves up more cherry-themed goodies. Kids can burn off some energy with games, activities and photo opportunities at the kids hub. Children are free on weekdays (but not on weekends) and your four-legged friends are welcome, too. Just remember, cherry blossom season is fleeting, so book your tickets ASAP via 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. Looking for more things to do? Check out our round-up of the...
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4. Melbourne Royal Show

  • Things to do
  • Fairs and festivals
  • Flemington
  • Recommended
Melbourne Royal Show
Melbourne Royal Show
Photograph: Supplied
Clear your calendar because the Melbourne Royal Show is back, baby! From September 24 to October 4, Melbourne Showgrounds transforms into a glorious playground of farmyard animals, thrilling rides, packed showbags, yum eats and enough entertainment to keep you busy right until the nightly fireworks. The animals are the undisputed stars of the Show – it’s your chance to see prized cows, sheep, poultry, dogs and even some alpacas. Watch horses prance, canter and leap, cheer on working dogs and head to the rural pavilion for some farmyard fun. The Animal Nursery is your chance to get up close to adorable lambs and fluffy chicks. New this year, Livestock Lane takes you behind the scenes, offering a peek into the horse stables and working areas of the Livestock Pavilion. Then there are the blue ribbon competitions. Marvel at the best of the best across everything from art, craft, cookery and woodchopping to dogs, horses, alpacas and cattle. This year marks 70 years of the Golden Axe, the most prestigious award in the Melbourne Royal Woodchop Championships, while the KG Luke Equestrian Turnout celebrates 90 years as a highlight of the Melbourne Royal Horses in Action Competition. Next, the all-important showbags – choose from 400 varieties. Whether you’re after chocolate, lollies, snacks, novelty goodies, lifestyle treats or your favourite licensed characters, there’s a bag with your name on it. What are going to be the top picks this year? The Cinnamoroll, Capybara, Hello...
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5. Melbourne Fringe Festival

  • Things to do
  • Fairs and festivals
  • Melbourne
  • Recommended
Melbourne Fringe Festival
Melbourne Fringe Festival
Photograph: Bokeh Media
Get ready to ‘Turn Towards the Heat’ because that’s the theme for this year's Melbourne Fringe Festival. Returning from September 29 to October 18, it’s three weeks of audacious art, kooky performance and out-there experiences at venues across Melbourne and beyond.  Best of all, it gives independent artists a platform to experiment, take risks and tell stories from the margins.  Given this year’s theme, expect boundary-pushing performances and genre-defying works that challenge expectations and spark curiosity. And it all kicks off with the Opening Night Gala at the Capitol Theatre on September 29, hosted by Michelle Brasier.  Celebrating its 10th season, Deadly Fringe showcases bold new First Nations work. Don't miss Dhandha/Campfire by Joel Bray Dance, a free participatory installation at Fed Square combining light, sound, sculpture and daily performance rituals around a sculptural campfire. Also look out for Ocker by Na Djinang Circus, a free roving circus spectacular, and Estuary by Ngioka Bunda-Heath, a dance duet exploring identity and connection to Country. Accessibility takes centre stage with Radical Access, which challenges artists to rethink how art can be made and experienced. Among the highlights is Manifesto of Silences by Irene Holub, a deaf-led work that combines sign language, movement, projection and immersive sound to explore deaf histories. The Passport program allows you to travel the world without leaving Melbourne. Featuring international artists...
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6. Tesselaar Tulip Festival

  • Things to do
  • Fairs and festivals
  • Melbourne
  • Recommended
Tesselaar Tulip Festival
Tesselaar Tulip Festival
Photograph: Supplied
The perfect backdrop for your next Instagram pic awaits – and it's going to be blooming gorgeous. The Tesselaar Tulip Festival returns to the Dandenong Ranges from September 12 to October 11. Celebrating its 71st year, this much-loved festival transforms five acres of farmland into a kaleidoscope of more than one million bulbs in full bloom. And in 2026, the Yarra Valley Floral Day Pass makes it easy to turn your flower-filled outing into a full-day adventure. Available on select midweek dates, the pass includes access to both the Tesselaar Tulip Festival and CherryHill Orchards' Blossom Festival, just a ten-minute drive away. For $50 per adult, you'll get entry to both venues, plus score a complimentary tractor ride through the tulip fields and a refreshing cherry Spritz. While the tulips are undoubtedly the stars of the show, there's plenty more to enjoy. There are themed weekends: Turkish (September 12-13), Dutch (September 19-20) and Irish (October 10-11); two children’s weeks featuring characters from The Octonauts and Peppa Pig; All That Jazz (September 25-27); and Rock the Fields (October 3-4). There are also food and market stalls, tractor rides and plenty of photo opportunities in those fields of tulips. Our tip? Make sure to check out Australia's largest wooden clog at the Clog Shop. The Tesselaar Tulip Festival runs daily from September 12 until October 11, 10am to 5pm. For more information on tickets, head here.   Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time...
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7. A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical

  • Musicals
  • Melbourne
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical
A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical
Photograph: Jeff Busby
Melbourne’s stages have seen a slew of jukebox musicals tread the boards over the past few years. They’ve ranged from the powerful (Tina – The Tina Turner Musical) to the cheesy-yet-crowd-pleasing (Mamma Mia! The Musical) and the glossed-over tributes (MJ the Musical). Thankfully, at a time when it feels more important than ever to encourage people to get out and support the local arts industry, A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical arrives at the Princess Theatre full of razzle-dazzle, an abundance of infectious energy and a stacked setlist guaranteed to appeal to the masses. What is A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical about?  Written by Anthony McCarten, directed by Michael Mayer and created in collaboration with Neil Diamond himself, A Beautiful Noise opens on a dour therapy session between an older Diamond (played with commanding gravitas by Terence Crawford) and his doctor (Monica Sayers). It’s an unflinchingly sharp first introduction to the musical legend – all the more surprising given the heavy involvement of Diamond and his wife Katie – who is being particularly stubborn about revealing anything about the “clouds” that darken his demeanour. Enter the doc whipping out a book of all his lyrics, and suddenly, in true musical theatre fashion, the songs are quite literally spilling onto the stage in the form of the ensemble singing a teasing medley of hits to come.   From there we’re transported back in time as a young Diamond (Will Swenson) gets his big...
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8. Dracula: Ballet at its Darkest

  • Dance
  • Ballet
  • Melbourne
Dracula: Ballet at its Darkest
Dracula: Ballet at its Darkest
Photograph: Supplied
Theatregoers, ballet fans and lovers of all things gothic, there’s a union of all your interests out there, and it’s making a bloody return to Melbourne this September and October. Dracula: Ballet at its Darkest takes the centuries-old story of the world’s most famous vampire and turns it into a tragedy told through dance. The Australian-made BIG Live production has played sold-out seasons in London’s West End, Edinburgh, San Francisco and Singapore, breaking the all-time record for the largest attended single production of Australian-made ballet. But it’s back on familiar hunting grounds now, and will spread its tale of dark romance and bloodlust, thanks to acclaimed performances by an alumni cast. That starring cast includes returning performers Ervin Zagidullin as Dracula and Abbey Hansen as Mina Harker, supported by renowned guest artist Adamzhan Bakhtiyar as Dracula in select performances. They’re choreographed by BIG Live Co-Founder Joel Burke, who, with Dracula, wanted to create a ballet that could be enjoyed by veteran and newcomer audiences alike. And as for the music, core to any ballet show, Dracula is scored by the Emmy Award-winning composer Jason Fernandez, and features classical works from maestros like Bach, Rachmaninov, Mozart, Mendelssohn and Debussy. The performance will play at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne from September 10-19, and after a brief Sydney stint, again from October 1-25. Expect fiery passion, bared teeth, captivating physicality and the...
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9. Cartier

  • Art
  • Jewellery
  • Southbank
Cartier
Cartier
Photograph: Sean Fennessy | Cartier exhibition at the NGV
Actress Elizabeth Taylor’s stunning diamond and ruby necklace. Dazzling tiaras worn by singer Rihanna. Princess Margaret’s rose-shaped diamond brooch. Treasured pieces owned by Australia's first international opera singer (and beloved Melburnian) Dame Nellie Melba. Yes, we’re talking obviously Cartier. Founded in Paris in 1847 by Louis-François Cartier, this French brand is synonymous with high-end luxury – and now, you can see it in all its glittering glory up close and personal.  The NGV’s blockbuster Winter Masterpieces exhibition, Cartier, will give you a chance to see some of the world’s most famous jewels on display. Exclusive to Melbourne and running from June 12 to October 4, the exhibition brings together nearly 400 jewels, gemstones, watches and decorative objects, many of which have never travelled to Australia before. Created by London’s Victoria and Albert Museum in partnership with the NGV and Cartier, the exhibition explores the evolution of the legendary French maison. Check out more than 20 spectacular tiaras, the iconic ‘Tutti Frutti’ collection with colourful rubies, emeralds and sapphires, as well as timeless timepieces and contemporary creations featuring Australian opals from Lightning Ridge. It promises to be a glittering journey through nearly two centuries of artistry, innovation and timeless style. Interested? Find out more here. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your...
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10. RESET Festival

  • Things to do
  • Fairs and festivals
  • Melbourne
RESET Festival
RESET Festival
Photograph: Sarah Walker
You’ve probably heard about the Rs of living more sustainably: refuse, reduce, recycle, repair and reuse. Now it’s time to reset. Fed Square’s free sustainability-focused RESET Festival returns to Melbourne this spring, running across September into the school holidays. The program is designed to make greener living a whole lot more fun – think live music, workshops, swaps, outdoor cinema, family activities and plenty of creative ways to live better every day. Get to the Planting Party on September 5, featuring live music, food, a plant market, workshops and hands-on activities at the Skyline Car Park and Test Garden. It’s also marks the end of a month-long effort to plant thousands of native plants across different Victorian sites. On September 12, the Zero Waste Festival brings repair and mending sessions, clothes, book and fabric swaps, sustainable cooking and creative activities for kids. It culminates in the first ReWear Runway, showcasing garments transformed through repairing, reclaiming and repurposing. Then there’s Book Doof on September 13 – essentially a daytime rave for readers. Bring a book, grab a free tea or coffee and settle in to read, journal or sketch while a DJ spins vinyl from the Atrium balcony.  The school holidays bring even more sustainable fun, including the Big Toy Swap on September 23 and upcycling workshops. Kids can also enjoy free outdoor screenings of classics including Flipper (September 30), Free Willy (October 1) and Fly Away Home...
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