Party Like It’s Your (Queens) Birthday!
Look out, folks – our last long weekend for the year (excluding Christmas, but let’s not get too excited about that one just yet) hits this June in the form of the Queen’s Birthday Weekend. Whilst ol’ Liz’s birthday was actually back in April, countries of the Commonwealth generally celebrate the occasion in late May or early June to take advantage of the Northern Hemisphere’s favourable weather. In our slightly cooler case, we can take it as an excuse to kick back and get cosy indoors with some of Melbourne’s great cultural offerings. Today, C&G picks a select few to get you royally inspired.
Perhaps the most notable cultural extravaganza taking place in Melbourne this Queen’s Birthday Weekend is the Melbourne International Jazz Festival. The festival will draw to its close over the weekend, taking stage in a variety of venues across the city. From the acclaimed Robert Davi’s tribute to Sinatra to a ‘Soundwalk’ through Footscray streets, a Soul Food Lunch at Exhibition Street’s Trunk Restaurant to ABC 774’s Swing Noir dance night – the weekend will celebrate and encourage the enjoyment of jazz music for all. Take a look at the full program here.
Little Big Shots - Australia’s biggest children’s film festival will also close out this Queen’s Birthday Weekend, celebrating its 10th birthday at ACMI, Federation Square, and ArtPlay nearby at Birrarung Marr Park. The festival will air a selection of local and international short films and animation collections for kids - including a wonderful few pieces created by budding young Spielbergs themselves. Take a look at the full program here, and make sure to book quick – sessions will fill up fast!
Why not spend a chilly June day exploring an exhibition at one of Melbourne’s world-acclaimed museums? Aside from some extraordinary permanent installations, catch a great temporary exhibition this Queen’s Birthday Weekend. Explore the fascinating, brutal and short-lived history of Aztec civilization at Aztecs, Melbourne Museum, the emerging style culture of Australian Muslim women at Faith, Fashion, Fusion, Immigration Museum or Scienceworks’ Rescue and Mathamazing.