There’s so much happening this Creative October and the celebrations extend well beyond Melbourne’s CBD. Victorians and visitors can get ready to buckle up and enjoy music, comedy, theatre, art and more in suburbs, towns and cities of all sizes around the state.
Here’s a snapshot:
- Now until 22 October Ballarat International Foto Biennale will continue to showcase extraordinary photography, performances, talks and more. Enjoy from the hub at the Mining exchange, at the Art Gallery of Ballarat and venues around Ballarat.
- 6 - 8 October Music fans will take a two-night return trip from Melbourne to Charlton in the state’s centre north, stopping in Geelong and Ballarat, on a restored steam train with live music and hospitality along the way for the much-anticipated Sound Tracks event by OK Motels.
- 3-22 October Melbourne Fringe’s huge program of events in Melbourne’s west will bring music, circus, theatre and more to the West including the giant public art experience Swing, an 8 metre-high golden swing that will turn Footscray Train Station into a space for creativity and play.
- 11 – 15 October Bendigo Comedy Festival will roll out a stellar line-up of cracking acts at The Engine Room.
- 14 October Rochester is preparing for an epic day of community fun with live music and, food fun when ROCHELLA music festival turns up the volume as part of the Live Music Flood Recovery program.
- 14 October Comedy greats Dave Thornton, Geraldine Hickey and Lizzy Hoo are teaming up to deliver laughs at the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre.
- 20 – 29 October The sonic adventures of Melbourne International Jazz Festival will journey outside the city centre, with awe-inspiring live jazz at Monash in Clayton and throughout the western suburbs of Footscray, Spotswood, Newport and Werribee.
- Throughout October Geelong Arts Centre will be serving up Heather Fairbairn’s fresh take on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, alongside the Wonder Children’s Festival (16-21 October) packed with free and ticketed events for young arts adventurers. Local makers, artists and designers will sell their wares at the Piccadilly Market day, and music lovers can take in concerts from Jon Stevens (Noiseworks, INXS) and Diesel.
- Throughout October Shepparton Art Museum’s major solo exhibition of paintings and ceramic works by the late, great Luritja/Pintupi/Pitjantjatjara artist Kunmanara Carroll will be on display. Other exhibitions include Surfaced Stories, a collection of ceramic works by Indigenous artists, curated by Belinda Briggs, and group show Three Hares curated by Adam John Cullen.
- Throughout October Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallerywill showcase the popular Archibald Prize 2023 with an extraordinary display of 57 portraits, featuring public figures and cultural identities from all walks of life.