St Kilda and Southside are heating up for an epic summer event season. From immersive art exhibits and epic music events to outdoor cinema, vibrant cultural celebrations and the iconic St Kilda Festival, mark these dates in your diary. 

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St Kilda Blues Festival

Street corners and music venues across St Kilda will light up this weekend for the St Kilda Blues Festival. From March 1-3, hit the streets, including Acland St, Fitzroy St and Blessington St, for a huge free program of live music, with 70+ live gigs with local artists, roaming street performers, and the epic St Kilda Street Swamp Second Line parade led by Hoodoo Mayhem. With a melting pot of musical styles, from the soulful sounds of the Mississippi Delta to folk, country blues, punk, alt-blues and more.

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St Kilda Festival

St Kilda Festival is set to bring good times and sweet tunes to your summer once again in 2024. Coming off the back of a fresh and wildly successful two-day format in 2023, the festival is returning for an epic weekend of programming featuring some of the best live music acts in the country, family entertainment and all-round fun. Open to all ages and free entry. Explore the 2024 St Kilda Festival program. 

Saturday 17 February (First Peoples First) and Sunday 18 February (Big Festival), South Beach Reserve, St Kilda and various other locations. 

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Sunset Cinema, St Kilda Botanic Gardens

The St Kilda Botanic Gardens makes a stunning backdrop for the return season of Sunset Cinema (formerly Barefoot Cinema). Watch the hottest summer releases under the stars including Wonka, Poor Things, Mean Girls, Next Goal Wins, and The Color Purple. The program also features classic and new family films, including Studio Ghibli's first release in a decade, The Boy and The Heron.  Relax in comfy beanbags with a fully licensed onsite bar, food trucks, and gourmet choctops, or upgrade your experience and book for the VIP Sunset Lounge, for a prime viewing spot and unlimited popcorn. Arrive early to grab a drink amongst the greenery as the shadows lengthen.  

31 January to 9 March, 6.30 to 11 pm,  11 Herbert Street, St Kilda

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Midsumma Pride March

Parade, pride and party come together once a year in the annual Midsumma Pride March celebrating solidarity in gender and sexuality diversity. Celebrating 28 years in 2024, this iconic annual event draws draws over 50,000 people to Fitzroy Street, with spectators lining the route to the festivites. A post-March party kicks off  after the main event in Catani Gardens with DJs and live performances. Road closures apply on the day from 8 am. 

4 February, 11am to 5pm, running from Johnson Oval, Fitzroy Street (between Lakeside Drive) and Beaconsfield Parade, St Kilda.

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Acland Street Sunset Market

A monthly new Sunset Market is popping up on Acland Street this summer. Presented by the organisers of St Kilda Esplanade Market, it showcases unique arts and crafts in a bespoke setting on Acland Plaza. Browse open-air stalls by local creatives and then stay on to soak up the St Kilda sunset over drinks and dinner.

Thursday 8 February and 14 March,  4 to 8.30 pm, Acland Plaza, St Kilda. 

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Summer Jam 

Summer Jam, Australia's Summer Basketball Festival, is back for its twelth year. Join thousands of fans for this invitational championship, featuring the nation's best players competing to become Streetball Champions. Held at St Kilda's Peanut Farm Reserve, the three-day event showcases the final 8 women's squads and 16 men's teams from across Australia. Enjoy a summer block party atmosphere with DJs, live acts, food vendors, a Slam Dunk contest, and family-friendly activities. 

Friday 9 to Sunday 11 February, Peanut Farm Rsearve, St Kilda. 

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Luxury Escapes Twilight Beach Polo 

One of summer's most fashionable events, the Twilight Beach Polo brings together the country’s top polo teams for two high-energy matches on the sands of St Kilda West Beach. Expect a glamourous crowd along with premium food, wine and live entertainment. Reserve a table at West Beach Pavillion for prime viewing of the action, or treat yourself to a luxe experience at the Luxury Escapes VIP Lounge. With champagne, cocktails and canapes and the who’s who of Melbourne’s social and celebrity scene in attendance, it's the ultimate experience on the sand. 

Saturday 10 February, 1 pm to 10 pm, West Beach, St Kilda. 

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St Kilda Latin Festival

The best Latin American musicians, artists and DJs come together for the St Kilda Latin Festival, an all-day fiesta of salsa, reggaeton, bachata, samba and more. With a prime beachside location in St Kilda's south reserve, a packed program of internationally renowned artists, local bands, DJs and dance crews perform in carnival atmopshere. Grab a cocktail or beer at the fully stocked Latin Beer Garden, and taste your way through Mexico, Central and South America at the wide variety of food stalls onsite. Keep an eye on the festival's social media channels for 2024 program annoucements and updates. 

10 February, 2 to 10pm, South Reserve, St Kilda

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Melbourne Beerfest 

Don't miss this big day out for beer lovers. One of the largest meeting places of Australian brewers and producers, Melbourne Beerfest serves up over 350 unique, exotic, and small batch craft beers, ciders and seltzers over two jam-packed sessions.  Fill up between brews on gourmet and local street food. Entertainment is top notch, with the lineup featuring both live music and comedy sessions. Highlights include a DJ set from Midnight Juggernauts (day session), the Discovery Daft Punk Show (night session) and live standup from Geraldine Hickey, Ivan Aristeguieta and Nick Cody. 

24 February, 11.30 am to 3.30 pm (day session) and 5pm to 10pm (evening session), Catani Gardens, St Kilda

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Rain Room

International art sensation Rain Room has returned for a brand new season at Jackalope Pavilion. Be surrounded by (but completely protected from) an intense rainstorm that responds to your presence and movement in this mesmerising, immersive experience. 

Until 29 February, Jackalope Pavilion, Corner Jackson and Acland Streets, St Kilda

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KIIS Eye Ferris Wheel

Take in breath-taking views of St Kilda Foreshore from above on the KIIS Eye Ferris Wheel. Open daily from 10 am to 9.30 pm at Catani Gardens from 2 December, repeat visits are recommended to catch the sunset over Port Phillip Bay and sparkling lights of Melbourne after dark. A 30% discount applies for City of Port Phillip residents, upon presentation of photo ID.

Open until 25 April 2024 (except Christmas Day), 10 am to 9.30 pm daily, Catani Gardens, Beaconsfield Parade, St Kilda. Opening hours may vary due to weather, check the Skyline  Facebook and  Instagram for most recent updates. 

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Linden annual Postcard show

One of the biggest events in Linden New Art’s annual calendar, the Postcards Show, is on now. With over 1,000 works on display, 2023-2024 will be the biggest exhibition yet, featuring art across multiple mediums including 2D, sculptures, video art and audio. A four-week summer pop-up bar will run during the season, with whiskey-based cocktails and rotating DJs in partnership with The Gospel Whiskey. 

Postcards Show: On now until  1 February, 2024, 26 Acland Street, St Kilda. Gospel Sundays Summer pop-up bar season: Sundays, 12.30 to 3.30 pm 15 January to 5 February, 2024. 

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2023 - 2024 2XU Triathlon Series

Victoria’s premier triathlon event, the 2XU Triathlon Series, is fixture across Melbourne's southside beaches during summer. The season is now open, with races coming up in both St Kilda and Elwood. Different fitness levels are welcome, including tri-kids, age groupers and elites. Some road closures apply during race times, so allow extra travel time. 

2XU Triathlon Series, Catani Gardens, St Kilda (24 March) and Elwood Reserve (3 March). Register for  the 2XU Triathlon