If it’s food, wine and culture across the state you’re after, we’ve got you covered!
Whether it’s a drag show in northeast Victoria, baroque masterpieces in Hamilton or gourmet food in Inverloch, the Regional Events Fund is delivering unique food and cultural experiences you won’t want to miss.
We’ve compiled the best upcoming events for foodies, wine and arts lovers alike!
Melbourne Food and Wine Festival Regional Program
11 to 18 November
The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival is heading to regional Victoria this month to showcase the best local produce and culinary talent through exciting events that will attract foodies into the regions.
Following the successful World’s Longest Lunch in Ballarat and Coldstream, the regional program continues the following weekend.
Ballarat, Inverloch and Coldstream will be hosting feasts to suit all tastebuds, with renowned chefs doing live demonstrations, craft beers to be discovered and live music providing a soundtrack to a fun weekend away.
To find out more, visit: Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.
Drag’d Out Beechworth
16 to 19 November
The annual Drag'd Out festival transforms Beechworth into a giant sequinned street party for one weekend.
The queer positive, all-inclusive community event involving the whole town also attracts people from all over the world. Think drag kings, queens and everything in between!
Along with special guest Bob Downe, there’s drag bingo, chalk drawing, a trail ride, street party, drag shows and plenty more.
To find out more, visit: Drag'd Out Beechworth.
Lisa Gorman & Mirka Mora
18 November 2023 to 17 March 2024
Warrnambool-born Lisa Gorman is known for her vibrant and collaborative designs for her eponymous fashion labels, Gorman, which she founded in 1999 before departing in 2021.
Together with the late Melbourne artist Mirka Mora, the artists shared a love of colour, other worldliness, and experimental production, while highlighting the role fashion and textiles played in their daily lives.
The exhibition showcases garments from the Gorman label's iconic 2016 and 2018 GORMAN X Mirka collaborations, together with rarely exhibited embroideries, soft sculptures, and never-before-seen paintings from the Estate of Mirka Mora.
Also on display will be a large-scale, sculptural installation by Lisa Gorman, drawing inspiration from the two fundamental components of weaving – the warp and weft.
To find out more, visit: Warrnambool Art Gallery.
Queenscliff Music Festival
24 to 26 November
60+ artists. 150 performances. 10 venues. 4 days.
Set against a backdrop of stunning views of Port Phillip Bay, Sorrento and the Queenscliff Harbour, this year’s festival line-up includes the likes of Boy & Bear, Dan Sultan, Ian Moss, Illy, Something for Kate and Bananas in Pyjamas.
The celebration of live music, family-friendly activities and locally sourced gourmet produce invites visitors to soak up the laid-back vibes and the eclectic mix of music on offer.
This year's festival will also feature Auslan Interpreted shows across its main stages, attracting more than 10,000 music lovers of all ages.
To find out more, visit: Queenscliff Music Festival.
Emerging from Darkness, Hamilton Gallery
9 December 2023 to 14 April 2024
Thanks to a partnership with the National Gallery of Victoria and loans from the National Gallery of Australia and private lenders, Emerging From Darkness: Faith, Emotion and the Body in the Baroque brings together some of the most important European works in Australia for the first time.
Showcasing rare, historically important works by world-renowned baroque masters, the exhibition tells the dramatic stories of three female artists: Artemisia Gentileschi, Lavinia Fontana, and Sofonisba Anguissola.
The trio reinterpret experiences of violence and turmoil, while representing voices of empowerment. Their works are showcased alongside major paintings by Peter Paul Rubens, Valentin de Boulogne, Guercino and Bartolomeo Manfredi, among others.
The Baroque is the most passionate and emotive art movement in history. Visitors will experience works that changed the course of art in the 17th Century in what promises to be a truly memorable experience.
To find out more, visit: Hamilton Gallery.
Since 2016, the Regional Events Fund has funded more than 350 events across the state.
