Welcome to the weekend of March 21st and 22nd! We have some fantastic one-off events happening, including a dog fun day, a huge community festival in Yarraville, and the CERES Harvest Festival. Make sure to check out the Tesselaar KaBloom Festival if you love flowers!
See our top picks
Dogs Day Out
H.E. Parker Reserve, Heathmont
A free Sunday morning event with kids' activities and market stalls.
Balloon Story - Melbourne
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC)
A massive, colourful indoor exhibition perfect for a Saturday escape.
Central Park Childcare Open Day & Easter Egg Hunt Fundraiser
Central Park Child Care Centre
An Easter egg hunt on Sunday morning tailored for younger families.
· March 21
5CERES HARVEST FESTIVAL 2026 : Celebrate the harvest and give thanks for the changing seasons at the CERES Harvest Festival. It sounds like a great community bash hosted by the environment park.It’s a Saturday only, local community celebration focused on the earth and seasons.
: Check out what the animals at Melbourne Zoo are snacking on! This is a scheduled feeding/activity time, not the general zoo entry.It's a specific scheduled event happening at the zoo this Saturday.
: This huge flower festival is on all weekend! For the kids, they have tractor rides and regular performances from Circus Oz.It's a massive, colourful seasonal event running all weekend, perfect for a family day trip.
: This colourful show is on all weekend and features a new Wildplace Children's Garden, offering an imaginative playground inspired by Indigenous perspectives.It is running all weekend and includes a specific new children's area.
: Catch the sparkling Peter Pan ballet performance happening this weekend. Great indoor option if the weather turns.It starts running this weekend, offering a classic performance suitable for families.
· March 22
8: If your family loves dogs, head down to Chelsea Bicentennial Park for a fun day out. Expect dog-related fun and family activities.It's a dedicated family fun day happening Sunday morning.
: Head out to Werribee for a dedicated Family Fun Day event. This is separate from general entry and likely includes special activities.A specific family event hosted at the popular zoo this Sunday.
: Enjoy an Easter Egg Hunt fundraiser while checking out the childcare centre. Perfect for families with younger kids.It combines a seasonal activity (Easter Egg Hunt) with a local community open day on Sunday.
DOGS DAY OUTFREE : A great free Sunday morning event featuring kids' activities, pet market stalls, and food trucks. Bring the whole family (and the dog!).It is explicitly listed as Free and focuses on family/pet interaction on Sunday.
FREE : This community festival sounds packed with fun, featuring live entertainment, free creative arts workshops, face painting, and circus workshops.A massive, free, diverse community event happening all afternoon on Sunday.
: The Yarraville Festival is back, transforming the streets into a huge celebration of community spirit. A perfect Sunday outing!It's a major, one-day village festival happening only on Sunday.
: This is the absolute last day to see the millions of sunflowers before they close! They even added a giant hay bale maze this year for the kids.It's the very last day (Sunday, March 22nd) to catch this spectacular bloom and maze.
: The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra performs iconic film scores from composers like James Horner (Titanic, Avatar). Great for older kids interested in movies or music.It is one of only three performance dates this weekend, with a Sunday matinee option.
Also On· anytime this weekend
8: A classic library storytime session to keep the little ones entertained. Since it's listed as recurring but we only select the 21st, we list it as a one-off for this weekend.A reliable, indoor activity for younger children on Saturday morning.
FREE : Get creative using colour and collage to decorate your very own kite. The activity is inspired by the popular children's book 'Under the Love Umbrella'.It's a free, hands-on, creative activity happening on Saturday.
: Take a relaxed journey on heritage carriages along the bay this Sunday, often spotting black swans. A gentle outdoor adventure.A unique heritage train ride occurring only on Sunday.
: If March 22nd is the third Sunday of the month, head to the tall ship Polly Woodside for Pirate Day! Bring your buccaneers for some swashbuckling fun.It's an interactive, themed day happening only on the third Sunday (March 22nd, based on data correlation).
FREE : This is the final Saturday night event of the series, featuring live music, an open-air cinema, and food trucks. A great free option for Saturday evening.It's the final Saturday night session of this free outdoor cinema/music event series.
: Check out this immersive exhibition celebrating video games, featuring 44 playable experiences. This is the last weekend to visit before it closes on Sunday.It's the final weekend (closing Sunday, March 29th, but present all weekend) for this highly interactive exhibition.
: An exhibition based on balloons, located indoors at the MCEC. This is a great option for Saturday if you need a break from outdoor plans.It runs all weekend and is a large indoor experience starting this week.
: Explore the history of the Titanic at this indoor exhibition opening this weekend. Good for families with older children interested in history.This exhibition starts this weekend, making it relevant for Saturday's plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
What free kids events are on in Melbourne this weekend?
This weekend (Mar 21-22) there are 3 confirmed free events: Dogs Day Out in Heathmont (Sunday), the Clayton Festival (Sunday), and the Create a Kite Craft Activity (Saturday).
Are there any major outdoor festivals happening on Sunday?
Yes, the Yarraville Festival is taking over the village streets on Sunday, March 22nd, and the Chelsea Park Dog-a-thon Family Fun Day is also running.
What can we do if it rains on Saturday?
For indoor options this Saturday, consider the Balloon Story exhibition at the MCEC, the Tesselaar KaBloom Festival (which is mostly outdoors but has indoor elements), or the newly opened Titanic exhibition.
