The Must-See Events at Melbourne's RISING

Need an excuse to visit Melbourne this winter? Well, here it is - RISING. A 12 night festival that will unleash your creative side and get your spidey senses tingling (cue art, music, food and performance!). The city is bursting with nightlife over this cosy, wintery time, so it’s the perfect time to visit. 

The only dilemma is, what to see out of the 133 events taking place? We’ve shortlisted the must-sees here so your nights can be as memorable as they are imaginative!

Think you know Melbourne’s iconic Sidney Myer Music Bowl? Think again, because for RISING, it will be completely transformed into a supernatural forest! Expect a merging of ice, fire and moonlight with giant art installations and an ice rink on The Bowl’s very own stage - featuring a live DJ set to get groovy to. 

For a more exclusive, forest experience, The Lighthouse at The Wilds will be featuring a deluxe three-course menu (vegetarian option available) by David Moyle. Stay tuned for what’s on the menu! 

These free installations are perfect for grabbing your mates and taking a stroll alongside the pleasant illumination of Melbourne’s Birrarung Marr (Yarra River). See how local artists portray their interpretation of stories from indigenous ancestors and settle in for fire-roasted snacks at the kitchen.

Take in the pleasant illumination of Melbourne’s Birrarung Marr and see how local artists portray their interpretation of stories from indigenous ancestors. 

The Rivers Sing can best be described as a large-scale sonic artwork that takes place at sunrise (7:25am) and sunset (5:15pm), with memorising audio being amplified and winding along the Birrarung. Wandering Stars features a glowing eel and hundreds of lanterns on the water - perfect for an ambient sitting on the river’s bank whilst listening to the Rivers Sing. Ancestral Memory also features a symbolic eel, but this time in digital form - weaving across the facade of the Hamer Hall. 

Melting ice sculptures, laser-eyed inflatables, cocktails and parades are promised. We say abstract, you say yes, please. This event is very Melbourne, with a very standard place (car park) being transformed into something magical.

Normally a lunchtime ritual, but in the nature of RISING - this trolley-filled event is now available after dark so that you and your mates can enjoy a delicious feast after exploring all the evening events! Set in the Melbourne Town Hall, it is sure to be a special treat. 

Set in Flinders Street Station’s mysterious ballroom - a venue which hasn’t seen the public eye in decades - you’ll be able to come up close and personal with Patricia Piccinini’s hyper-real sculptures. Alien-like, different, person but animal at the same time, Piccinini’s display is not to be missed to challenge your perception of humanity and get your creative thoughts flowing.

Heading to Melbourne for a weekend getaway? Don’t miss Klook’s recommendations for the day time - to contrast your experiences at night!