Celebrate Christmas in July at Queen Vic Market

Yes, it’s cold outside. It’s windy, it’s grey, and it feels like the entirety of Melbourne has gone into hibernation. “What do people do in winter?” you may have muttered to your sad and frozen house plants. Do not despair, there’s still plenty of action nestled in all the cosy corners of the city, you just have to know where to look. And you don’t need to look hard to find the holy grail of Melbourne winter experiences – The Queen Victoria Winter Night Market.

Running every Wednesday till the end of August, the Winter Night Market is a classic Melbourne event that pulls in the masses for guaranteed nights of food, drink, art, culture and entertainment. This year, it seems word has definitely spread far and wide, so be prepared to embrace queues, for there are many, and they are long. But there’s plenty of atmosphere to soak up while you wait your turn, and you’ll be rewarded for your patience with some of the city’s most delicious and diverse cuisines. 

There’s so much choice it’s overwhelming. The biggest food craze at this year’s market seems to be anything served in an edible dish. And we’re on board with that. It just makes sense on so many levels. The Soup Factory ladles up your choice of comforting soups in wonderfully crusty hollowed-out bread bowls. Their roast pumpkin, sweet potato, coriander and leek soup is so good you’ll feel better about the fact that everyone in your office has the sniffles and no amount of hand sanitiser can protect you. And the award for the best “If you didn’t Instagram it, did you even have it?” dessert is Churro Kitchen’s churro bowl filled with vanilla bean ice cream and warm hazelnut sauce. It will make you feel better about life.

If edible dinnerware isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other options to choose from. Like Simply Spanish, for their traditional paella that won the title of “Best Paella Outside of Spain”; or Southside Smokers, whose tantalising BBQ smoke wafts throughout the entire market. Even 400 Gradi have a stall, selling their award-winning Margherita pizza. There’s bao. There’s burgers. There’s even spaghetti ice-cream (weird, but it’s a thing people are doing). The list goes on. You can pre-book a table and make it your spot for the night (highly suggested if you require elbow room when eating).

This year, the market is gifting us a little extra cheer with a fun and festive Christmas in July pop-up instalment. Celebrate Christmas in July every Wednesday this month as the humble market shed transforms into a winter wonderland complete with Northern hemisphere vibes, including little creative touches everywhere to make you feel like you’re 100% Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone (minus the shenanigans, unless you have too much hot apple cider). There’s fake snow swirling through the air, a forest of mini Christmas trees, carollers, angels, eggnog, and even a brass band playing traditional Christmas tunes (we didn’t see Santa, but he was probably off getting some pierogi and a pinot noir). 

The Winter Night Market is a time-honoured event for a reason, and it never fails to get people out of the house on even the coldest of winter nights. So rug up and hit the sheds!

Christmas in July at the Winter Night Market
Every Wednesday in July, 5pm to 10pm
Queen Street, Melbourne, 3000
thenightmarket.com.au