Annual Events Program

March 8 is a global day of recognition and celebration of women's social, political, cultural and economic achievements. It is also a day that invites reflection and action to combat gender-based discrimination and violence.

Check back in here for details on next years International Women's Day celebrations.

It is a fun, free and immersive festival that offers a broad range of performances, workshops, community stalls, a pet expo, food and beverages, and of course, kite flying!

Gather your family and friends, bring a kite if you have one (or make one on the day!) and come along and celebrate with the Darebin community.

The next Darebin Community and Kite Festival will be held in 2018.

IDAHOBIT also affirms the strength, resilience and contributions of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Questioning (LGBTIQ) people and their families, allies and supporters. 

In Darebin, we are proud of our diverse community. As the closest level of government to the community, we believe that we have an important role in challenging homophobia, biphobia and transphobia and promoting social inclusion and human rights for all, regardless of sexuality, sex characteristics or gender identity.

We recognise that discrimination can have serious negative consequences on the social and emotional well being of our residents. We are committed to strengthening community cohesion and connectedness by celebrating diversity and promoting respect for all.

On May 15 2017, Council resolved to raise and fly the rainbow flag at Preston Town Hall in solidarity with the LGBTIQ community until marriage equality legislation is passed by federal parliament. The flag was raised on IDAHOBIT Day on 17 May 2017.

Further information about diversity in Darebin. 

National Sorry Day is an Australia-wide observance held on May 26 each year. This day gives people the chance to come together and share the steps towards healing for the Stolen Generations, their families and communities. Stolen generations refer to Indigenous Australians who were forcibly removed from their families and communities.

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is celebrated across Australia each year between 27 May and 3 June. The dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey: the anniversaries of the successful 1967 referendum and the High Court Mabo decision. The week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements and to explore how each of us can join the national reconciliation effort.

Each year, Darebin City Council recognises and celebrates these significant dates through a number of events across Council.

National Sorry Day 2017 - Leave a message
This year community are invited to leave a message in the commemorative Sorry Day book on display in the foyer of Council’s Customer Service Centre at 274 Gower Street, Preston, during business hours throughout National Reconciliation Week. The book will be presented to the National Sorry Day Committee. People are also invited to view the Stolen Generations Marker located outside Council officers on High Street, Preston for a moment of reflection.

Held in various locations across Darebin, this week-long program features workshops, seminars, demonstrations and special events, culminating in a ‘meet the makers’ showcase where you can enjoy free wine tastings. You can also enter your own homemade wine, passata, ajvar or olives into competition.

The Darebin Homemade Food and Wine Festival will next take place mid-2018.

For more details please visit the Darebin Arts website or subscribe to our What's On fortnightly e-newsletter to receive updates in your inbox.

NAIDOC Week 2017 celebrations:

Darebin City Council together with the Aborigines Advancement League invite you to join us in celebrating NAIDOC Week with an Aboriginal Flag Raising Ceremony. All are welcome to this free and open event to celebrate and share in the rich and thriving culture, history and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 

Date: 3 July 2017
Time: 10 - 11.30am
Location: Mantra Bell City Hotel (215 Bell Street, Preston)

Ride2Work Day is Australia's biggest celebration of bike riding and the perfect opportunity to try riding to work. Join the thousands of riders across Darebin already on their bikes and experience the difference riding can make to your daily commute. 

If you’re a business owner, take the lead and encourage your staff to ride. If you’re an employee, ask your boss to support the day. 

All businesses that register for Ride2Work Day with Darebin Council receive a FREE fresh fruit box for everyone to enjoy, as well as promotional posters, bike information and cycling-related give-aways. 

It’s free and easy to register - simply go to our registration page: www.darebintransport.eventbrite.com.  

All businesses that get involved are in the running to win some great prizes.  

Registrations close on September 30, 2017. 

• Improving personal health and wellbeing
• Attracting and retaining staff 
• Reducing absenteeism and increasing productivity
• Saving money on petrol and public transport fares 
• Reducing congestion on our roads
• Alleviating parking pressures at work
• Minimising our greenhouse gas emissions

For more information about how to make your workplace more bike-friendly, visit Bicycle Network Victoria.

Download Springtime Community Events 2017 or call 8470 8828 for a printed copy.

Further Information
Ph: 8470 8828

This rich and diverse collection of musical events is built on the philosophy that music brings people together and can be enjoyed by all.

Darebin Music Feast 2017 will be taking over venues right across the municipality from 12 - 22 October. With signature events, dance parties, interactive installations, intimate gigs and returning favourite, the Darebin Songwriters Award, Darebin Music Feast showcases Darebin's diverse mix of music genres and cultures.

Few municipalities in Melbourne can boast the boundless creativity of Darebin. Taking in Thornbury, Northcote, Reservoir, Preston, Macleod, Fairfield, Bundoora, Alphington and Kingsbury, Darebin boasts a veritable bounty of talent and is brimming with art, music and dedication to culture.

For updates and news about this event, and opportunities to be involved, visit the Darebin Music Feast website.

The Backyard Harvest Festival has inspired home gardeners since it first began in 2011, helping build a strong sense of community around homegrown and homemade food. The 2017 festival is taking place from Saturday 18 - Sunday 26 November.

For the first time Darebin Council is partnering with Moreland City Council as well as long standing partners Darebin Ethnic Communities Council (DECC) to deliver the festival. This means there will be even more inspiring and abundant gardens to see this year, located in both Darebin and Moreland.

Are you interested in volunteering or opening your garden at the next festival?

Other volunteers help as a guide or translator for home gardeners. They benefit first hand from the wealth of food cultivating skills shared by passionate gardeners from a diversity of cultures. 

Submissions to open your garden at the 2017 Backyard Harvest Festival close 1 September, 2017

This free event features performances from local choirs, music, community market stalls, sausage sizzle and more! Bring a picnic, your best singing voice and celebrate Christmas with your community.

The next Carols in All Nations will be held on Saturday 9 December 2017. 

For more information, visit Darebin Arts.

As one of 78 state-wide providers, the FReeZA program also provides important performance opportunities for local musicians and emerging artists to showcase their talent through competitions such as the Victorian FReeZA Push Start Battle of the Bands.

All FReeZA events are fully supervised, drug, alcohol and smoke-free.

www.facebook.com/darebinfreeza

Families, Diversity and Community Events Calendar (July - December 2017)

Sessions available:

• Sleep and Settling - includes information on understanding normal infant sleep, the function of sleep, infant cues, and how to help your baby establish age appropriate sleep patterns. Sessions are available for 0-5 months, 6-12 months, and 12 months + age groups.
  

• Babies and Food in the First Year - includes information on when to start offering foods to taste, how to start offering foods, what foods to start with, textures of foods and readiness to try finger foods, mealtime and feeding cues.
    
• Tuning into Your Baby - this session, in partnership with Darebin Community Health,  will provide new parents with the chance to play with their babies and learn about promoting their child's development. Enjoy a relaxed and fun environment with new toys and activities for parents to experience with their child.

• Baby Massage - sessions for mothers, fathers and guardians of babies aged 6 weeks to 4 months techniques including information on massage techniques, the benefits of massage and how it can promote development, understand cues and communication, and basic relaxation techniques.

• Fathers Session with Dr Wake - Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and author Dr Andrew Wake will talk with Dads to help children manage their emotions. Topics include; Where fear and anger comes from in the brain, what makes children angry, and how to confidently help our children (and ourselves) learn to deal with emotions better.  

• Raising Your One Year Old - Find out what you have to look forward to as your child turns one. This session will provide information on growth and development, nutrition, play, security and safety, responding to young toddler behaviours, supporting exploration and learning, community resources.

• Raising Your Two Year Old - Parenting your two year old presents opportunities for enjoyment of their new abilities in language and play. It can also be a challenging time as toddlers express strong feelings and a growing independence. Find out what this new stage will bring.

• Raising Your Three Year Old - Three year old children are eager to learn more about themselves and the wider world. They like to do more things for themselves and thrive when there are predictable routines and experiences that help them gain confidence. Find out what this new stage will bring. Kindergarten and community resources will also be discussed.

• Promoting Children's Development- Two sessions (0-3 year age group and 3-8 year age group session).  The session will provide information and advice to parents and carers on how to promote children's development. 

• Emotional Intelligence- Based on the Tuning into Kids program, this session helps parents to develop their child's emotional intelligence.

• Parenting in an Anxious World- This workshop will provide practical ideas and strategies to help parents and their children manage anxiety in this fast paced world.

 

Bookings

Bookings are essential as places are strictly limited.

Book Online 

Loud Mouth takes place on school holidays at Darebin Arts and Entertainment Centre, with occasional events also held at Northcote Town Hall. For a full listing of events, please visit the Darebin Arts website.

www.facebook.com/pages/Darebin-Arts-Loud-Mouth

A rolling series of participatory arts projects and events to delight locals, inspire visitors, and bring people together through sound, illustration, music, dance, food and play. Join us as we explore and celebrate the unique character of this thriving northern suburb. All you have to do is head True North.

To find out more, visit True North Arts.

The Speakeasy program is presented at Northcote Town Hall and features artists from across Melbourne and beyond.