It’s time to shrug on your warmest gear and head out for the toastiest event in town: the return of Melbourne’s Winter Night Market.

Kicking off this Wednesday, 7 June and running every Wednesday night until 30 August, this annual shindig at Queen Victoria Market is set to heat up your winter nights with its eclectic mix of food, drinks, shopping, and entertainment.

Picture this: Queen Vic Market’s iconic open-air sheds turning into a winter wonderland every Wednesday from 5:00pm to 10:00pm. Think enticing street food, hot beverages, crackling fires, and an array of live music and roving entertainment. Picture yourself discovering treasures handcrafted by local artisans while your senses dance to the rhythms of live tunes.

Now, let’s talk about the real heroes of this story, the food and drink. For chocolate lovers, Only Mine offers a decadent chocolate fondue served with fresh fruit, plus a hot chocolate that could melt the frost off a snowman. Sample the exotic tastes of Moonfish’s prawn dumpling soup or Japanese curry served with chicken katsu. Or keep it simple and traditional with fresh roasted chestnuts from La Castanea, a European staple that pairs beautifully with Melbourne’s chilly nights.

How about a piping hot soup served in a bread roll from The Soup Factory? Or perhaps French raclette and camembert croquettes from Frencheese are more to your liking? And don’t miss out on the comfort of a four-cheese fettuccine from That’s Amore Cheese. Wash it all down with spiked Milo or mulled ginger beer, and cap off your foodie adventure with flaky Portuguese custard tarts from Casa Nata.

Beyond the glorious food and drink, there’s plenty of entertainment to keep you amused. Tarot card readings, live caricature drawings, henna art, and more await you, along with a treasure trove of goods from over 50 local makers and creators. There’s also a packed live entertainment line-up for the opening night, featuring Guru Dudu Silent Disco, Punk Emus, and Uptown Brown, among others. And don’t stress about parking, there’s plenty of space in both the undercover and open-air market car parks for a $14 flat rate.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your friends and family, head over to Queen Victoria Market’s corner at Queen and Therry Streets and warm up your Wednesday nights. For more information, visit winternightmarket.com.au. Make your winters brighter at Melbourne’s Winter Night Market – see you there!