Hi there Reader

I started publishing Tot 15 years ago when I had a newborn daughter. Back in 2011, everyone was writing blogs, Instagram hadn't been invented and there wasn't a single place to discover the best things to do in Melbourne and Victoria with kids.

If you've been with Tot from the start, then your kids are teenagers now too. And you've been asking us for more content relevant to your family's stage in life.

So I'm excited to officially launch Tot Teens - the newest addition to the Tot Hot or Not family, built for parents and carers navigating the tween and teen years.

We'll be sending out each edition on the last Friday of the month, covering events and ideas for the month ahead.

Glad you're here for the ride, and I hope you love this first issue! Send me an email and let me know your thoughts.

REPLY TO ME

Joyce xx

🔥 Tot's Hot Event Pick

​NGV Teens Art Party (Saturday 1 Aug) NGV opens its doors after hours for one night of live music, karaoke, art-making and a look at the Cartier exhibition, made just for teens. 📍 CBD

🗓️ Melbourne CBD ➝ More CBD picks

​Now or Never: Transmissions (Friday 21 - Sunday 23 Aug + Thursday 27 - Sunday 30 Aug) Each evening from dusk, SIGNAL turns the north bank of the Birrarung into a 30-minute loop of moving image and sound. 📍 CBD

​How to Train Your Dragon 2 In Concert (Thursday 27 - Sunday 30 Aug) Watch Hiccup and Toothless's next adventure on the big screen while the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra performs the score live. 📍 CBD

​Animaga Expo 2026 (Saturday 29 - Sunday 30 Aug) Cosplay competitions, artist alleys and gaming lounges take over MCEC for Melbourne's biggest weekend of anime, manga and Japanese pop culture. 📍 CBD

🗓️ Melbourne NORTH ➝ More north-side picks ​

​An August Winter in the Sydney Rd Precinct (Various dates until Tuesday 25 Aug) From a free outdoor art trail to a family night at the park, Sydney Rd's winter program has something for every age. 📍 Brunswick

​The Secret Life of Soil (Thursday 20 Aug) Join ABC Gardening Australia's Hannah Moloney for a National Science Week panel on the hidden ecosystem beneath our feet, followed by exhibition entry. 📍 Carlton

​Jump Up: Youth Open Mic and Karaoke (Thursday 27 Aug) Grab the mic for the first time or belt out a favourite karaoke number at this free, welcoming open mic night for ages 12 to 25. 📍 Reservoir

🗓️ Melbourne SOUTH ➝ More south-side picks ​

​Phenomena: MIFF (Sunday 16 Aug + Saturday 22 Aug) Petri-dish chemistry becomes psychedelic art in this Melbourne-made science documentary, screening as part of MIFF. 📍 Rosebud + Geelong

​St Kilda Teen Takeover (Mondays during term) Free baking, photography, games and trampolining for grades 6 to 9, every Monday during school term. 📍 St Kilda

​Games Club (Thursdays during term) Nintendo Switch, board games and snacks for teen gamers every Thursday afternoon, no bookings needed. 📍 Emerald Hill

🗓️ Melbourne EAST ➝ More east-side picks ​

​Maroondah Teens Dinner (Sunday 16 Aug) A relaxed, inclusive dinner night of board games and a Kahoot quiz for Autistic teens aged 13 to 18 and their families. 📍 Ringwood

​Camberwell Showtime: The Happy Place (Sunday 16 - Saturday 22 Aug) Watch a youth cast of 170 bring an all-original comedy musical to life in Camberwell Showtime's 60th production. 📍 Nunawading

​Digital Art: Procreate Workshops (Thursdays, 20 Aug - 10 Sep) Learn digital illustration on the iPad across four Thursday afternoon sessions, building two projects from scratch. 📍 Box Hill

🗓️ Melbourne WEST ➝ More west-side picks ​

​Galileo's Sky: A Family Planetarium Adventure (Thursday 20 Aug) Explore Galileo's discoveries under the dome, then stick around for telescope viewing and gelato on the Arena afterwards. 📍 Spotswood

​Next Gen Footscray (Tuesdays during term) Beginner and intermediate dance classes back to back, building confidence and skills for ages 12 to 25. 📍 Footscray

​Big Bang (Fridays during term) Soccer, volleyball, badminton and basketball round-robins (plus snacks) for ages 12 to 20, every Friday during school term. 📍 Braybrook

BROWSE ALL EVENTS