Two Melbourne events in August (one free and one splurge)

We've been into Melbourne's Docklands for two events recently that have been really fun, so I thought I'd share, in case any of you are city-bound for some family fun.

Free: Fireworks

There's a fireworks display on at Docklands every Friday night in August - and it's really, really good. We rugged up the kids, armed ourselves with snacks and watched the 15-minute sky show in awe. I've not been a big fan of fireworks in the past - there's only so many times you can say "ooh-aah" - but it's one of those things that's more fun with kids. Abbey sat on Steve's shoulders and watched in amazement, and baby Iris stopped grizzling and giggled at it all. After that, we found a nice laneway cafe for dinner. A top night out.

Splurge: Cavalia

We saw Cavalia this week and really enjoyed it. I'll admit, I didn't really get the storyline, but the acrobatics and horse tricks were brilliant. This is a high-energy, fun show, and the performers look like they're having a blast the whole time - while the horses have a bit of cheekiness in them and throw in some unexpected moments that are good for a laugh. It's a two-and-a-half-hour show (including intermission) so only bring the kids if they're old enough to sit still for a while.