Have the NSW lockdowns upset your school holiday plans? If you’re planning a staycation over the winter school holidays, here are some fun activities, attractions, places and events for all the family to enjoy right here in Canberra.
With some events and activities having to be cancelled at short notice or postponed, it’s recommended to check with event organisers or venues before venturing out.
For ACT schools, term two ends Friday 25 June and term three starts Monday 12 July.
MEGAfauna: once there were giants!
The Australian National Botanical Gardens will feature a trail of sculptures of Australia’s long extinct megafauna daily from Saturday 26 June through to Sunday 25 July. Come face to face with Australia’s prehistoric past by embarking on the Garden’s newest Megafauna trail – the first of its kind in Australia. Wheelchair and pram accessible – and it’s free!
More info: parksaustralia.gov.au/botanic-gardens
Kidchella at Canberra Outlet Centre
Canberra Outlet’s free school holiday event, Kidchella – a play on the infamous Coachella music festival – is two weeks of festival fun for any child venturing through Canberra Outlet from Monday 28 June until Sunday 11 July. Located at the Atrium space between Caffe Cherry Beans and Supergrocer at Canberra Outlet in Fyshwick, Kichella operates from 11am to 2pm daily.
Amongst pastel cacti, a combi van, and tepee tents, the event will host a range of daily rotating arts and craft activities ideal for children aged 3 – 11 years old. These include cookie decorating, DIY tote bags, colouring stations, jewel crowns, windmill building and so much more.
Weekends will also see age appropriate DJ sets, fairy floss and sparkle stations – a glittery take on standard face painting.
Access to Kidchella is free. All parents need to do is sign up for Canberra Outlet’s Kid’s Club via their website.
Wintervention open-air ice rink
Canberra’s popular winter attraction and open-air ice-skating arena, Wintervention, returns to Civic Square in the city from Friday 25 June until Sunday 11 July. Whether you’re a skater or a spectator, Wintervention is a family-friendly event designed to embrace the Canberra chill around entertainment, activities, food and market stalls. The rink is open 10am to 8pm Sundays on Thursdays, and 10am to 9pm Fridays and Saturdays. All visitors are required to book in for a skate session.
The markets will run across two weekends, 25-27 June and 2-4 July, with a range of fashion, art, craft and design stalls from local traders.
See special live performances from Stars on Ice every Friday and Saturday at 1.45pm and 6.45pm and every Sunday at 1.45pm and 4.45pm.
Daily music performances, hot drinks and food stalls are available, including the Tikka Stand, Neat St. Coffee, La Empanada and Big River Distilling.
Ticket prices for the ice-rink range from $10 to $20; family bundles from $59. Tickets can be purchased at: canberra.starsonice.com.au/tickets
More info: www.wintervention.com.au
Come South and Skate
These school holidays, lace up your skates and head to South.Point in Tuggeranong where Centre Court has been transformed into an ice-skating rink. It’s indoors so isn’t weather dependent. Open to children and adults of all ages.
Sessions are 45 minutes and start at 11am, 12pm and 1pm daily from Monday 28 June until Sunday 11 July. Tickets cost $6.36 and bookings are essential via Eventbrite (search ‘Come South & Skate’ or scan the QR code on page 9 of the 24 June edition of CW).
Tickets: eventbrite.com.au
School holiday fun at MoAD
MoAD’s imaginative and interactive spaces will keep kids of all ages and adults entertained these school holidays.
Extra sessions of MoAD’s award-winning interactive exhibit PlayUP – The Right to Have an Opinion and Be Heard will be offered from Monday 28 June through to Friday 9 July. The early learning space will feature a week of NAIDOC themed crafts and discovery activities from 5 July. The two-hour sessions offer a mixture of facilitated and self-guided activities suitable for children up to 7 years of age and their carers. Entry to PlayUP is free but bookings are essential.
MoAD’s Zine Lounge is a space for visitors to get creative and explore the art of making zines (self-published, small-circulation magazines). It is stocked with all the creative tools children and grownups will need to experiment with creating their own zine. Activities are suitable for all ages. Free entry. Open daily 9am – 5pm.
MoAD’s interactive exhibit Yours Faithfully invites visitors to rediscover the lost art of letter writing using a range of tools and supplies including beautifully restored typewriters and thought-provoking prompts. Pop your piece of mail in the onsite post box – postage is on MoAD. Activities are suitable for all ages. Free entry. Open daily 9am-5pm.
Family-friendly films at NFSA
Head to the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) at Acton for some of the bet in recent family-friendly films. Whether you’re into super spies or Shaun the Sheep, trolls or dalmatians, there’s something for everyone.
Program: Spies in Disguise 30 June 10.30am; A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon 1 July 10.30am; Trolls World Tour 2 July 10.30am; Onward 7 July 10.30am; Cruella 8 July 10.30am; Spirit Untamed 9 July 10.30am.
More info: nfsa.gov.au/events
Story Walk
Hear award-winning picture book, The Trouble in Tune Town, come to life on a Story Walk with Canberra author, Maura Pierlot. The guided walks through City Walk and Civic Square are scheduled for 11am on Thursday 1 July, Saturday 3 July and Monday 5 July, starting at Canberra Museum & Gallery.
The Trouble in Tune Town Story Walk is part of Canberra Renewal’s Wintervention 2021, supported by Libraries ACT.
PlaySchool ABC Concert
Favourite Play School presenters Michelle Lim Davidson and Kaeng Chan will bring the stage to life with a brand new show, Let’s Play Together, 9-11 July 10am and 12pm at Canberra Southern Cross Club Woden.
Tickets: cssc.com.au
NAIDOC in the North
Celebrate NAIDOC Week and the 2021 theme Heal Country, Saturday 10 July 10.30am-2.30pm at Exhibition Park in Canberra.
More info: belcoarts.com.au/naidoc
Want more ideas?
For more ideas, check out the local advertisers in CW’s recent Winter School Holiday Activity Guide.
And be sure to visit our competitions page for the chance to win family board games and movie passes to Little Vampire (where you’ll also find a link to some fun Little Vampire activity sheets).
