Winter School Holidays Melbourne CBD – Friday 23 June to Sunday 9 July 2023

The winter school holidays are here and you can bet that all of Melbourne is gearing up for a jam-packed holiday filled with the most chillingly fun and exciting events you could ever imagine!

To make sure you don’t miss out on the fun, we’ve created this mega list of school holiday events and activities in Melbourne CBD for the winter school holidays, including free, low-cost events and family attractions.

This year the winter holidays run from Friday 23 June to Sunday 9 July 2023.

WHAT’S ON – MELBOURNE CBD/DOCKLANDS

• Disney On Ice presents 100 Years of Wonder (Wed 28 Jun – Sun 2 Jul) – Experience Disney On Ice presents 100 Years of Wonder, a captivating adventure featuring Mickey Mouse and friends, incredible skating, acrobatics, and stunning performances.
• Winter Night Market (Wed 7 Jun – Wed 30 Aug) – Rug up in your winter woollies and head to the Market for Melbourne’s best street food trucks and stalls, local brewers and distillers, shopping and lively entertainment.
• The Grumpiest Boy in the World (Fri 23 Jun – Sat 24 Jun) – Our hero, Zachary, questions his own ordinariness as he discovers an imaginary world of giants, hairy creatures and flying things in this eye-opening opera for children.
• NGV Indian Community Day (Sat 24 Jun) – Experience a memorable family day at the National Gallery of Victoria, where art, dance, food, music, and hands-on activities await you.
• District Live Skate Sessions (Sat 24 Jun – Fri 30 Jun) – Join for skating lessons, pro skater demos, free giveaways and entertainment for all ages.
• Ultimate Truffle Tour (Sat 24 Jun – Sat 1 Jul) – Indulge in an abundance of truffle-infused treats on this special truffle trail through the historic Market food halls and learn more about the aromatic delights of this elusive delicacy with our very own truffle specialist tour guide.
• Academy at Arts Centre Melbourne (Mon 26 Jun – Sat 7 Jul) – Unleash your potential at Arts Centre Melbourne's The Channel, discovering the strengths within you through the captivating stories of successful artists.
• Melbourne Magic Festival (Mon 26 Jun – Sat 8 Jul) – See over 130 performances of 30 different shows including top international guest magicians from all over Australia
• The Robot Restaurant LIVE! (Mon 26 Jul – Sun 20 Aug) – From J-Pop dance routines, an amazing laser light show and huge robots battling it out, this is an experience you do not want to miss! 
• Hello! We're The Wiggles (Mon 26 Jun) – Double the line up, double the fun with “Hello! We’re The Wiggles” Live in Concert!

• Polly Woodside (Sun 26 Jun) – Come aboard for a tour of the ship and discover what life was like on a tall ship sailing the seven seas. Read my review.
• Roald Dahl's The Twits (Tue 27 Jun – Sat 1 Jul) – Roald Dahl’s gruesome twosome The Twits are ready to delight and disgust, in equal measure.
• Real Pigeons Live Mystery: When Doves Crime (Wed 28 Jun) – Join the Real Pigeons on a live, interactive adventure as your favorite crime-busters need your help to solve a brand-new mystery!
• An Uncertain Time (Wed 28 Jun – Sun 2 Jul) – An immersive, sensory theatre performance for babies aged 0-12 months and their carers.
• Invent Your Own Game Controller (Sat 1 Jul) – In this workshop, artist duo Chad Toprak & Helen Kwok will introduce you to the weird and wonderful world of alternative controllers. 
• Bastille Day French Festival (Sat 8 Jul – Sun 9 Jul) – Shop from local French stallholders, indulge in mouth-watering delicacies, plus delight in traditional dance and musical performances from French jazz, Mauritian bands and mime artists!
• Parrwang Lifts the Sky (Sat 8 Jul – Sun 9 Jul) – Parrwang the Magpie is the hero in this family opera based on a traditional Wadawurrung story

• Imaginaria (until Sun 9 Jul) – Fully interactive bespoke sounds, scents and lights activate in response to your movement as you walk, slide and glide through the dreamlike landscapes. Walk into a giant inflatable bubble, navigate a futuristic light maze or jump into a cosmic abyss. Imaginaria review
• Aboriginal Heritage Walk (Until Thu 29 Jun) – Journey into Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, a significant cultural site for the local Kulin Nation, with a First Peoples guide.
• The LUME (until Thu 30 Jun) – Immerse yourself in the work of Monet and Friends at Australia's digital art gallery.
• Escape the Gaol (until 30 Jun) – At Old Melbourne Gaol, kids can become inmates on a mission to hatch the perfect escape plan. Read my review
• The Explorer – Melbourne Gardens (Until Thu 31 Aug) Discover the beauty of this inner-city oasis and enjoy live commentary in the comfort of an open-air minibus.
• Winter Igloo Garden Wharf Hotel (Daily until September 2023) – get back outside and cosy up beneath a sky of twinkling fairy lights on the banks of the Yarra. Feast on a grazing board in your own private winter wonderland. Wharf Hotel igloos review

• The Flying Canoe (Until Fri 17 Nov) – an interactive audio experience for families to do together that will transport them to the islands of Kiribati, and immerse them in Pacific culture.
• Sonica Botanica: Stories and Sounds from the Gardens (Until 31 Dec 2023) – Weaving together interviews, field recordings and a musical score, this evocative listening experience responds to collectors’ passions, botanical knowledge, favourite memories, childhood impressions, historical anecdotes and cultural viewpoints
• The Cereal Factory (Until Sun 31 Dec) – an incredible pop-up Insta-museum dedicated to the celebration of all kinds of cereals from all things sweet through to a series of amazing sensory rooms.
• The Wizards Potion Experience (Until Sun 31 Dec) – be immersed in a magical world filled with potion-making, spell casting & wicked treats.
• Pacman Lifesized Maze: Melbourne (Until Mon 1 Jan 2024) – Escape the coloured ghosts and nab fruit in a real life Pac-Man maze
• Fed Square Pop-Up Library (Wednesday – Sunday until 30 June) – Let your imagination fly. Play, read and learn at the Fed Square Pop-up Library For Kids.
• CRFT* WRK (Last Saturday of every month) – one of the best Melbourne June events if you love craft markets, Crft*Wrk celebrates contemporary locally-made crafts under the iconic open-air sheds at Queen Victoria Market.

• The District Makers Market (Last Sunday of the Month) – enjoy entertainment and shop fine arts, crafts, jewellery and artisan goods.
• Melbourne Book Market (Saturdays & Sundays) – curated collection of more than 5,000 new and pre-loved titles selected and presented by 15 of Melbourne’s most experienced booksellers.
• Arts Centre Sunday Market (Sundays) – find unique, quirky and handmade items at the stalls. There are always some yummy treats too!
• The Story of the Moving Image (ongoing) – Journey through the past, present and future of the moving image through interactive experiences, digital innovation and captivating stories. ACMI review.
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (ongoing) – see the award-winning production of the sequel to the Harry Potter series playing exclusively in Melbourne. Read my Harry Potter and the Cursed Child review
• Shrine Kids (Daily) – The Shrine of Remembrance is the National War Memorial of Victoria and it makes for an educational (and sobering) outing for families. 
• Winter 2023 Kids Takeover (Thu 29 Jun) – Let your kids take charge at this one-day winter extravaganza, where they get to run the show at the Library. From arts and crafts workshops to hip-hop classes and magical performances, there's something for every child.
• THE TEMPEST – Play in a Week (Mon 26 Jun – Fri 7 Jul) – ASC's Winter workshop program invites young actors aged 7-16 to explore Shakespeare's The Tempest, focusing on script analysis, character development, and performance.
• Firelight Festival (Fri 30 Jun – Sun 2 July) – Over three fiery nights, Melbourne’s epic winter festival, Firelight, takes over Docklands with fire pits, mesmerising light shows, live music, pop-up foodie feasts and more.

What's on in All Melbourne Suburbs for the Winter School Holidays

Click here for the best indoor play centres in Melbourne

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