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Spring School Holidays – Friday 15 September – Sunday 1 October 2023 – Melbourne CBD/Docklands

Hello spring school holidays Melbourne! This year the holidays run from Friday 15 September – Sunday 1 October 2023, with the Grand Final long weekend in between Friday 27 September – Sunday 29 September.

Here’s your mega list of school holiday events in Melbourne’s CBD and Docklands, sorted by date.

Click here for spring school holiday events in Melbourne’s north, south, east, west

Click here for free spring school holiday events Melbourne

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  • Artplay (Fri 20 Sep – Sun 6 Oct) – free and paid workshops.
  • Melbourne Fringe Festival (Fri 20 Sep – Sun 29 Sep) – kid-friendly free and paid events.
  • KAWS Playtime NGV (Fri 20 Sep – 13 Ap 20) – As part of KAWS: Companionship in the Age of Loneliness, KAWS has created a playful exhibition for children that illuminates the artist’s methods of working and creative approaches to imagery sourced from popular culture, toy production and collectables.
  • NGV Arty Party (Sat 21 Sep) – Be a part of the teen takeover of NGV during Art Party.  Explore art and design, meet new people, and enjoy live performance.
  • Terracotta Warriors High Tea (Sat 21 Sep– Sun 22 Sep, Sat 28 Sep – Sun 29 Sep) – luxurious Chinese-themed high tea where you can paint your own chocolate terracotta warrior. Read my review
  • O’Briens Group Arena (Sat 21 Sep – Sun 6 Oct) – introduce kids to the fun of skating every day of the school holidays. Plus spectacular ‘Fire on Ice’ will light up O’Brien Icehouse during the school holidays when circus performing ice skater, Tim Matousek juggles sticks of fire while skating around the arena.

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  • Angry Birds SEA Life Melbourne Aquarium (Sat 21 Sep – Sun 6 Oct) – We’re celebrating the release of The Angry Birds 2 Movie by encouraging kids to take flight with Bomb, Red, Chuck and friends and join ‘Bird Island Academy!’
  • Immigration Museum (Sat 21 Sep – Sun 6 Oct) – Reflect on your identity with drop-in school holidays activities developed by local artists Stanislava Pinchuk (aka Miso) and Paul Stillen.
  • Riverslide Skate Park Learn2Ride (Sat 21 Sep – Sun 6 Oct) – Riverslide Skate Park runs regular skateboard, BMX and scooter lessons for beginners as well as more experienced riders.
  • Melbourne Star Observation Wheel (Sat 21 Sep – Sun 6 Oct) – kids fly free during the school holidays. Read my review.
  • The District Outdoor Adventure Park (Sat 21 Sep – Sun 6 Oct) – Duck or jump to avoid a wipe-out on the Eliminator, see how fast you can complete the Mega Extreme commando course, play tug of war in the Extreme Sports Challenge to see who will make the touchdown, then master the back-flip, somersault and jump high on the Bungee Trampolines!
  • Old Melbourne Gaol Escape the Gaol (Sat 21 Sep – Sun 6 Oct) – Participants will have the opportunity to become ‘inmates’ and must explore the Gaol to discover all the necessary clues to create the perfect ‘escape plan’. Read my review.
  • African Festival Queen Victoria Market (Sun 22 Sep) – Experience African culture through its food, flavours, tastes, entertainment and arts & crafts.
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  • The Magic Workshop Arts Centre Melbourne (Mon 23 Sep) – Melbourne magician Lee Cohen leads sessions showcasing a range of magical skills and you’ll even be given a goodie bag of tricks to take home to amaze your family and friends.
  • Story Catching with Trace Balla Botanic Gardens Melbourne (Mon 23 Sep) – Come and catch a story to celebrate the Threatened Species Children’s Art Exhibition at Melbourne Gardens with award-winning author and illustrator Trace Balla (Rivertime, Rockhopping).
  • Songlab Arts Centre Melbourne (Mon 23 Sep – Thu 26 Sep) – In this four-day course, budding songwriters will refine their craft working with experienced songwriters at The Channel.
  • Starry Southern Skies Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne (Mon 23 Sep, Mon 30 Sep) – See the roof of the Melbourne Observatory rotate and open to view the amazing Australian night sky.
  • Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium (Mon 23 Sep – Fri 5 Oct)  – school holiday program with full educational tour, an exclusive look behind-the-scenes, art and craft activities and the chance to meet aquarium aquarists and keepers.

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  • New Paper World Arts Centre Melbourne (Wed 25 Sep) – Using recycled newspapers we will design a maze of spaces, objects and wearable items.
  • Jams for Fams MSO (Wed 25  Sep) – MSO invites YOU for an interactive musical adventure exploring Felix Mendelssohn’s vibrantly vivid, vivacious, vital and volatile Violin Concerto!
  • Little Food Festival Fed Square (Wed 25 Sep – Thu 26 Sep) – Using art and play, The Little Food Festival offers a simple and fun opportunity for little ones to consider complex food topics such as health and sustainability.
  • Tetris Arts Centre Melbourne (Wed 25 Sep – Sat 28 Sep) – This unique dance work uses strength, agility and acrobatic skill to mimic and reimagine moves from not only the cross generational game ‘Tetris’ but also ‘Twister’ and the all-time favourite ‘Rubik’s Cube’.
  • Footy Festival (Wed 25 Sep – Sat 28 Sep) –  AFL Kids Zone at Yarra Park, Woolworths AFL Playground, with goal kicking, handballing and heaps of fun to be had. Full review.
  • Hawker 88 Night Market (Wed 25 Sep, Wed 2 Oct) – Step under the Market’s iconic sheds and feast on authentic street food from Thailand to Japan, Vietnam to Korea, and Malaysia to Sri Lanka at more than 20 food stalls.
  • The Lost Forests  (Wed 25 Sep, Thu 3 Oct) – Join The Lost Forests expert storytellers and their fabulous toy maker Bridie for a 1.5 hour creative toy making session. Read my review.

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  • Young Writers School Holiday Program: Slam, Rhythm and Poetry (Fri 4 Oct) – Explore rap, poetry and performance with Mantra, one of Australia’s most respected hip-hop artists.
  • Monster Jam (Sat 5 Oct) – Monster Jam is a fantastic event that’ll easily entertain the whole family with unexpected, unscripted and unforgettable stunts being performed by talented Monster Jam drivers in massive (4m tall by 4m wide and 5,500kg!) Monster Jam trucks.
  • Pirate Sunday Polly Woodside (Sun 6 Oct) – Dress as a pirate and come help us search for hidden treasure, play tug of war and have your face painted. Full review. 
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Don’t forget these HOT CBD locations as well:

Chipmunks at The District Docklands

ArtPlay Playground

Library at the Dock

Shrine Kids free discovery trail for children at the Shrine of Remembrance.

And my favourite child friendly restaurants and cafes in Melbourne CBD.

Click here for spring school holiday events in Melbourne’s north, south, east, west

Click here for free spring school holiday events Melbourne

Spring School Holidays Melbourne
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About Joyce Watts

Joyce Watts is a former intellectual property, IT and media lawyer turned serial entrepreneur.

As well as being the founder of TOT: HOT OR NOT she helps businesses with their SEO, email marketing & social media as BrightSmart.com.au; she owns an online bike store CycleStyle.com.au and develops and produces creative experiences for families via WheelieGoodFun.com. She used to publish another popular lifestyle and food blog called MEL: HOT OR NOT The decisive guide to Melbourne.

She lives in inner-city Melbourne with her husband, two children and seven bikes.

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