It’s just one more week until the winter school holidays start! To help you to start planning your holiday fun check out what’s happening in Melbourne CBD and Docklands and Melbourne suburbs. And if budget is tight then make sure you bookmark my top free winter school holidays events and activities.
This weekend we’re going to be bouncing at Springfree Trampoline Winter Wonderland, indulging at Truffle Melbourne, celebrating the shortest day of the year at Collingwood Children’s Farm’s famous Winter Solstice Bonfire then taking a mini ski trip to Mt Buller. Follow our adventures on Facebook and Instagram!
WHAT’S ON – MELBOURNE CBD/DOCKLANDS
- Terracotta Warriors and Cai Guo-Qiang (Fri 21 June – Sun 13 Oct) – Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality is a large-scale presentation of the Qin Emperor’s Terracotta Warriors. Presented in parallel, Cai Guo-Qiang: The Transient Landscape, will see contemporary artist, Cai Guo-Qiang, create all new art works inspired by his home country’s culture and its enduring philosophical traditions. Read my review.
- A Fairy Tale in Red Times NGV (Fri 21 June – Sun 6 Oct) – free exhibition of contemporary Chinese art from Sydney’s White Rabbit Gallery. Read my review.
- Truffle Melbourne (Sat 22 Jun – Sun 23 Jun) – enjoy everything truffle with food, demonstrations and workshops. Read my review.
- Under 8s Ice Fun at Medibank Icehouse (Sun 16 Jun) – unique toddler experience in shoes or skates.
- The District Makers Market (Sun 23 Jun) – enjoy entertainment and shop fine arts, crafts, jewellery, artisan goods.
- The Winter Village (Fri 21 Jun – Sat 31 Aug) – ice rink, food & drink pop up bars, a mega igloo dining hall and an Igloo Village of 21 cosy igloos. Read my review.
- Alexander Calder Workshop for Kids (Fri 21 Jun – Sun 4 Aug) – Incorporating hands-on activities that explore the artist’s interest in inventing and constructing new artistic forms, this installation draws inspiration from Calder’s unique exploration of space using line, objects, scale and movement. Read my review
- Riverslide Skate Park Learn2Ride (Sun 23 Jun) – Riverslide Skate Park runs regular skateboard, BMX and scooter lessons for beginners as well as more experienced riders.
- Winter Night Market Queen Victoria Market (Wed 26 Jun) – crackling fires, mulled wine and a revolving line-up of roving entertainers and live music, over 30 street vendors and designer and artisan stalls. Read my review.
WHAT’S ON – MELBOURNE’S NORTH / NORTH-EAST
- Fantastic Worlds (Fri 21 Jun – Sun 7 Jul) – exhibition and program that celebrates and explores the fantastic and imaginary characters and worlds of Australian picture books through original artworks, animations and associated media.
- Dino Park Melbourne Zoo (Fri 21 Jun – Sun 14 Jul) – Get up close during this unique walkthrough experience with roving dinosaurs thanks to the creators at Erth Visual & Physical Inc. Read my review.
- Book launch The Little Bookroom (Sat 22 Jun) – launch of Lucinda Gifford’s latest picture book, Duck Duck Moose!
- Free Kids Activities Preston Market (Sun 23 Jun) – free kids activities during June/July every Sunday.
- Winter Solstice Festival Eltham (Sat 22 Jun) – Live music, delicious food, a wonderful kids’ lantern parade, mulled wine, fire entertainers and an enormous, sculptural bonfire.
- Winter Solstice Collingwood Children’s Farm (Sat 22 Jun) – bonfire, lanterns, activities. Sold out but you may be able to get tickets online from people who can’t go!
- Diamond Valley Railway (Sun 23 Jun) – miniature railway with playground next door. Read my review
- Museum Playdates (Tue 25 Jun) – playdate facilitated by a resident Museum learning expert for 2-5 year olds with a different theme every 2 months. Read the review.
- Light Pickers by Polyglot (Tue 25 Jun – Sat 29 Jun) – installation for babies and young children, where abstract, organic shapes fill a dark space with light and sound.
- Pacific Kids (Wed 26 Jun) – Free kids activities every Wednesday.
WHAT’S ON – MELBOURNE’S SOUTH / SOUTH-EAST / BAYSIDE
- Prahran Market Kids’ Activities (Fri 21 Jun – Thu 27 Jun) – every market day Prahran Market offers face painting, an animal farm, kids dance classes and music – most activities are free and no bookings necessary.
- Intrude Bunjil Place (Fri 21 Jun – Sun 23 Jun) – stand in awe amongst giant sized rabbits that light up at night.
- DUPLO Kids Club Legoland (Fri 21 Jun – Thu 27 Jun) – special activities every weekday for kids 2-5 years at the DUPLO Farm Adventure inside Legoland. Read the review.
- Storytelling Festival Glen Eira (Fri 21 Jun – Sun 7 Jul) – diverse events that celebrates stories and those who tell them.
- Skating at St Kilda (Fri 21 Jun – Sun 14 Jul) – open-air ice rink, fantastic rides, great entertainment and delicious food and drink options. Read the review.
- Springfree Trampoline Winter Wonderland (Sat 22 Jun) – snow animals, lawn games and unique themed trampoline installations.
- Hank Marvin Market (Sat 22 Jun) – weekly Saturday market with an awesome playground at Alma Park.
- Mornington Railway (Sun 23 Jun) – Climb aboard the Mornington Railway steam train for a fun-filled outing.
- Me and My Shadow (Tue 25 Jun) – Step into a magical world of play and follow the fanciful escapades of a girl making friends with her shadow. Kids will be wowed by a show that uses paper, light, shadow, colour, water, music, sound and words to create a world of play where the imagined becomes real.
- Movies at the Market (Tue 25 Jun) – Every market day (10am and 12.30pm) Dandenong Market brings you a range of heartwarming tales and heroic adventures all whilst lounging in comfy bean bags and enjoying delicious popcorn.
- Kids Mornings Westfield Southland (Wed 26 Jun) – Every Wednesday a different activity where your mini me’s can play, learn and be entertained.
WHAT’S ON – MELBOURNE’S EAST
- Megabeasts Healesville Sanctuary (Fri 21 Jun – Sun 14 Jul) – discover 10 MegaBeasts from Australia’s ancient past in an animatronic spectacular.
- Lake Mountain (Fri 21 Jun – Thu 27 Jun) – toboggan, cross country skiing and snow play 2 hours from Melbourne. Read my tips on visiting Lake Mountain with kids
- Mt Baw Baw (Fri 21 Jun – Thu 27 Jun) – Melbourne’s closest downhill ski resort open for winter season. Read my tips on visiting Mt Baw Baw with kids
- Melbourne Tram Museum (Sat 22 Jun) – Visit a Melbourne icon at this quirky museum. FULL REVIEW.
- Belgrave Lantern Parade (Sat 22 Jun) – one of best and biggest community-made spectacles as hundreds of lanterns line the main street, accompanied by drummers, dancers and performers of all sorts.
- Yarra Valley Railway (Sun 23 Jun) – take a trip on the historic Walker RM22 Railmotor from Healesville to Tunnel Hill. Read my review.
- Auburn Kids Sunday Funday (Sun 23 Jun) – Petting zoo, Fairies, mermaids, superheroes, face painting and balloon animals galore!
- Mooroolbark Miniature Railway (Sun 23 Jun) – miniature rail running every 4th Sunday.
- Heide Art Babies (Tue 25 Jun) – 30 minutes of sensory play in the gallery, looking, thinking and talking about art. Read the review.
WHAT’S ON – MELBOURNE’S WEST
- Shadowfax Wines Friday Nights (Fri 21 Jun) – live music and late opening hours every Friday night in June. Full review.
- West Set (Fri 21 Jun – Sun 23 Jun) – FREE program of live music in Footscray.
- Brickman Cities Scienceworks (Fri 21 Jun – Sun 4 Aug) – Discover the world’s most iconic cities and build your own creations at this brand-new interactive LEGO® experience. Read my review.
- Winter Music After Dark (Sat 22 Jun) – Celebrate the winter solstice with a journey through magical musical light installations and performance art at the popular Keilor Road precinct.
- STEM Sundays Scienceworks (Sun 23 Jun) – Lego Robotics and Coding workshops for children age 8 – 12 years. Read my review.
- Pacific Werribee Kids Club (Tue 25 Jun) – free activities every Tuesday in the Kids Mall, near Target
- Mini Makers Highpoint (Wed 26 Jun) – free kids activities every Wednesday.
- Toddler Circus Footscray (Thu 27 Jun) – learn circus skills with aerials, balances, circus circuits and games. Read my review.
- Toddler Thursdays Werribee Zoo (Thu 27 Jun) – special program for 1-5 yo and their carers.
- L2R Dance Battle (Thu 27 Jun) – Featuring over 25 L2R dancers from migrant and refugee backgrounds, the performance is a participatory session where commuters can also join in.
- Zoorassic Werribee Zoo (Fri 21 Jun – Sun 14 Jul) – Nine life-size dinosaurs come to life through animatronics and soundscapes. Meet a Dinosaur Ranger and find out what it is like to care for and train this species. Read my review.
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