For many families it’s back to school this week. But don’t worry, the activities aren’t over – there’s still lots to ideas of things to do this week with the kids.
Also remember this Thursday 25 April is ANZAC Day. To commemorate this national day of remembrance you might consider visiting the Shrine of Remembrance and participating in their Shrine Kids activities, read children’s books about ANZAC Day or make ANZAC biscuits.
The following locations are also open on ANZAC Day: Melbourne Museum, Immigration Museum, Scienceworks, Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary, Eureka Skydeck, Luna Park, National Sports Museum, Collingwood Children’s Farm, National Gallery of Victoria (from 1pm). Retailers are allowed to open after ANZAC Day services have finished from 1pm.
WHAT’S ON – MELBOURNE CBD/DOCKLANDS
- Peppa Pig SEA Life Melbourne Aquarium (Thu 25 Apr – Tue 30 Apr) – Peppa Pig activities will run through the whole month with Peppa herself plunging into the aquarium for daily meet and greets from Sunday 7 April to Sunday 21 April. Read my review.
- The District Makers Market (Sun 28 Apr) – enjoy entertainment and shop fine arts, crafts, jewellery, artisan goods.
- Reunion Island Pool Club (Thu 25 Apr – Tue 30 Apr) – rooftop pool club with temperature controlled plunge pools, food, bar and views. Read my review
- Shrine Kids (Thu 25 Apr – Thu 3 May) – free discovery trail for children at the Shrine of Remembrance. Read my review.
- Vertic Alley (Fri 26 Apr – May) – Harry Potter pop up rooftop bar Melbourne. Read my review.
- Sugar Republic Myer (Fri 26 Apr – May) – 14 themed rooms with unlimited sweets and ice cream and a ball pit! Read my review
- Alexander Calder Workshop for Kids (Fri 26 Apr – 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 (Sat 27 Apr – Sun 28 Apr) – Riverslide Skate Park runs regular skateboard, BMX and scooter lessons for beginners as well as more experienced riders.
- Immigration Museum (Thu 25 Apr – Sun 28 Apr) – make wild cards with Able and Game.
- Voices of Shakti with ‘That Girl’ (Sun 28 Apr) – a day of song, dance and dialogue for the Prevention of Violence Against Women, drawing on Indian cultural themes of the Goddess.
- Europa Night Market (Wed 1 May) – bustling European-style street party every Wednesday running for five weeks until 8 May.
- Beneath Artplay (Fri 26 Apr – Sun 1 Sep) – Explore an underwater landscape created with recycled plastic. Surprising creatures and strange sounds are lurking on the ocean floor.
WHAT’S ON – MELBOURNE’S NORTH
- Dino Park Melbourne Zoo (Thu 25 Apr – 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.
- Sustainable Park opening (Sat 27 Apr) – new playground opening with ice-cream van scooping out 300 free serves to those attending, as well as free face painting, live music and a sustainable craft workshop.
- Family No Lights No Lycra (Sat 27 Apr) – A free form dance event for all ages with FUN LIGHTS instead of No Lights!
- The Little Bookroom (Fri 26 Apr – Sat 27 Apr) – book launches and readings.
- Mother’s Day Card Making Workshop (Sat 27 Apr) – Join Jess Racklyeft, author of There’s Only One Mum Like You, in a sweet card-making workshop suitable for any child under ten years old with a wonderful mum.
- Diamond Valley Railway (Sun 28 Apr) – miniature railway with playground next door. Read my review
- Glenroy Festival (Sun 28 Apr) – music, dance and art, community stalls, delicious food and drink and kid’s art and sports activities
- Neon Playground Melbourne Zoo (Thu 25 Apr – Sat 27 Apr) – Experience Melbourne Zoo after dark as it’s transformed with lights, projections, art installations, interactive performances, food and drink, and more! Read my review.
- Museum Playdates (Tue 30 Apr) playdate facilitated by a resident Museum learning expert for 2-5 year olds with a different theme every 2 months.
WHAT’S ON – MELBOURNE’S SOUTH / SOUTH-EAST / BAYSIDE
- Festival de Luxe Chadstone (Fri 26 Apr – Sat 27 Apr) – four-week Entertainment Series including Kids Comedy Club.
- Melbourne Street Eatz (Fri 26 Apr – Sun 28 Apr) – pop up food truck park in Cheltenham. Read my review.
- Hank Marvin Market (Sat 27 Apr) – weekly Saturday market with awesome playground at Alma Park.
- Big Fish Little Fish (Sun 28 Apr) – family friendly rave with Kid Kenobi. Full review.
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LEGO® Masters VS LEGOLAND’s Master Builders (Sun 28 Apr) – kids have the chance to join team LEGO Masters or team LEGOLAND to compete in a series of bricktacular speed-building challenges to win a bunch of prizes.
- National Steam Centre (Sun 28 Apr) – The museum engines are fired up and can be seen running on the last Sunday of each month except December
WHAT’S ON – MELBOURNE’S EAST
- Kabloom Flower Festival (Thu 25 Apr – Sun 28 Apr) – acres of flowers, entertainment, food, stalls. Read my review.
- Megabeasts Healesville Sanctuary (Thu 25 Apr – Sun 14 Jul) – discover 10 MegaBeasts from Australia’s ancient past in an animatronic spectacular.
- Melbourne Tram Museum (Sat 27 Apr) – Visit a Melbourne icon at this quirky museum. Read my review.
- Yarra Valley Railway (Sun 28 Apr) – take a trip on the historic Walker RM22 Railmotor from Healesville to Tunnel Hill. Read my review.
- Mooroolbark Miniature Railway (Sun 28 Apr) – miniature rail running every 4th Sunday.
- Auburn Kids Sunday Funday (Sun 28 Apr) – Petting zoo, Fairies, mermaids, superheroes, face painting and balloon animals galore!
- Heide Art Babies (Tue 30 Apr) – 30 minutes of sensory play in the gallery, looking, thinking and talking about art. Read the review.
- Wallaby Wednesdays Healesville Sanctuary (Wed 1 May) – Dress up as wallabies with wallaby face painting, wallaby ears and wallaby tails for pouch races, hopping games and wallaby trails.
WHAT’S ON – MELBOURNE’S WEST
- Moonbase ONE (Fri 26 Apr – Fri 28 Jun) – New planetarium show – Join a Virtual Reality game developer as she struggles to work out what is wrong with her new game.
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The Corner Park Clubhouse Book Launch (Sat 27 Apr) – Join award-winning author Davina Bell (author of ‘Under the Love Umbrella’ and ‘All the Ways to Be Smart’) to celebrate the release of her new middle grade series THE CORNER PARK CLUBHOUSE!
- Kurung Drive Reserve opening (Sat 27 Apr) – celebrate the completion of the Kurung Drive Reserve Suburban Park Upgrade with a sausage sizzle and entertainment for the kids.
- Junior Rangers (Sat 27 Apr – Sun 28 Apr) – Parks Victoria Ranger guided activities at Werribee Park.
- Blacksmiths Festival (Sat 27 Apr – Sun 28 Apr) – meet, learn, and exchange ideas with a wealth of local and international talent.
- Jurassic Unearthed Geelong (Fri 26 Apr – Sun 5 May) – see one of Australia’s Finest Circus’s along with everyone’s favourite prehistoric creatures all in one 90 minute international show!
- Gardens of Tieve Tara (Fri 26 Apr – Sun 31 May) – Pack a picnic and bring along the kiddies to explore the majestic Gardens of Tieve Tara! Read my review.
- Art Sauce for Kids (Sun 28 Apr) – Join Little Art Big Art for a free art and creative workshop for kids (aged 0-15) and families. Read my review.
- Block Party Laverton (Sun 28 Apr) – Free creative workshops for adults and children, live entertainment and multicultural food in and around Woods Street Arts Space.
- Essendon Traffic School (Sat 27 Apr) – Essendon Traffic School is a mini road set up for kids aged two to ten years, complete with road signs, railway bells and traffic lights. Read my review.
- STEM Sundays Scienceworks (Sun 28 Apr) – STEM workshops for children age 5+ years. Read my review.
- Eynesbury Market (Sun 28 Apr) – Genuine farmers, producers and makers meet and sell directly to the public fresh, local and organic foods.
- Sunday Movie Club (Sun 28 Apr) – screening the1986 smash sci-fi musical Little Shop of Horrors. Join us at Wyndham Cultural Centre for live dance sequences, sing-alongs, costume competitions, props, games, burlesque and hilarious MCs!
- Little Sparks Scienceworks (Mon 29 Apr) – 50 minute, fun-filled workshops for children 3-5 years led by a Scienceworks educator according to themes that change throughout the year. Full review.
- Mini Makers Highpoint (Wed 1 May ) – free kids activities every Wednesday.
- Setting Sun Short Film Festival (Thur 2 May – Mon 6 May) – “The only film festival in the west about the west” Over five days at the iconic Sun Theatre.
- Toddler Circus Footscray (Thu 2 May) – learn circus skills with aerials, balances, circus circuits and games. Read my review.
- Toddler Thursdays Werribee Zoo (Thu 2 May) – special program for 1-5 yo and their carers.
- Zoorassic Werribee Zoo (Thu 25 Apr – 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.
