If you’re running out of ideas to keep the kids entertained these Summer school holidays in Melbourne, don’t fret, I’ve got a few suggestions for things to see and do that the whole family will enjoy.
There are lots of festivals and events happening this January, and the best thing of all, many of them are FREE!
NGV Kids Summer Festival 2017
Image supplied – Credit NGV
The 2017 NGV Kids Summer Festival will celebrate four-legged friends and the magic of storytelling, drawing inspiration from the NGV’s dynamic suite of summer exhibitions including summer blockbusters David Hockney: Current and Viktor&Rolf: Fashion Artists.
Amongst the FREE creative activities and events, the Festival will feature a fun filled program including masquerade mask-making workshops, a dachshund fashion show, magician performances, and drop-by children’s yoga sessions, at NGV International and The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia from 16 – 26 January 2017, 10am – 3pm daily.
See the daily activity schedule here
South Melbourne Market Summer Night Markets
Image supplied – South Melbourne Market
South Melbourne Market will again be transformed into a magical night market on balmy Thursday evenings throughout summer.
From twilight every Thursday night, Melbourne’s oldest Market will buzz with a cultural feast of hawker-style food vans, market stalls and free entertainment and music.
FREE kids activities include painting with the team from Black & White Studios. Located on Cecil Street outside The Neff Market Kitchen, the kids will enjoy creating their own masterpieces from a selection of four primary colours.
Thursday evenings 5 January – 23 February 2017, 5.30pm – 9.30pm
South Melbourne Market, Coventry & Cecil Streets, South Melbourne.
Walk, drive or catch the 96 or 11 tram to South Melbourne. Free rooftop parking from 5.30pm
Full list of Night Market events here
Lantasia Lantern Sculptures – Boneo Maze
Image credit – Boneo Maze
LANTASIA DREAMING transforms the Mornington Peninsula’s Boneo Maze into an ethereal Night Garden these school holidays. The enchanting gardens and wetlands of Boneo Maze in Fingal have provided the inspiration for over 80 hand-crafted lanterns at dusk. The lanterns feature the story of Australian animals and plants and explore ideas underpinning the Dreamtime stories. The whole family will be captivated by the glow of the gardens as they wander 27 acres of gardens, boardwalks and outdoor play spaces.
Open nightly till April 2017 6-10pm
Tickets: $18 Adults, $15 Children (3-17yrs), $16 Seniors, $60 Family (2A + 2C)
Boneo Maze 695 Limestone Road Fingal Victoria 3939
www.lantasia.com.au
Scienceworks Robot Workshops
Image supplied – Museums Victoria
Over the summer school holidays, Scienceworks is rolling out the robots, rollbots and drones in workshops, activities and shows. Lego and Sphero Robotics Workshops will teach kids how robots move, sense their environment, and ‘think.’
Activities are included free with museum entry – some workshops may incur an extra fee.
Entry – $14, children/concession FREE
Scienceworks 2 Booker St, Spotswood VIC 3015
See website for workshop and activity times
School Holiday Art & Craft Workshops – Space 2b
Image via instagram @space2b_design
Full and half day craft workshops run by new talented emerging artists from around the world. Space2b is an open, grassroots organisation where newly arrived migrants, refugees and local community based designers can come together to exchange knowledge, ideas and skills.
The ‘Get Striped’ project marks acceptance and respect through creative arts reminding us that we all deserve to be safe and happy.
Workshop classes include, African beading, basket making, printmaking and more. Running till the 24th Jan. Half day $20, full day $45
All workshops are half price, kindly subsidised by the city of Port Phillip
Space2b, 144 Chapel Street, St Kilda, Victoria 3182
