Kids activities Sydney

Sydney’s only contemporary arts festival for children and families is in its eighth year, promising more creatively fuelled fun for young people and their adult friends. Way Out West, or WOW Festival, will paint the Casula Powerhouse in wild colours this July, with workshops, performances and installations suitable for kids up to 12 years of age. And for the first time this year, there’s dedicated events for bigger kids aged 13-15, including a roller rink, live music program, parkour workshops and an ’80s makeover booth.     Performances across the festival program include slapstick circus comedy from the Trash Test Dummies and more serious productions like contemporary dance work Dignity of Risk and Talk Show Hypothetical – a new contemplative piece from the Urban Theatre Projects performed by a cast of 12-year-olds. Interactive art installations will focus on the natural world, with artist Rosie Deacon creating a moving forrest for children to explore and Steve Jannar’s exhibition, Reflections of Industry and Nature showcasing Sydney’s outdoor gems. There will be arty workshops, from felt-making to creating edible jewellery, as well as creative hairdressing courses and dance sessions. Making use of the Powerhouse’s garden, there’ll also be food and gardening events. So whether they’re a greenthumb, budding artist, junior theatre critic or future rockstar, they’re sure to learn a new skill and be entertained over these four big days of art and culture for kids.

It might be too cold to swim, but that won't keep anyone far from Bondi’s shores this winter. The Bondi Winter Magic Festival returns for a festive season of snow by the sand this June and July. You can enjoy some classic Bondi vistas from the 22-metre-high Ferris wheel while you watch the kids hurl themselves around the ice rink below. While you’re there, get a little cultured – the Bondi History Walks and On the Streets music and art series will give everyone a little mental stimulation in the winter school holidays brain freeze. There will be live graceful seaside ice rink demos with daily skating sessions, ice show performances, ice hockey demonstrations and skating lessons. Bondi Feast also returns, bringing a cavalcade of theatre, matched by a feast catered by MasterChef contestant Callan Smith. The program includes the a song and dance party from drag sensation Trevor Ashely; a performance by Japanese puppeteer and ventriloquist Showko; the vivacious cabaret degustation Late Night Buffet; and the mad cap 24 Hour Party Playwright, which pulls together 12 writers and directors who are given just 24 hours to come up with six original plays.   

King Hamlet is dead, but classic theatre for kids isn’t. This cheeky satirising of Hamlet tells the tragic tale with plenty of spunk, crazy costumes, interactivity and kid-friendly lingo. In the return season to the Seymour Centre and performances at Parramatta's Riverside Theatres, Hamlet’s haunted kingdom will come to life with stage magic, perfectly timed gags and all the gruesome bits of Shakespeare little rascals are bound to love – ghosts, poison, sword fights and bodily fluids. And just to mix it up, they’re throwing pirates, zombies, ninjas and aliens into the one-hour performance. Somehow. The Listies – the masterminds behind this popular adaptation – have a knack for bringing together the crude and clever. They’ve created a performance that kids aged five and over will enjoy along with their parents.

The Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP) hosts super fun drama workshops every school holidays, designed to get kids out of the house and fuel their creativity. With different group classes aimed at all ages, from little ones in kindergarten right up to older teens in high school, the workshop teaches hands-on skills that include acting, singing, writing, comedy, playtime, imagination, short film making and movement.  Little drama queens and kings can further their theatrical talents with a week of playful acting in boring land (it won't be boring after they're finished though). There's also workshops where kids can create their own zany castle characters, star on their own television news show, get sleuthing and learn about the mystery genre, produce their own scary movie and prepare them for screen tests.  Find out more about ATYP Winter School Holiday Drama Workshops.

Kids with a creative bent and curiosity about galaxies beyond our own will love these free drop-in sessions at the Sydney Observatory these school holidays. Little Galileo’s will learn about the Observatory’s 160-year history on the hill, explore weather recordings and journey into the cosmos. They’ll also get the chance to make a woven star constellation and their own sundial to take home.

Relief is here, parents and carers: Sydney Olympic Park will be home to over 50 kid-friendly activities this winter, running every day of the school holidays. The wide range of activities on offer cater for all ages, interests and budgets, including many that are completely free. For the adventurous, there’s a flying trapeze and urban jungle park, while the bookish can get stuck into science, writing and digital filmmaking workshops. There’s also a range of sports clinics running that’ll keep kids on their feet and away from those pesky screens, including archery, basketball, netball, gymnastics, dance, soccer and rugby.

What did you want to be when you were a kid? An astronaut? Pirate? Doctor? Or maybe you dreamed of being one of the world’s best illusionist like the young protagonist in The Great Illusionist. These winter school holidays the Sydney Opera House is hosting The Great Illusionist, a daring tale about a young boy who wants to be an illusionist. Bring your kids in for a show where they’ll learn the importance of having a strong will, a good assistant and a white rabbit! The Great Illusionist comes to Sydney from the masterful hands of the Netherland’s acclaimed Het Filiaal Theatremakers, who have created a fun, engaging children’s show packed full of mind-boggling illusions and expertly executed tricks. Even the most hardened cynic will think “how did they do that” as the cast perform illusions that will bewitch audience members young and old. There’s more to magic in The Great Illusionist too. The multilayered children’s production combines the art of illusion with live music and magical puppetry to create a truly marvellous performance. And at an efficient 55-minutes long, The Great Illusionist is the perfect length to engage young minds without them getting fidgety. Add a kid’s lunch box or two to your ticket booking to keep little bellies from grumbling (they contain a wrap, piece of fruit, doughnut and a juice or water).  The Great Illusionist is on at the Sydney Opera House from July 21 to July 29. Tickets start at $29.

Performers and storytellers have been searching for the snark for centuries. The strange beast from the poems of Lewis Carroll has captivated kids and adults alike with its mysterious existence. This musical comedy at the Sydney Opera House’s Playhouse will renew the hunt these school holidays, with life-size puppets, otherworldly creatures and plenty of laughs along the way for kids aged six and older. Perhaps audiences will finally catch a glimpse of the snark himself, alongside classic fellow adventurers, the boy, the banker, the butcher, the baker, the bellman and the knitting beaver.

This centre for art-making, dress-ups and games will fill every day of the school holidays with creative adventures. The Australian National Maritime Museum will host hourly workshops and activities between 10am and 4pm for primary school aged children. There’s an under-the-sea theme, celebrating the museum’s James Cameron – Challenging the Deep exhibition, so they’ll be investigating maritime archaeology, crafting a deep-sea explorer vessel, making sea creatures and trying their hand at print-making and animation. This hour of fun is included in the admission price to the museum, and kids under four are welcomed through the doors for free.