😍 Top Picks Events This Winter
🎭 Yong
Yong is a powerful new Aussie play for ages 10+, blending history and storytelling in an epic journey from China to the Ballarat goldfields in 1857. 🌏⛏
Based on Yong: The Journey of an Unworthy Son by Janeen Brian, this moving adventure explores family, courage, and finding strength when it matters most.
🗓 30 July – 2 August
📍 The Show Room, Arts Centre Melbourne
✨ Auslan interpreted performance: 2 Aug
🎉 Roola Boola is BACK!
🎨 One of Melbourne’s most loved kids’ arts festivals returns these winter school holidays!
✨ 30+ events across venues including Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran Market & local libraries.
Workshops, multicultural cooking, magic shows, circus, music & more!
🎟️ Free & ticketed events for children aged 0–12.
📅 8–18 July | 👧 Ages 0–12
📍 Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran Market, local libraries & more
❄️ Whitehorse - Winter Holiday Program
Stay entertained these school holidays with a range of fun and affordable activities! From sports to arts, environment, history, and family fun, there's something for all ages.
🏀 Basketball, Netball, Pickleball
🎭 The Listies
🍫 Hot Chocolate Scavenger Hunt
🐉 How to Train Your Dragon Craft
🦋 Insect Art & Textile Butterflies
🍣 Mini Master Cooks
🌼 Winter Garden Workshop , and a lot more!
🎟️ Booking required for most activities. Don’t miss out!
🦖 The ULTIMATE Dinosaur Experience DinoFest! 🦕
Rug up, grab a coffee, and get ready to travel back to the Jurassic! Meet our walking Triceratops, Stegosaurus, Spinosaurus, Pachycephalosaurs, and Ankylosaur, and lots of cute baby dinosaurs on the school holidays! 🦕
🗓 28 June - 20 July
📍 Nortons Park, Wantirna South
🎄🎅 Christmas in July Market 🤩
🎁 WIN 1 of 2 $100 Endota Spa vouchers (Draws at 11:45AM & 2:45PM) 🍲 Delicious winter eats & hot drinks from handpicked food vendors 🎶 All-day festive vibes – come celebrate the season early!
For the Kids:
🎅 Free Santa Photos
🎶 Live Christmas Band
🍪 Kids Cookie Decorating
🗓 Saturday 5 July
🕓 10AM – 4PM
📍 The Atrium at Fed Square
🎟️ Free Event – Family Friendly – School Holiday Fun!
🔥 Illumina at Flowerdale Estate 🌟
This winter, the historic grounds of Flowerdale Estate will come alive in a breathtaking celebration of light, music, and memory. 🌟 Wander glowing gardens 🔥 Toast marshmallows under the stars 🎨 Neon face-paint 🍽️ A la carte or casual eats 🏡 Accommodation available
🗓 10 – 13 July
📍Flowerdale Estate, Strath Creek
🎶 Yamaha Music Education - Free Trial Class 🎉
Give your child the gift of confidence, coordination, and social connection through the world-renowned Yamaha Music Education System.
🌍 Trusted in 40+ countries | Loved by 650,000+ students
🎓 Backed by over 50 years of experience in Australia
✨ Special Offer: Get 10% off tuition for all new students enrolling in Semester 2!
🎉 Plus, join us for a FREE trial class – choose from:
🗓️ 21 June or 6 July
📍 Yamaha Music School: 1030 Dandenong Rd, Carnegie
🎬 Children's International Film Festival
Get ready for the wildest, sweetest, and most magical kids' films from around the globe! This year’s lineup features a fresh twist on Bambi, fan favourites like the Moomins, Ernest & Celestine, the Elfkins, and Captain Sabertooth, plus 40th anniversary screenings of: Explorers (Joe Dante) & Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (Tim Burton).
🗓 7 June – 20 July
📍 Lido, Classic & Cameo Cinemas
❄️ Riviera Winter Wonderland
❄️ Real Ice Skating Rink ❄️ Private Igloos for parties
❄️ Festival snacks: popcorn, fairy floss, snow cones
❄️ Face painting, markets & more
❄️ Night sessions with DJs, disco skating and more!
🗓 1 June – 3 August
🕓 4pm-10pm weekdays 10am-10pm weekends
📍 42B Marine Parade, Elwood VIC
🦉 The Owl’s Apprentice
Get ready for a heartwarming, hilarious adventure!
The Owl’s Apprentice is a magical mix of shadow puppetry and physical comedy, telling the story of how owls become wise — because they’re not born that way!
📍 Bunjil Place, Narre Warren
🗓 Friday 11 July 🕙 10am & 12pm
🐇 FRITZ
The Magician’s Rabbit On a Mission! Madame Magica has vanished… and her rabbit FRITZ is taking over the show!
Expect chaos, magic, and laugh-out-loud mayhem in this 50-minute slapstick adventure full of puppetry and clowning fun. Created by Emilie Bloom, directed by award-winning Clare Bartholomew. 🎩 All ages welcome!
🗓 Friday 11 July 🕓 11AM & 3PM
📍 Glen Eira Town Hall, Caulfield
🎟️ Tickets $15 | Kids under 2 free
😍 Don’t forget to check out the full Storytelling Festival program to see what else is happening!
🪄 Harry Potter™: The Exhibition
✨ Melbourne, get ready for magic! ✨⚡
Step into the Wizarding World at Harry Potter: The Exhibition! This interactive and immersive experience brings you closer than ever to your favorite characters, props, and locations from the films. 🏰⚡
✨ Conjure your Patronus & test your Quidditch™ skills
🧙♂️ Get up close with authentic costumes & props
🎬 Go behind the scenes & uncover movie magic
🏰 Explore iconic spots like Hagrid’s Hut & The Great Hall
📍 Exhibition & Experience Centre, Melbourne
📅 Open daily 10am – 7pm
👨👩👧👦 All ages welcome! Wheelchair accessible ♿
🐳 Island Whale Festival 2025
🗓️ 11–13 July
📍 Phillip Island
Winter on Phillip Island means one thing — WHALES are back! 🐋💙 Dive into a magical weekend celebrating the majestic humpback and southern right whales that grace our shores.
✨ Family fun alert! Whale watching cruises, kids’ crafts, citizen science, mind-blowing VR experiences, and a chance to meet real marine scientists!
🌟 LOST – A Magical World 🌿
This winter, step into the extraordinary with LOST — a spectacular, large-scale art installation that brings the beauty of nature to glowing life.
These breathtaking creations turn Bunjil Place into a dreamlike garden straight out of Wonderland.
🗓 11 – 27 Jul
🕓 10am – 10pm
📍 Bunjil Place, Narre Warren
🎟️ Free Event. No bookings needed.
🎅 Christmas in July at Williamstown
Join us for a magical winter celebration by the bay — packed with festive fun, live music, twinkling lights, and FREE family activities!
🖌️ Face Painting
📚 Storytime (1.30pm, 3.30pm, 5.30pm, 7.30pm)
🎨 Decoration Making
🗺️ The elf on the shelf trail (with a prize!)
🔥 Hot roasted chestnuts, delicious treats, mulled wine (non-alc + full strength), and all the holiday vibes.
🗓 12th July | 1pm - 8.30pm
📍 Seaworks, Williamstown
🎟️ Adults $10 | Kids under 16 FREE
🧠 Brainchild: A Magic Show with a Mindful Twist!
Bring your family to Brainchild Created by the hilarious Big Bobby and his cheeky (invisible) sidekick Rhodneey, this brand-new magic show blends belly laughs, mind-blowing tricks, and a powerful mental health message your kids will actually remember. It’ll Blow Your Mind at the 2025 Melbourne Magic Festival!
🗓 Wed 16 July
🕓 11am (Pre-show Games 10.30am)
📍 5a Jamieson Street, St Albans
🎟️ Tickets $10
🔒 Prison Island
Where escaping isn’t the goal… winning is! 💥
Gather your crew and take on 34 epic prison cells filled with wild mental and physical challenges. 🧠💪
🎯 90 minutes of non-stop action
👫 Teams of 2–5 (perfect for families, friends, or co-workers)
🎉 Awesome for birthdays, bucks & hens—bride/groom plays FREE!
📍 The District Docklands
👧 Ages 7+ welcome!
🎉 The Quizzical Mr Jeff
Step into a world of circus, comedy & impossible magic with the one and only Mr Jeff — a family fave that’ll have everyone grinning from ear to ear. Expect giant balloons, optical illusions, jaw-dropping tricks, and a whole lot of laughs. 🏆 Winner – Best Children's Show – Melbourne Magic Festival 2023 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Super fun show with laugh-out-loud moments for the whole family” – Eventalaide
👨👩👧👦 Perfect for all ages – mums, dads, kids, and even grandparents! 🗓 8–12 July 📍 Arrow on Swanston
🌈 SENSAS: A Multi-Sensory Experience
🖐️ Test all five senses (sight, smell, touch, taste and hearing) in both pitch-black and ultra-colourful workshops
✨ Gather your team to take on exciting challenges and surprising experiences in the Sensory Labs
🤩 Conquer your primary fears and embrace your emotions
🪙 Collect as many sensory charms as possible—each charm means a donation to a local charity supporting people with disabilities
💖 Perfect for groups of all sizes. Age requirement: 7+. Duration: 2 hours. 📍 South Yarra VIC
🦢 Musical Storytime: Bila’s Big Dance 🎵
🌧️ The Wheeler Centre and Orchestra Victoria bring Bila the Spoonbill to life with live music, storytelling, and a heartwarming tale of community and courage. Will Bila's big rain dance save the day? 🎻 Relaxed, interactive shows where kids help tell the story through music – perfect for ages 5–8 (but everyone’s welcome!)
🗓 10 – 12 July 🕓 10am, 11:30am & 1:30pm
📍 The Wheeler Centre, Melbourne
🎪✨ Elmo’s Circus Dream ✨🎪
Get ready, Melbourne! A magical new live show is hitting Caulfield Racecourse these July school holidays! 🎉
Join Elmo in a dreamy circus adventure packed with acrobatics, illusions, stunts, and all your favourite Sesame Street friends – Abby, Cookie Monster, Grover, Bert & Ernie! 🎪
🗓 27 June – 3 August
📍 Caulfield Racecourse
🍹 Alcotraz: The World’s First Prison-Themed Cocktail Bar
Alcotraz is Melbourne’s immersive prison-themed cocktail bar, where you’ll wear an orange jumpsuit, sip secret cocktails, and dodge the Warden 👮♂️⛓️
🍹 4 custom cocktails (or swap for beer/wine)
🎭 New stories, new cocktails, same unforgettable chaos
📍 Melbourne | 18+ only
💣🔥 Melbourne, Can You Beat the Boom?
123Boom! is the real-life arcade game experience that’s taking Melbourne by storm! Solve puzzles, dodge lasers, battle flying monsters—and most importantly, stop the bomb before time runs out! ⏳
👥 Perfect for groups of 4-8 💥 6 immersive challenges that test your speed, skill & teamwork
🎯 Avoid lasers, solve puzzles & dodge flying monsters ♿ Wheelchair accessible
📍 551 Little Collins St, Melbourne CBD
📅 Choose your date & time
⏳ Duration: 75 minutes 👀 Age: 12+
Ayoung Kim – Delivery Dancer's Arc: 0° Receiver
Using CGI, live-action footage and game engines, Korean artist Ayoung Kim creates a speculative multiverse that blurs the boundaries between space, time and the self.
Work duration: 30 mins on loop.
🗓 Daily
📍 ACMI, Fed Square (Gallery 2, Ground Floor )
👷♀️ The Little Builder!
🎁 WIN a family ticket at The Little Builder!
🤑 Plus, everyone gets an exclusive discount code!
Melbourne's newest indoor play space is here! 🎉
At Little Builders, kids can dig, build, and explore 50m² of clean sand with ride-on excavators, 100+ interactive toys, and epic themed zones. Perfect for playdates, birthdays, and school groups! 👷♂️
📍 Docklands, Melbourne
🗓️ 5 July – 31 August
🕓 90-min sessions (9:30am – 5pm)
🤑 Use the code TINYTIX10 to get a 10% discount!
Australian Music Vault
The Australian Music Vault is a celebration of the Australian contemporary music story – past, present and future. It’s a place to explore your love of music, revisit some of the big music moments of your life and discover exciting new stories from today’s Australian music scene.
🗓 10am - 5pm Daily
📍 Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne
