If you’re feeling uninspired with how to keep the kids entertained during the holidays, look no further.
We’ve put together a handy guide to winter events and activities offered over this upcoming school holiday period so you can avoid those dreaded “I’m bored” complaints, and keep the kids happy with some incredible unique events across Adelaide.
Illuminate Festival
Back for its third year, Illuminate Adelaide is the state’s answer to Vivid, Rising and Dark Mofo arts festivals. Some of the boldest International, national and local electronic musicians will converge on Adelaide.
Besides music, there are a number of free event and light shows including the following:
City Lights – starting nightly from Friday July 7 – Adelaide’s icons north, east and west precincts will be illuminated. Installations include open air artworks, interactive sculptures and boundary pushing experiments for everyone to explore.
Base Camp: The festival hub located in Rundle Park via East Terrace, the Base Camp is the go to destination for memorable nights out throughout Illuminate. Experience music, food and beverages from South Australia’s favourite producers.
Where: Throughout the City of Adelaide
When: Wednesday 28 June – Sunday 30 July
Cost: From free to ticketed
More info: Click here
AFL – Kids Go Free Month
For the second year, the AFL is offering free general admission tickets for children 14 years and under during rounds 16-19 (saving up to $28 for a junior ticket).
There will be pre game family focused activities to enhance the match day experience: entertainment, footy inflatables, club mascot meet and greets, the dedicated Fan Zone, face painting and jugglers.
Where: Adelaide Oval
When: Adelaide vs North – Round 16 (July 1), Port Adelaide vs Gold Coast – Round 17 (July 8), Adelaide vs GWS – Round 18 (July 15), Port Adelaide vs Collingwood – Round 19 (July 22)
Price: FREE for children 14 and under
More info: Click here
Firstival Libraries SA Festival
Libraries throughout South Australia are hosting over 300 unique events including live cellists, virtual reality experiences and a Hogwarts Escape Room. Firstival starts at the beginning of July for the whole month and provides a huge range of activities for the whole family this winter.
Where: Across 130 libraries in SA
When: Saturday 1 July – 31 July
More info: Click here
Glenelg Winter Arts Festival
For the first time, Adelaide Fringe venue ‘Gluttony’ will be presenting an outdoor arts festival in Glenelg throughout July. The festival will include a variety of entertainment including live music, stand up comedy, workshops, circus, magic and family shows in a heated big top tent.
Headlining the festival will be national comedians including Rove McManus, Wil Anderson, Nazeem Hussain, Peter Helliar as well as the Fringe for Kids Roadshow. Two bars serving drinks including mulled wine and cider, hot buttered rum, beer, wine and spirits. For non drinkers there will be coffee, hot chocolate and soft drinks.
Jetty Road traders will have a variety of festival offerings on offer with market stalls around during weekends.
Glenelg Winter Arts Festival
Where: Colley Reserve, Glenelg
When: Thursday 6 and Friday 7 July from 6pm, Saturday 8 July – Sunday 23 July from 11am. Closed Mondays.
Cost: FREE Entry to the Festival (Individual ticketed shows)
More info: Click here
Kids Kung Fu Program FREE Open Days
Great chance for kids to come and try Kung Fu before the Kids Kung Fu program kicks off in Term 3. For boys and girls aged 5-13: learn self defence, build confidence and make friends. While parents can get to know the trainers and check out the gym’s expanded space before its grand reopening.
Where: 2m2 Fitness and Self Defence – 35/37 (Unit 5) Stirling St, Thebarton
When: Saturday 8 and 15 June: 1-2pm
Cost: Free (reserve a spot via link)
More info: Click here
School Holidays Unplugged at Woodhouse Adventure Park
Drop & Go Day Camps – specifically designed with age appropriate activities for 5-12 year olds. Keep your primary school kids screen free, active and entertained for the whole day. There will be back up plans in case of bad weather and a 1:9 staff to kid ratio, so you know you’re kid will have a great time.
Where: Woodhouse Adventure Park, 37 Spring Gully Rd, Piccadilly
When: Monday July 10 – Friday July 21, 9am-5pm (Drop off from 8:30am
Cost: $75/day (Scout members get 20% off)
More info: Click here
Pamper & Parties
Treat yourself, and your kids too! Pamper & Parties of Adelaide offer Mum or Dad and Me sessions for parents and their kids to enjoy a classic foot bubble bath, massage services and nail painting from their Hillbank salon. They also hold group kid session allow parents to drop and go! The holiday sessions consist of foot soak, foot massage and a toe nail paint (which is $25 per child).
Where: Shop 2, 4 Bogan Road, Hillbank, SA, 5112
For more information and to book, click here.
School Holiday Adventures – Baptist Care SA
Baptist Care SA is running three different programs during the school holidays for kids aged 7-15: Homestead Muster, Adventure Plus and Horse Adventure.
Homestead Muster: A 5 day Christian camp at involving sheep mustering, horse riding, shelter building and rope swinging. Kids aged 11 to 13 will be sleeping in bunkhouses at Wirraway Homestead, supervised by bunkhouse leaders.
Adventure Plus: Adventure Plus involves daily adrenaline fuelled activities and team building challenges including the 200 metre flying fox and indoor rock climbing. Based at Mylor Adventure Camp, for kids aged 7 to 15.
Horse Adventure Days: Horse lovers aged 10-15 will ride and care for their own horse for a day. Practise your horse handling skills, ride a horse inside a great indoor arena and end your days grooming and caring for your own horse. All at Wirraway Homestead in picturesque Strathalbyn.
Where: Horse Adventure Days and Wirraway Homestead Muster – Wirraway Homestead, 660 Old Bull Creek Road, Strathalbyn
Adventure Plus – Mylor Adventure Camp, 32 Wingrove Road, Mylor
When: Homestead Musters: July 10 – 14
Adventure Plus – July 17 – 20 (arrival 7:30-9am, pick up 5-6pm)
Horse Adventure: July 18 – 20
Cost:
Adventure Plus = $65/day
Horse Adventure = $160/day
Homestead Muster = $395
More info: Click here
Little Markets Chefs
Sprout Training are teaching the next generation (6-12 year olds) how to prepare easy, healthy and tasty meals together.
Classes are ensured to be fun, interactive and educational with produce fresh from the stalls.
Each class includes: a small take away meal of dish prepared by the kids which they’ll eat together at the end.
Cost: $20/session
Where: Adelaide Central Market, Gouger St Dining Area, Adelaide
When: 11, 13, 18 and 20 July (10am-10:45, 11:30-12:15, 1:00-1:45 pm)
More info: Click here
School Holiday Fun at The Parks
“It’s fun to stay at the YMCA!” and these school holidays, they’re also running day programs on weekdays for kids aged 5-14.
Activities include nerf wars, skating, science experiments and playing in the pool. Special themed days include Disco, Adventure and Messy days.
Where: The Parks Recreation and Sports Centre: 46 Cowan St, Angle Park
Cost: Nerf Wars, Learn to Skate, Aqua Inflation – $12 per session.
Mighty Disco, Adventure and Messy Days = $48 each
When: 12, 14, 17, 18, 19, 21 July
More info: Click here
Drama Day Camp
Kids high on their own drama? Actually Acting is running a three day acting ‘camp’ for your little drama queens (suitable for kids from 7-13).
The camp includes drama games, improv, mime, puppets, physical theatre and costumes.
Where: Tower Arts Centre, 267 Daws Road, Pasadena
When: Tuesday 18 July – Thursday 20 July (9am – 3:30pm)
Cost: $85/day, $230/3 days (10% discount IF you pay by June 30)
More info: Click here
AVCon 2023: Adelaide’s Anime & Video Games Convention
Adelaide’s annual anime and video games convention is back for the first time since the pandemic. Guest announcements include American voice actress Lisle Wilkerson (Tekken, ‘Lost in Translation’) and Japanese animation director Hiroshi Nagahama (X-Men, Pokemon Heroes). Enter cosplay competitions! Try to win the quiz! Bid at the auction!
Where: Adelaide Convention Centre
When: Friday 21 July – Sunday 23 July
Cost: From $43.29 (children 10 and under free)
More info: Click here
Mega Fast Karts & Laser Skirmish Richmond
Mega Fast Karts & Laser Skirmish Richmond provide a one-of-a-kind experience that you cannot find anywhere else. Mega Fast Karts & Laser Skirmish Richmond has been the home of family fun entertainment for decades, promising an endless amount of memory making.
This entertainment centre is not just for those with a need for speed, there is also an arcade, an expansive laser skirmish field, as well as Battle Cars.
Cost: From $10 for 10 minutes
Address: 6-9 Deacon Ave, Richmond SA 5033
For more information, click here.
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