20+ ways to spend the spring school holidays

Posted on 20 September, 2019

Canberra’s winter has come to a close and we could not be more excited.

The flowers are in bloom, the city is coming to life and no, we don’t believe it either but school holidays are right around the corner.

Luckily there’s plenty to see and do no matter what your budget, with exhibitions, activities, performances and more.

Here are our top suggestions.

National Museum of Australia

DREAMWORKS ANIMATION: THE EXHIBITION – JOURNEY FROM SKETCH TO SCREEN

From the makers of Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon and Trolls, comes an extraordinary exhibition celebrating over 25 years of DreamWorks Animation.

DreamWorks Animation: The Exhibition – Journey from Sketch to Screen brings together rare concept drawings, models and original artworks, interviews and interactive displays from DreamWorks’ much-loved animated classics.

Take a thrilling journey, from original sketches of grumpy ogres and friendly dragons, to amazing stories and fantasy worlds brought to you by DreamWorks’ award-winning artists.

Showing daily from 9 am – 5 pm until 2 February 2020 | Adult: $20, Child (5-16 years): $12. Concession: $16. Children 4 years and under free | nma.gov.au/dreamworks

ANIMATIC ANTICS 

Discover the meaning of pitch, storyboard, frame per second, inbetweening, fades and sync as you explore the fascinating world of animation.

Head over to the National Museum of Australia for holiday activities inspired by DreamWorks Animation: The Exhibition.

Activities suitable for children 6 years and above but younger children are welcome. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Weekdays 30 September to 11 October, 10 am–1 pm. Note: No program on Monday 7 October | Cost: $5 child, kids and adults free. Places limited | nma.gov.au

PAINTING ON COUNTRY

Take the little ones to see Indigenous art that melds past and present.

Five senior artists from Tjungu Palya art centre in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in South Australia have reinvigorated their ancestors’ practice of painting directly onto the land.

Their work, captured in a series of large-format photographs, is both timeless and transient, bridging the ancient and the contemporary.

Showing until Sunday 10 November 2019 at the National Museum of Australia | Free entry | nma.gov.au

Marketplace Gungahlin

MEET PAW PATROL!

Come meet Nickelodeon’s PAW Patrol at Marketplace Gungahlin!

Join Marshall, Chase and Ryder from Nickelodeon’s PAW Patrol at Marketplace Gungahlin for FREE adventure shows and meet and greet sessions!

Do you have what it takes to be a PAW Patrol Trainee? Join Ryder, Chase and Marshall as they answer Mayor Goodway’s call for help to save the ‘Adventure Bay Talent Show’.

Get Ready for Action and warm up as Ryder and the Pups take you through all the moves for the Pup, Pup Boogie and make this the best rescue mission ever!

• 10 am – Free Show
• 11 am – Free Meet & Greet Session
• 12 pm – Free Show

Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 September, at Marketplace Gungahlin, directly outside Big W | Register your interest at the Marketplace Gungahlin website to receive event updates

Free School Holiday Activity Hub at Marketplace Gungahlin

Westfield Belconnen + Westfield Woden

Come and try the Harry Potter Invisibility Cloak

Calling all Witches, Wizards and Muggles, appear to disappear with The Cloak of Invisibility!

Head to Westfield Belconnen to try the Invisibility Cloak to see the magical illusion unfold before your own eyes.

Monday 30 September – Friday 4 October  from 11 am – 2 pm at Centre Court, Westfield Belconnen | Cost: Free | westfield.com.au

Monday 30 September – Friday 4 October  from 11 am – 2 pm at Centre Court, Westfield Woden | Cost: Free | westfield.com.au

Floriade 2019

Australia’s biggest celebration of spring returns to Commonwealth Park from Saturday 14 September until Sunday 13 October 2019.

With over one million blooms on display and free entry, Floriade is the perfect place to experience the beauty of spring.

With a diverse and ever-expanding program of music, cultural celebrations, food and wine, horticultural workshops, market traders, artistic displays, entertainment, recreational activities and more, you’ll find something for everyone.

Celebrate this year’s theme, World in Bloom daily from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm.

Happening 14 September – 13 October from 9.30 am – 5.30 pm seven days a week at Commonwealth Park | Free entry | floriadeaustralia.com

Canberra Centre

GARDEN OF ENCHANTMENT

Delight in the fresh tulips, relax on the lawn and let your little ones play in the secret fairy garden. Activities throughout the six weeks will keep young and old entertained.

The Soul Defender truck will make appearances to brighten your Friday afternoons. Lunchbox acoustic sessions will be held each Wednesday, providing the perfect spot to relax on the lawn and taken in the tunes. If you visit the garden on some Thursdays, you can even listen to an enthralling story or two be told.

There will be fun for the kids too, with free Lucy Sparkles music workshops and face painting held throughout the school holiday period.

ACTIVITIES:

• Face painting: Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 am to 2 pm.
• Music Workshops: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12 am to 2 pm.
• Floriade Gnome Visit: Friday 27 September, 11 am – 2 pm
• Flower Crown Workshop: Saturday, 21 September, 10.30 am – 12 pm
• Storytelling in the square: Thursdays, 12- 2 pm
• Lunchbox acoustic: Every Wednesday, 12 pm – 1.30 pm
• Soul Defender Sessions: Fridays, 4.30 pm – 6.30 pm 

Happening now until 20 October | City Walk, outside Canberra Centre | canberracentre.com.au/play/events/garden-of-enchantment

South.Point Tuggeranong

Week one – Abominable Snowman immersive zone

This week is all about the arts and crafts!

Come down to South.Point to build your very own snow globe with the Abominable Snowman!

Monday 30 Sept – Friday 4 Oct from 11 am – 2 pm | Centre Court, South.Point | southpointcanberra.com.au/news/spend-school-holidays-at-south-point

Week Two: UglyDolls Stage Show

The Uglydolls are coming to South.Point!

Come dance and sing along as Moxy and her UglyDoll friends perform all of their famous songs from the new release UglyDolls!

Monday 7 – Friday 11 October at 11 am, 12 pm and 1 pm | Centre Court, South.Point | southpointcanberra.com.au/news/spend-school-holidays-at-south-point

The Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House

DRESS UP!

Try on costumes of their iconic outfits and connect with the lives of Malala, Dr Karl, Queen Bey and more at DressUP: Change the World.

Listen to their stories and explore their lives and the choices they made. Find out how they overcame their struggles to make a difference in the world, and think about how you can too.

Check out the new exhibition and discover how some of the planet’s most awesome people got that way at The Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House.

Showing daily from 9 am – 5 pm | $2 adults, $1 children (free for children under 5 years old) and concessions, $5 family | moadoph.gov.au/exhibitions/dressup-change-the-world

CODE CAMP

Discover the wonders of technology and the develop coding, designing and tech skills these holidays at Code Camp!

Held at four schools across Canberra, there are five different courses to choose from.

Catering to ages 5- 13 start with the ‘Little Heroes’ course introducing all the necessities of coding or learn 3D world Building and 2D game making or how to be a Web Hacker.

• Little Heroes: Ages 5-6 | October 8-9 | $240
• Spark: Ages 7-12 | October 8-10 | $350
• 2D Game Makers: Ages 7-12 | October 9-11 | $350
• Web Hackers: Ages 8-13 | October 9-11 | $350
• 3D World Builders: Ages 8-13 | October 1-3 | $350

codecamp.com.au

National Portrait Gallery

STORYTIME 

Listen to the story Picasso’s Trousers by Nicholas Allan and design and create your own visual response.

All materials provided; for all ages and abilities. All children must be accompanied.

Wednesday 9 October 2019 from 10.30 am – 12 pm and 2 pm – 3:30 pm | Bookings are essential | $7 per child | portrait.gov.au

LITTLE FACES: SPRING SERIES

Little children and their parent or carer are invited to join a Learning Facilitator for playful activities in the galleries and studio.

In spring, the NPG will look at Peter Sculthorpe by Eric Smith, exploring music and sounds using musical instruments, singing, movement and craft.

For children from six months to three years.

24 – 25 September 2019 from 9:30 am – 10:15 am and 10:30 am – 11:15 am at the National Gallery of Australia, Parkes | Bookings are essential. $12 per adult | portrait.gov.au

PORTRAIT PLAY: PORTRAIT DETECTIVE

Become a Portrait Detective and explore the portraits through drawing and creative activity in the National Portrait Gallery of Australia these school holidays.

For children aged 4 to 8 to share with family and friends. All children must be accompanied by a participating adult.

Monday 30 September – Friday 4 October 2019 | 10:15 am – 11:15 am and Monday 7 October – Friday 11 October 2019 | 10:15 am – 11:15 am at the National Portrait Gallery | Bookings are essential. $7 per child | portrait.gov.au

National Gallery of Australia

MOBILE STUDIO: DRESSED TO IMPRESS

Fashionistas and art enthusiasts assemble!

Drop into the NGA for creative making inspired by the Pop and Op art display in the International Art galleries on Level 2.

Every weekend of September from 10 am – 4:30 pm at the National Gallery of Australia | No entry fee or bookings required | (all ages of children to be accompanied) | nga.gov.au

The Australian War Memorial

HANDS-ON HISTORY AT THE WAR MEMORIAL

What do servicemen and servicewomen wear? What do they eat? What jobs do they do?

The hands-on history program answers these questions and more. Try on uniforms, handle real objects, and discover incredible stories of Australians in wartime.

11 am on 30 September – 4 October and 11 am on 8 October – 11 October on the lower gallery levels at the Australian War Memorial | Free of cost and no bookings required| awm.gov.au

Canberra Symphony Orchestra

Kids Cushion Concert in NewActon

Join members of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra on a musical journey around the world for children (aged 3 to 8 years old) and their grown-ups.

Each school holiday concert will take us to a different continent of the world, exploring music by composers from that region and musical instruments from the orchestra.

Accompanied by the adventurous narrator, Matilda, young listeners will hear a range of classical music, as well as learning folk songs from around the world.

Wednesday 2 October at 10 am and 11.15 am | Nishi Grand Stair, inside the Nishi Building, NewActon | Eventbrite