What's On in Sydney These July School Holidays 2016
Hooray for a break from the routine of school term.
Help!
That’s a cry from all the mums and dads who now have to juggle work and children from 9am – 3pm.
Aaarrgghhh….
Anyway, there is HEAPS on for these July school holidays here in Sydney.
I aimed for one big post but it got totally overwhelming so I’ve split it up a bit.
Frosty Winter Festivals Post is here
Blak Markets NAIDOC Festival
Where: Nawi Cove, Baranngaroo Reserve, Hickson Road Entrance
When: Saturday July 9th 2016
Find Aboriginal and Torres Strait arts and craft, food, cultural entertainment and celebrity chef cook-ups with Clayton Donovan, Blak Olive, Fred’s Bush Tucker and Sharon Windsor of Indigiearth. There are also boat trips to Goat island from Barangaroo Wharf, shell art and weaving workshops and music and dance performances.
This is a free non-ticketed event, check out the website for the day’s program.
Blak Markets website here
Burramatta NAIDOC
When: 10th July 2016 1:00pm – 6:00pm
Where: Parramatta River Foreshore, between Wilde St Bridge and Elizabeth St Footbridge Parramatta
Starting with a Welcome To Country and ending with fireworks, the Burramatta NAIDOC celebrations will engage the whole family. There’s music and dance, the popular Blak Markets stalls, lots of great tucker and arts, crafts and games. You can also do a free Indigenous Bike Tour too
Burramatta NAIDOC website is here.
Way Out West Festival. Photo credit: www.ben-williams.com
The Way Out West Festival
When: Wednesday 13th July – Saturday 16th July 2016
Where: Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, 1 Powerhouse Road, Casula
This is NSW’s largest contemporary arts festival dedicated to children and families and all events are free. There are workshops, hands on experiences and performances, ideally suited to children aged 12 years and under. You’ll find story telling, giant kites, theatrical perfomances, music. poetry and Virtual Dreaming, a guided virtual reality tour with the Durag tribe.
Check the website to secure free tickets for the ticketed event, there are also many unticketed events.
Way Out West Festival website here.
Sweet Addiction at The Calyx
When: Runs until April 2017
Where: The Calyx, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Enter via Woolloomooloo, Morshead and Palace Gates
Discover the botanical history of chocolate at the new horticultural space in the Botanic gardens. You can see, touch, taste and smell chocolate from its beginnings in the tropical rainforest right through to the Chocolatier Room onsite.
PS Calyx, pronounced kal -iks, means ‘the outermost whorl of flowers.’
The Calyx website is here
Creative genius Drama Workshop from Kids In The Park
Kids In The Park
When: Every day of the July school holidays
Where: All over Sydney Olympic Park
Sydney Olympic Park organises and hosts the most numerous collection of kids activities over each school holidays. There are over 60 things to do in these July school holidays and many are free or priced at a bargain $25 or under.
Check out the full range on the Kids In The Park website here.
Theatre and Music Shows
Sydney Opera House Children’s Shows These School Holidays
Pete the Sheep- The Musical
2nd July – 17th July | For kids 4+ | The beloved children’s book by Jackie French is brought to life on stage
Jack and The Beanstalk
14th – 17th July | For kids aged 8+ | Music, puppetry and acrobatics tell this classic tale
Saltbush: Children’s Cheering Carpet
2nd July – 10th July | For kids aged 4 – 8 years | A journey through Australia told in dance, music, songs and stories
Mister Maker
3rd – 4th July | For kids aged 3+ | A new stage show from this ABC TV favourite
Free Creative Play in the Western Foyer
2nd – 17th July | 10am – 4pm | Professional artists inspire kids to create
The Junior Adventure
2nd July – 17th July | Daily at 12.30pm | An amazing activity-filled tour behind the scenes
The Little Prince and Random Musical – Monkey Baa Theatre Company
When: The Little Prince runs from 5th – 9th July
Random Musical runs from 12th – 16th July
Where: Lendlease Darling Quarter Theatre
Read my full preview of The Little Prince here.
Read the full preview of Random Musical here.
Convict Footprints: Rebellion!
When: 25th – 26th June 2016
Where: Castle Hill Heritage Park
A ‘living history’ theatre production, this show tells the history of the Irish convict uprising on 1804 – on an epic scale. Poignant, eye-opening and rollicking good fun- Rebellion! takes audiences on a journey through the history of Heritage Park concluding with an epic re-enactment of the Castle Hill Rebellion! Tickets on sale now.
Tickets and info on website here
The Joan – Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre
The Little Prince | Friday 1st July and Saturday 2nd July
Snugglepot and Cuddlepie | Tuesday 5th July – Thursday 7th July
Where: 597 High Street, Penrith
The Joan website is here
Hamlet: Prince of Skidmark
When: 16th – 17th July
Where: Sydney Theatre Company, Walsh Bay
This is a cheeky and hilarious adaptation of Shakespear’s most famous tragedy. The show is interactive, and features pirates, pillow fights, fake blood and ninjas! For ages 5+
Sydney Theatre Company website here
Hippo! Hippo! At Glen Street
When: 14 – 16 July 2016
Based on the delightful series that started with ‘There’s A Hippopotamus On Our Roof Eating Cake!’ This is a musical show that will delight children aged 1 – 7 years.
Glen Street Theatre website here
School Holiday Films at Riverside Parramatta
Some family favourites are shown these school holidays. There’s a tangled Film plus party, then there’s the Frozen Sing-a-long. Check out the Kiwi movie Hunt For The Wilderpeople, plus Ponyo and a range of short films too.
Riverside parramatta website has more info here
Special School Holiday Fun at The Museum of Contemporary Art
July School Holiday at Sydney’s Museums and Art Galleries
Australian National Maritime Museum
Special School Holiday Activities info here
Circle – Jeannie Baker’s Latest Book Comes To Life 19 May–31 July 2016
MCA: Museum of Contemporary Art
Contemporary Kids – School Holiday Program info here
Museum of Sydney
Lego Bricks Sydney Harbour Icons until 31st July 2016
The Powerhouse Museum
School holiday activities webpage here
The Wiggles Exhibition
The Australian Museum
School holiday activities info here
Trailblazers: Australia’s 50 Greatest Explorers until 18th July
Shows to book ahead
Boom Box Classical Children’s Concert
When: Saturday 30th July at 2pm
Where: The Concourse, Chatswood
A classical concert specially for children is followed by a free arts and craft activities and the chance to meet musicians and explore their instruments.
Concourse website info here.
This post will be added to as more and more activities and events pop up, so do return another time.
Hope you enjoy the school holidays and that all families get some time to run and play and to just chill out too.
Cheers
Seana xx
Last Updated on February 20, 2019