This winter school holidays is jam-packed full of fun in the Newcastle area. From carnival rides, arts and crafts, and exploring sustainability, there is something for everyone. If you are looking for ways to get your children out of the house, here are eight activities for children with different interests.
Carnival games, thrilling rides, festival treats, and free entertainment by Circus Aurelia will bring Nobby's beach foreshore to life during the July school holidays. Newcastle Winter Fun Fest kicks off on Saturday, July 4, and runs until Sunday, July 19, and will be open Wednesdays to Sundays from 11am to 8pm. Entry to the event is $5, with children under two years admitted free.
Did you know there is a team of railway enthusiasts who run, maintain and add to a scale railway model at Newcastle Showground? They call themselves the Novacastrian Model Railway Group, and they are opening their doors to the public during the Newcastle City Farmers Markets on Sunday, July 5 and July 19. You are invited to watch them work and ask any questions you may have. Entry to the markets and to the railway model is free, although donations are welcome.
Newcastle Art Gallery is hosting artmaking workshops inspired by Brian Robinson's Multiverse exhibition from July 14 to 17, with two sessions each day.
Brian Robinson is a Cairns-based Torres Strait Islander artist known for his vibrant colours and bold graphics. Tickets are $30 per child, giving them access to the exhibition, participation in 'Multiverse Spotto', and art supplies to create their own 'Blooms in the Multiverse'.
Inspired by the beloved children's book Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek, Newcastle City Library and Monkey Baa Theatre Company are hosting an hour-long Rainbow Sheep Colour Party on Wednesday, July 8, at 2.30pm. Free to the public and open to people of all ages, this event will include a family-friendly story time, sensory stations and a free activity pack. Attendees are encouraged to dress in their favourite colour ... or even as a sheep.
Monkey Baa's Where is the Green Sheep? is showing at Civic Theatre Newcastle from July 9 to 11.
Newcastle City Library is hosting a $5 wand-making workshop on Wednesday, July 8, from 10am to 11am, inspired by the children's book Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.
Children aged five to 12 will start with a stick and use the artmaking materials to create their own personalised wand. Wool, felt, feathers, beads, and ribbon will be provided to encourage children to use a range of techniques, allowing them to embrace their creativity.
Minmi Hotel is hosting a free superhero disco on Saturday, July 11, from 2pm to 4pm. Children are encouraged to dress as their favourite superhero and be in the running for a best-dressed prize. All-day dining is available for parents. Bookings are encouraged.
Wallsend Library is hosting a free STEM Punks Science Program from July 13 to 16, 10am to 4pm, for children aged 10 to 12. They will work through a program based on United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, looking at how innovation can lead to a more sustainable future. Augmented reality, virtual reality, coding, and 3D modelling will be explored. Bookings essential.
Children aged 11 to 14 are invited to attend a two-day cinematic music program at the Newcastle Conservatorium of Music on July 14 and 15, 8.30am to 2.45pm. By the end of this workshop students will have explored work by famous film composers and used computer software to compose and record their own piece to add to film.
