As joyful as it is to have the kids around, it can quickly turn exhausting if you can’t find ways to entertain them or run out their seemingly endless battery. But don’t worry, thanks to all the cool events happening constantly in our city, we have plenty of ideas for you, some of them even free!
Fulfill their Jurassic dreams at Dinos Alive
Come face to face with +40 specimens of terrifyingly realistic moving replicas: T-rex, Stegosaurus, Ankylosaurus, Velociraptors, and many more. Or dive into the depths of the seas and interact with Jurassic sea giants in a unique virtual aquarium as you learn more about the periods when dinosaurs ruled the Earth!
Get your tickets here!
Browse a cosy winter market
Winter markets make for a fantastic family outing over the school holidays, and there are plenty to choose from, including a festoon-lit night market in Milton, and a winter wonderland in Carseldine.
Help them fall in love with reading at Lifeline Bookfest
Little bookworms will fall in love with the massive Lifeline Bookfest, where they can score secondhand books for as little as $2.50!
Everyone in the family will be spoilt for choice, with several rows of book tables to browse from. Don’t forget to bring your bags and backpacks to fill with books (or a suitcase depending on how big you expect your haul to be)!
Or simply spend some time at a welcoming library
The winter brings with it holidays and chilly weather. This can sometimes mean heaps of time spent indoors, so if you’re looking for ways to keep the little ones entertained without breaking the bank, public libraries are where it’s at! A haven of cosy chairs, imagination and, most importantly, silence.
Let them get their hands dirty at PYO strawberries
Strawberry season runs roughly from June to October, and a few stunning farms near Brisbane let you get your hands dirty and eat the freshest strawberries possible with the kids! You can even make a whole day of it and have a strawberry-themed picnic!
Feel the magic of a Candlelight Concert
Listen to talented classical musicians play against the glow of candlelight at one of these special shows in Brisbane.
With tributes to beloved artists that the whole family can enjoy, like Taylor Swift and Adele, Brisbane welcomes a candlelit performance tailored to every music enthusiast’s taste. Check out upcoming Brisbane Candlelight Concerts here!
Embrace winter at Snow4Kids
If the little ones have always wanted to experience the magic of fluffy white snow, they’re in luck, because the Mt Gravatt Showgrounds are transforming once again into a true snowy winter paradise at this year’s Snow4Kids!
Just in time for the winter school holidays, and with tons of real, fresh snow, the kids will be able to make the snowman of their dreams — though we can’t guarantee it’ll come to life — experience snowfall, take wonderful photos, meet cute mascots, play in the snow pit and more!
See your favourite characters at Disney on Ice
If you’ve been wishing upon a star, the magic worked: the world’s most famous and beloved figure skating show, Disney On Ice, is finally coming back to Brisbane after a long absence! Get ready, because Magic in the Stars brings the unforgettable adventures of Disney and Pixar to life in ways you’ve never seen before.
Your kids’ favourite characters will come to life while performing high-flying acrobatics, surprising stunts and of course, world-class ice skating!
Feel the thrill at 123Boom!
123Boom! has brought its high-voltage mix of interactive challenges to Brisbane. Step into the spotlight as the hero of a fast-paced, fully immersive experience packed with team missions, arcade-inspired trials, and a grand finale like no other, that will leave the kids ready for bedtime.
Picture neon-lit rooms filled with lasers, giant digital screens, and high-energy games that demand sharp reflexes and clever teamwork. Sound good? Get your tickets!
Expand their minds at Museum of Brisbane
Museum of Brisbane will spark kids’ curiousity, and they’ll learn and create through hands-on workshops, interactive exhibits, and winter adventures.
They can get crafty with City Sculptures or invent a brand new city in Remix your Brissy. Older kids can learn how to make a zine, and the whole family can end the day with a ride up the Clock Tower. For this and more, visit their website.
Or get creative at QAGOMA’s Children’s Centre
Visit the Children’s Art Centre at the QGOMA to experience exhibitions and activities created in collaboration with artists, or take part in one of the many programs, especially for children under six years of age. There are a variety of art workshops, story times and interactive events that will help to cultivate a love for art in your children. It’s never too early or too late to be creative!
Stargaze at Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium
Super close to the city centre, the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium at Mt Coot-tha has got entertaining and informative shows for everyone. From Perfect Little Planet where kids can view the solar system through the eyes of an alien family to Cosmic Collision, there’s a lot to see, learn and be amazed by.
Burn off energy at BOUNCE
Pent up energy needs to be released and that’s exactly what BOUNCE is for, especially during the school holidays! Families can enjoy scaling climbing-walls, bouncing on trampolines and trying their hand at obstacle courses. There’s even a miniBOUNCE Zone, a multi-level adventure course specifically designed for little BOUNCERS!
Get drawn into Bluey’s World
Can’t wait to see Bluey on the big screen? Let the one-of-a-kind immersive experience of Bluey’s World, recently named one of the top places in the world, tide you over until then!
Based on the hit TV show, the attraction is decked out with a recreation of the iconic Heeler Queenslander home, where you can walk around and interact with life-size sets of Bluey and Bingo’s playroom and bedroom, the family lounge room, as well as the backyard with the poinciana tree in it. Get your tickets for the perfect outing for the whole family!
Go on a wacky journey with TRICKD
Get wacky with your little ones in a wonderland where nothing is quite as it seems: TRICKD: Illusions, Fun, & More has arrived to the Gold Coast, and it’s about to become their new obsession.
This illusion experience invites you into a reality that shifts, bends, and surprises as you move through it. There are colours that change, proportions that don’t behave, and hands-on moments that turn perception into immersive fun. Designed as a continuous journey rather than a series of rooms, every step deeper into Dr. Enigma’s world reveals something more curious, more interactive, and more shareable.
Get your tickets before they’re gone!
Cuddle at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
If your little one(s) loves animals, a visit to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is a must! The lush Sanctuary offers the chance to get up close to koalas, kangaroos and watch platypus, sheepdogs, and birds of prey in action. There are even specialised holiday programs which let kids of all ages learn how to care for some of their adorable critters! Check them out here.
Dance the winter away at Thomas Dixon Centre
Get little ones started on the joy of dance and join Queensland Ballet Teaching Artists for a magical workshop, exploring the characters, storytelling and ballet moves from their My First Ballet production of Red Riding Hood and the Wolf.
Lace up your kid’s ballet shoes and register here.
Have a fantastic time with Mr Fox
Roald Dahl’s much-loved Fox leaps off the page (and all across the stage) in this mind-blowing, family-friendly show!
When Mr Fox suddenly needs to save his family and friends, he’ll go to any length (above or underground) to outwit the wicked farmers Boggis, Bunce and Bean. Join Mr Fox and his team of furry friends as they bounce, burrow and bewilder their way to safety.
Get your tickets for this Dahl-icious play here!