What’s On In Melbourne: Spring School Holidays 2023

What’s On Melbourne – North/North-East

• It’s Not Rocket Science (Thu 31 Aug – Sun 1 Oct) – An activation consisting of 13 giant inflatable characters take over the centre. Ranging from 1.5 to an enormous 6.5 metres tall.
• Melbourne Museum School Holidays (Sat 16 Sep – Sun 1 Oct) – Explore Horridus, the extraordinary 67-million-year-old Triceratops, immerse yourself in the captivating world of RELICS: A New World Rises where pre-loved LEGO® pieces come alive and uncover the magical connection between wizarding creatures and our natural world in Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature at Melbourne Museum.
• IMAX Melbourne School Holidays (Sat 16 Sep – Sun 1 Oct) – There’s only one place for GIANT school holiday fun with SECRETS OF THE SEA 3D, BORN TO BE WILD 3D, DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D and SERENGETI 3D: JOURNEY TO THE HEART OF AFRICA showing daily at IMAX Melbourne. Kids will dive, soar, swing and roar across the ocean, the depths of the Borneo rainforest and the open Serengeti plains. Joint tickets are available with Melbourne Museum entry.
• Merri-bek Family Festival (Mon 18 Sep – Sun 24 Sep) – Discover top-notch art for everyone in the family, at affordable prices or even for free! Enjoy outstanding art experiences at Brunswick Library, Brunswick Town Hall, and Counihan Gallery.
• Little Riders Club School Holiday Activities (Wed 20 Sep) – 3 main pony rides that run during the September school holidays.
• 400 Gradi Childrens Masterclass – Brunswick (Mon 25 Sep) – 400 Gradi is bringing back its Kids Masterclasses to Melbourne this September. Bring the kids and learn how to make the best pizza in Australia!
• Nature Play at Melbourne Gardens ​(Tues 26 & Wed 27 Sep) – Delight your child’s senses with free nature play experiences on Oak Lawn and the Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden this Spring.

• Farming for our Future – ages 5 to 8 (Tue 26 Sep) – Get hands-on exploring the CERES Honey Lane Organic farm, and discover all the beasts, bugs and plants that make our farming world go round.
• Farm to Fork – ages 3 to 5 (Wed 27 Sep) – Become an urban farmer and uncover the roots of food! With a CERES Community Environment Park expert guide.
• Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature (until Sun 8 Oct) – Wonder at the magic of the creatures from the Wizarding World alongside the remarkable animals from London’s Natural History Museum collection. Read the Fantastic Beasts exhibition review.
• Preston Market School Holiday Program (Sat 16 Sep – Sun 31 Sep) – Preston Market has got you covered with this free School Holiday Program. Enjoy kids’ activities such as an animal farm, a garden-making workshop and spring-themed crafts.
• Fitzroy Market (Saturdays) – a one-stop hub for everything produce, food, artisan, handcrafted, vintage, second hand and local.

• Abbotsford Farmers Market (Daily) – Shop local and seasonal produce and visit the Collingwood Children’s Farm which is just next door.
• Rose Street Artists’ Market (Saturdays and Sundays) – Shop directly from Melbourne’s best artists, designers, crafters and makers at Fitzroy’s iconic Rose Street Market.
• Diamond Valley Railway (Sundays) – miniature railway with a playground next door. Diamond Valley Railway Review.
• Heritage Garden and Grounds (Until Sun 31 Dec) – Experience the breathtaking Heritage Garden and grounds alongside the iconic buildings at Abbotsford Convent. This culturally significant site offers a serene setting for picnics, reading, or leisurely contemplation, welcoming visitors every day of the year.

What’s On Melbourne – South / South-east / Bayside

Featured Event

• Sesame Street: Elmo’s Circus Dream Frankston (Wed 20 Sep – Fri 22 Sep) – Enjoy fantastic acts, catchy songs, and heartwarming moments, all starting with Elmo’s captivating bedtime story about the circus.

• Dreamweaver at Chadstone (Fri 15 Sep – Sun 1 Oct) – Enjoy a line-up of free entertainment from 15 September to 1 October, and discover an immersive wonderland of digital art, illusion and performance.
• Springtime Screamtime at Luna Park (Sat 16 Sep – Sun 1 Oct) – Bring the kids and your loudest outside voices, it’s time to be flung, thrown, twisted and shaken all about this Spring at Luna Park.
• LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre introduces LEGO® DreamZzz™ and the NEW & EXCLUSIVE 4D Movie ‘Z-Blob Rescue Rush’ (Sun 16 Sep) – Over the school holidays, families will be transported to the captivating Dream World to accompany Mateo, Izzie, and Z-Blob on an exhilarating journey to save the realm from darkness before capturing a magical photo with Mateo, Izzie, and Z-Blob.
• Greater Dandenong Children’s Festival (Sat 16 Sep – Sun 1 Oct) – A calendar of events to provide an opportunity for children and families to actively engage and participate in activities throughout the municipality.
• Doveton Show (Sun 17 Sep) – Have great family fun with animals, shows, rides and more while supporting local businesses, community groups, performing arts, sporting clubs and arts & crafts.
• Little Day Out (Sun 17 Sep) – Get ready for a soaring adventure as Little Day Out returns with the theme ‘Up in the Sky’!

• Deckchair Movies 2023 (Mon 18 Sep) – As part of Greater Dandenong Children’s Festival, Deckchair Movies has returned for 2023.
• Kaleidoscope – School holiday arts program (Mon 18 Sep – Fri 22 Sep) – Kaleidoscope is a school holiday arts program from Kingston Arts, inspiring young minds with interactive workshops fostering creativity, experimentation, and artistic expression.
• Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator Games (Mon 18 Sep – -Wed 27 Sep) – Showcase your 80s arcade gaming prowess to your loved ones as the games come to life on the Outdoor Screen.
• Spring School Holidays – Physical Theatre Week (Mon 18 Sep – Fri 22 Sep) – During an engaging five-day school holiday program, participants will dive into the world of Physical Theatre.
• Como House School Holiday Program (Tue 19 Sep – Thu 25 Jan 2024) – The National Trust is offering a special program for kids! Travel back in time and experience the life of a child at Como House. Have fun with traditional games, tea parties on the lawn, and scavenger hunts in the beautiful grounds.
• Super Stars Cricket Camp Pakenham, Frankston, Casey (Tue 19 Sep – Thu 22 Sep) – Experience a day filled with excitement as you participate in fully supervised cricket-based activities and games designed to enhance your skills and make you shine like a star!
• Art from Nature Workshops (Wed 20 Sep – Thu 28 Sep) – Join in free workshops where families can create nature-inspired art. Get creative with native plants, feathers, and gum nuts to make cards and mobiles. It’s a drop-in event for all ages to enjoy.
• Kids Sports Day (Wed 20 Sep) – Join in the fun dressed in your team’s colours, or as your favourite sports person at our annual Kids Sports Day.
• 360 Allstars: Performance & Workshops (Wed 20 Sep) – Get ready for the international hit sensation 360 ALL STARS! Featuring BMX, basketball, breakdancing, acrobatics, drumming, and more.
• Drop-In Workshop: Cuddly Creatures (Thu 21 Sep) – Due to high demand, visit Bunjil Place during September school holidays to craft your own adorable stuffed animal.
• Captain Jack’s Pirate Party – Rippon Lea Estate (Thu 21 Sep – Sat 30 Oct) – Step into the world of wild Caribbean pirates, hear their life tales on the open seas, and witness their daring battles for treasure and adventure.
• Whalebone (Thu 21 Sep) – Step into the Depository, a curious place of old items and forgotten tales. A whimsical worker uses extraordinary machines to gather stories from discarded objects, preserving them in the enchanting ‘mother of stories.’ Telling a tale full of magic and action, Whalebone is funny, intriguing and touching. It opens the door to a fantastical world where the future of humanity is under scrutiny.
• 400 Gradi Masterclass – Eastland (Thu 21 Sep & Thu 28 Sep) – 400 Gradi is bringing back its Kids Masterclasses to Melbourne this September. Bring the kids and learn how to make the best pizza in Australia!
• Big Bandicoot Backyard (Fri 22 Sep – Sun 24 Sep) – Children will love arts and science activities, Southern Brown Bandicoot inspired theatre performances, interactive guided walks and the giant bandicoot sculpture!
• 400 Gradi Masterclass – Mornington (Fri 22 Sep & Fri 29 Sep) – 400 Gradi is bringing back its Kids Masterclasses to Melbourne this September. Bring the kids and learn how to make the best pizza in Australia!
• The Resilience Project with Martin Heppell – 3 Happy Tricks (Fri 22 Sep) – The Resilience Project is addressing children’s mental health through an energetic kids’ show tour in Victoria this September. The 3 Happy Tricks tour, their largest yet, will be coming to Dandenong during the Term 3 school holidays.

• Funky Farm at McClelland (Fri 22 Sep – Fri 29 Sep) – Experience an up-close encounter with Australia’s native creatures: reptiles, mammals, birds, and perhaps even a crocodile! Enjoy a family-friendly school holidays experience.
• Hidden Creatures Gallery Hunt (Sat 23 Sep – Thu 28 Sep) – Embark on an exciting digital treasure hunt with Arena Theatre Company! Join the adventure to find animated creatures using your smart device and Arena’s free app.
• Emma Memma – Twirly Tour (Sun 24 Sep) – Empower the next generation with dance, sign language, and music. Join Emma Memma’s Twirly Tour for a delightful experience focused on visual communication, creativity, inclusiveness, and friendship.
• National Steam Centre (Sun 24 Sep) – The museum engines are fired up and can be seen running on the last Sunday of each month. Read the National Steam Centre review.
• Brave Young Artists (Mon 25 Sep – Fri 29 Sep) – Discover the art world, try being an artist, make your own art, learn about curating, and set up an art show. In five days, you’ll explore different art styles, meet artists and curators, and find out how art galleries work.
• School Holiday Clay Workshop: Dynamic Dancers (Tue 26 Sep – Thu 28 Sep) – Looking for a creative School Holidays activity? Unleash your child’s imagination in a hands-on clay workshop for ages 6+. Join for two mornings of experimental learning fun.
• Bon Appetit by Petit Circus (Thu 28 Sep) – Enjoy a delightful three-person circus show packed with incredible feats and lots of laughs. Engaging for kids and adults alike, this performance features amazing acrobatics and fun silliness, perfect for ages 3+ and the young at heart.
• Australian Musical Theatre Academy – (Fri 29 Sep – Sun 1 Oct) – This 3-day workshop will tour Australia during the Sept/Oct school holidays. Each day will run from 9:30am – 6:00pm and is open to all young performers, but it is best suited for those aged 8 to 18.
• School Holiday Programs – Activate By Hardrock (ongoing) – School Holiday Programs are all about providing fun and engaging activities that will make these school holidays the “best school holidays ever!” as heard it said many, many times!
• Circus Royale (ongoing) – see awe-inspiring acts, and pulse-pounding performances, mystic illusions, breathtaking feats, and moments of wonder! Don’t miss this experience of a lifetime.
• Sonica Botanica: Stories and Sounds from the Gardens (Until Sun 31 Dec) – Weaving together interviews, field recordings and a musical score, this evocative listening experience responds to collectors’ passions, botanical knowledge, favourite memories, childhood impressions, historical anecdotes and cultural viewpoints
• Seek and Find Nature Cards (Until Sun 31 Dec) Set your young ones on an adventure exploring nature with our Seek and Find Nature Cards to be used at Melbourne Gardens or download the cards and go exploring in your own neighbourhood.
• Young at Art Mornington Peninsula Art Gallery (Tuesdays) – program for 0-5 year olds. Sing, dance, clap and stomp your feet with Matteo! Do an exciting activity with the Education Coordinator afterwards.
• Prahran Market Mini Marketeers (Every Tuesday) – Enjoy free, guided activities teaching toddlers the fundamentals of eating well and putting the ‘yum’ in healthy food choices.
• Gasworks Farmers’ Market (Third Saturday of every month until Fri15 Dec) – On Saturdays soak up the vibrant atmosphere and sample the very best of local Victorian produce, directly from Victorian farmers and specialty makers.
• Mornington Railway (Sundays) – Climb aboard the Mornington Railway steam train for a fun-filled outing.
• Bentleigh Sunday Market (Sundays) – plants, clothing, cosmetics, jewellery, books, videos, tools, antiques, crafts, pre-loved goods, and more! Every Sunday. 
• Camberwell Sunday Market (Every Sunday) – second-hand retro, vintage, antique, fashion and collectible goods you just can’t find anywhere else
• Australian Landscape Walk (Until Sun 31 Dec) – Join a Garden Ambassador as they guide you on a walking tour to showcase the features and highlights of the Australian Garden.

What’s On Melbourne – East

• Healing (Wed 13 Sep – Sat 28 Oct) – ‘Healing’ is a community exhibition featuring four artists who explore the human psyche and how art making can benefit physical disabilities and mental health.
• Boathouse Kids (Sat 16 Sep – Sat 30 Sep) – Explore the world with Mini Explorers – it helps kids learn through nature crafts. Boathouse Kids has longer holiday activities, from pizza classes to artist workshops, for your little one’s fun this September.
• Tesselaar Tulip Festival (Sat 16 Sep –  Sun 15 Oct) – tulip fields, live entertainment, market stalls and tempting foods. Read the Tesselaar Tulip Festival review.
• Blossom Festival (Sat 16 Sep – Sun 1 Oct) – Celebrate spring at one of the most beautiful displays of cherry blossom in Melbourne! Enjoy Live music, yard games, workshops, food trucks and more! Read the Blossom Festival review
• I’m A Driver! (Sat 15 Sep, Sun 16 Sep, Sat 30 Sep, Sun 1 Oct) – Celebrate the Heritage Week theme of transport at Schwerkolt Museum on weekends this school holidays. Read the history clues and choose your transport to complete the activity sheet!

• Super Stars Cricket Camp Croydon (Mon 18 Sep) – Experience a day filled with excitement as you participate in fully supervised cricket-based activities and games designed to enhance your skills and make you shine like a star!
• Family fun at Eastland’s footy finals extravaganza (Mon 18 Sep – Sun 1 Oct) – A free celebration inviting families to explore the wide world of football. Step into the shoes of your favourite sports professionals across the football industry.
• September School Holidays: Winged Wonders (Mon 18 Sep – Fri 22 Sep) – Create memorable school holidays with butterfly-themed activities. Enjoy free fun suitable for kids of all ages!
• Arts Manningham School Holidays (Mon 18 Sep – Sat 30 Sep) – creative classes including painting, clay work, pottery, comic drawing and more!
• Ninja Parc School Holiday Program (Mon 18 Sep – Fri 29 Sep) – plenty of running, climbing and balancing activities to keep your kids moving and having fun during the holidays.
• Maroondah Leisure School Holidays (Mon 18 Sep – Fri 29 Sep) – Experience a wide variety of holiday programs at The Rings and Maroondah Nets, catering to children aged 5 to 14.
• Wyreena School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Tue 19 Sep – Thu 28 Sep) – full day of drop-off magic school for 5-12 yo, with different daily themes.
• Heide Museum of Modern Art School Holidays (Tue 19 Sep – Thu 28 Sep) – various creative workshops for kids.

• Pet Portraits (Thu 21 Sept) – Create a portrait of your furry or feathered friend in this fun art class! BYO photo of your pet. Create a portrait of your furry or feathered friend in this fun art class! BYO photo of your pet.
• Box Hill Montessori Academy 3rd Birthday Open Day (Sat 23 Sep) – Celebrate Box Hill Montessori Academy’s 3rd birthday with us at our Family Fun Day! Enjoy a BBQ, face painting, balloon twisting, and more!
• Cherry Blossom Show (Sat 23 Sep – Sun 1 Oct) – Spend a spring day surrounded by spectacular cherry blossoms. Cherry blossom only lasts a short time, so make sure you don’t miss this stunning show of flowers.

• Hamlet: Prince of Skidmark (Tue 26 Sept) – A very cheeky, very clever, utterly irreverent riff on Hamlet – made especially for children by kids’ entertainment stars, The Listies, at Whitehorse’s new performing arts centre, The Round.
• 2023 AFL Footy Festival (Wed 27 Sep – Sat 30 Sep) – Footy Festival is back this September and bigger than ever before for four days! Free for the whole family and perfect for school holiday adventures!

• Yarra Valley Railway (Every Sun) – take a trip on the historic Walker RM22 Railmotor from Healesville to Tunnel Hill. Read the Yarra Valley Review.
• Auburn Kids Sunday Funday (Sundays) – Let the kids roam with the barnyard animals at the FREE petting zoo while you enjoy a Sunday Roast! What could be better! 
• Mooroolbark Miniature Railway (Runs 4th Sunday each month) – miniature rail running every 4th Sunday.
• Belgrave Big Dreams Market (Until Thu 21 Dec) – discover original and bespoke design pieces, some of the yummiest and freshest produce the area has to offer, live music, bouncy castle and face painting  for the kids.

What’s on Melbourne – West

Featured Events

• Scienceworks School Holiday Program (Sat 16 Sep – Sun 1 Oct) – These spring school holidays, Scienceworks is delving into the engineering of structures and building a cardboard city. Prepare for a variety of fun and educational holiday programs, including exclusive new shows in the Melbourne Planetarium.
• Elmo’s Circus Dream – Sesame Street Live – Palais Geelong (Sun 24 Sep – Wed 27 Sep) – This exciting show will take you on a magical journey alongside Elmo and his friends as they uncover their special talents and dreams under the circus tent.
• Sesame Street Elmo’s Circus Dream Clocktower Centre (Thu 28 Sep – Sun 1 Oct) – Get ready for Elmo’s Circus Dream! Join Elmo and pals on a magical circus adventure, exploring talents and dreams under the big top. The journey starts with Elmo’s bedtime tale, transporting him to a vibrant world where he meets Abby, Cookie Monster, Grover, Bert, and Ernie.

• DinoFest Melbourne – Age of the Tyrannosaur (Sat 9 Sep – Sun 17 Sep) – During these school holidays, we welcome you to travel back 66 million years to a time when dinosaurs ruled the planet! Explore the fascinating journey of how Tyrannosaurs transformed from small creatures to become the fearsome predators they are known for
• Melbourne Water Presents Super Sewage: Choose Your Own Adventure (Sat 16 Sep – Sat 1 Oct) – The ‘Super Sewage’ activation at Scienceworks will provide an educational and entertaining experience for children, allowing them to learn about the importance of sewerage systems.
• Dragons at Kryal Castle (Sat 16 – Sun 1 Oct) – Kryal Castle is welcoming home its dragons these school holidays visitors can step into a medieval land and get up close with the fiery creatures.
• Emma Memma’s Twirly Tour Geelong (Sun 17 Sep) – Emma Memma, along with her friends Elvin Melvin, BB Butterfly, and Waffles The Wombat, will be travelling around Victoria in her Butterfly Bus this September, spreading joy and excitement along the way!
• Active Holidays – active fun for kids (Mon 18 Sep – Fri 22 Sep) – Wyndham City collaborates with community groups to offer a free and exciting Active Holidays program during every school break for children and teenagers aged 4 to 18.
• School Holiday Workshops: Superstars (Tue 19 Sep – Fri 22 Sep) – The School Holiday Arts Program is back with an exciting artist lineup and activities for kids aged 6-12. Week 1 is dedicated to young SUPERSTARS, focusing on performing arts. Sign up for all four days or choose single-day tickets.
• 400 Gradi Masterclass – Essendon (Tue 19 Sep & Tue 26 Sep) – 400 Gradi is bringing back its Kids Masterclasses to Melbourne this September. Bring the kids and learn how to make the best pizza in Australia!

• LaManna x Slime by Sienna, Make your own fluffy slime (Wed 20 Sep – Fri 22 Sep) – Slime by Sienna is coming to LaManna Supermarket in Essendon Fields from Wed 20th to Fri 22nd September to host 30-minute interactive make-your-own fluffy slime workshops.
• Great Kids Gymnastics Holiday Fun (Thu 21 Sep, Fri 22 Sep, Mon 25 Sep & Thu 28 Sep) – Full-day clinics featuring trampolining, tumbling, circus, games, arts, and crafts. Led by qualified acrobatic coaches for a structured experience.
• Play in the Parklet: Kids Open Mic (Fri 22 Sep – Sat 23 Sep) – Participate in the Artists for Kids Culture artsbus event featuring musician Geoffrey Williams, as you engage in Music Play at Hoppers Junction!
• Youth Fest (Fri 22 Sep) – Get ready for heaps of fun! There’ll be food trucks, live music, stalls, henna, games, crafts and more at our Youth Fest!
• Emma Memma’s Twirly Tour – NSW + VIC (Sat 23 Sep) – Emma Memma, along with her friends Elvin Melvin, BB Butterfly, and Waffles The Wombat, will be traveling around Victoria and New South Wales in her Butterfly Bus this September, spreading joy and excitement along the way!
• School Holiday Workshops: Extreme Arts (Tue 26 Sep – Thu 28 Sep) – The Extreme Arts program spans three days, during which children engage in three workshops led by professional artists and assistant teachers. Workshops are age-grouped to provide well-supported creative exploration and expression for every child.

• School Holiday Fun at LaManna (Wed 27 Sep – Fri 29 Sep) – Join Fizz Kidz for some school holiday fun at LaManna this September! They will be hosting AFL-themed craft activities.
• Whalebone (Wed 27 Sep) – Whalebone is a funny, intriguing and touching show from award-winning performer Jens Altheimer, presented through Hobsons Bay City Council’s Arts at Your Doorstep program.
• RecWest Braybrook’s School Holiday Sport Program (Mon – Fri until mid-September) – School holiday sports program for primary school children, packed with activities to spark curiosity, boost physical activity, and explore new interests with friends and energetic leaders.
• Inspiring Minds Studio (Until 15 Dec) – Fun school holiday programs for kids from 3 – 8 years old which enable them to imagine, create and be inspired while having a blast!
• Yarraville Village Farmers Market (1st & 3rd Saturday of Each Month) – enjoy a wonderful, relaxed community environment, and sample the freshest products direct from the farmers and producers as you shop in the open.
• Bulla Railway (3rd Sunday of each month) – Ride the dinosaur trail on the miniature railway. Bulla Railway Review.

• Altona Miniature Railway (3rd Sunday of the month) – between 10am and 3pm ride this wonderful Miniature Railway. Altona Miniature Railway review.
• Grazeland (Fridays – Sundays) – huge dining precinct with city views and 50 stalls to choose from. Read the Grazeland Review
• Essendon Traffic School (Ongoing) – Essendon Traffic School is a mini road set up for kids aged two to ten years, complete with road signs, railway bells and traffic lights. Essendon Traffic School review.
• Sunday Funday Station Hotel (Sundays) – Every Sunday, the Station Hotel prepares an animal farm and other entertaining activities to keep the little ones busy while you sit back and relax. Station Hotel Review

• The Funderdome (daily) – This awesome arcade venue is now open at Highpoint and its the perfect place to enjoy mini golf, arcade games, karaoke and more during the spring school holiday! Read the Funderdome review.
• Little Big Art (Mon 18 Sep – Fri 29 Sep) – keep your child entertained with fun, colourful and creative art classes, parties, events and much more for little to big artists.
• Enterprize Sail Williamstown (usually sails the first & third Sunday of every month) – go for a one-hour sail on tall ship Enterprize in Williamstown.

What’s On Melbourne – Various Locations

Here are some programs which are happening in various places throughout Melbourne and Victoria – search for your nearest location.

Also check out what’s happening at your local library and/or community centre, as they often run free or low-cost events and activities during school holidays.

• Junior Rangers (Sat 16 Sep – Sun 1 Oct) – Participate in activities that encourage kids to explore Victoria’s amazing parks!
• Bunnings D.I.Y Kids Workshop – Get your kids to build their own crate for free in stores where they’ll be rewarded with a ‘License To D.I.Y’ certificate once their masterpiece is complete!
• YMCA School Holiday Programs (Sat 16 Sep – Sun 1 Oct) – Explore YMCA’s school holiday programs for kids with fun-filled activities for children.

What’s On September 2023

What’s On September 2023 – FREE

Free Events for Spring School Holiday in Melbourne

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase using the links there is no extra cost to you and we earn a small commission that helps us to continue to provide valuable and useful information for you.