It’s family Festival season these school holidays in Sydney. As a result, our stages are overflowing with opportunities for the Spring holidays. See what’s on across stages and other arts offerings for an artsy break.
Festival Season!
Wild Things International Kids Festival – Sydney Opera House
This spring school holidays, Sydney Opera House will transform into a creative wonderland for kids and their families with the inaugural Wild Things International Kids Festival. Across 16 days, leading companies from Europe, North America, the United Kingdom, Asia and Australia will illustrate the breadth and artistic ingenuity of performance-making for young people aged 0-14 – and the young at heart. Full schedule here. Stage performances include:
ZOOOM
Award-winning theatre-makers Patch Theatre return with an imaginary adventure through the universe inspired by Crockett Johnson’s beloved children’s book Harold and The Purple Crayon.
When: 26-29 September
Where: Playhouse
Age range: 4+
Tickets: $35 – $45
We Come From Far, Far Away
Abdallah comes from Syria. He wants to tell you some things about life, boats, tents, trains, McDonalds … and death. Based on the real journeys of young refugees, brought to life inside a Mongolian yurt.
When: 3-7 October
Where: Studio
Age range: 10+
Tickets: $49
Tinker Tales!
An energetic building site where three performers dance, build, create and repair vast contraptions before everything goes haywire!
When: 3-5 October
Where: Playhouse
Age range: 6+
Tickets: $39 – $49
Grand Soft Day
Three friends on an adventure in the woods, where the weather keeps disrupting their plans. Mainly wordless, the performance is brought to life by a live percussive soundtrack and snippets of English, Irish and Italian.
When: 8-11 October
Where: Playhouse
Age range: 2-6
Tickets: $39 – $49
Handa’s Surprise
Seven delicious fruits. Seven very cheeky animals. What could go wrong? A Kenyan puppet safari based on Eileen Browne’s bestseller brought to life through physical performance, live music and song from North London theatre institution Little Angel Theatre.
When:28 September – 2 October
Where: Utzon Room
Age range: 2-5
Tickets: $35
Waiting!
This aquatic, multi-award-winning production from Korean theatre company Haddangse is performed lying down, bringing a magical deep-sea adventure to life.
When:30 September – 2 October
Where: Studio
Age range: 3+
Tickets: $40 – $45
The Longest Nights
A white rhinoceros and a penguin find an unlikely friendship during one very long night. From the acclaimed Ipkoason, a heartwarming bilingual pansori adventure based on the award-winning Korean children’s book by Luly.
When:30 September – 2 October
Where: Studio
Age range: 7+
Tickets: $40 – $45
Cookies, Ann, Cream
An adventure through Antarctica and the cosmos told through puppetry, shadow and light from Trunk Theatre Project.
When:8 – 9 October
Where: Centre for Creativity
Age range: 10+
Tickets: $35
You’ll See…
Ulysses for children? Yes. Yes, Ulysses for children. James Joyce’s epic novel, set across a single day in Dublin, comes to life for young audiences in this inventive new show. From esteemed Irish company Branar, You’ll See… combines live performance, intricate paper design and an original score in a piece of theatre that will excite both young and old.
When:10 October
Where: Centre for Creativity
Age range: All ages
Spot On Children’s Festival – Riverside Theatres, Parramatta
These Spring school holidays, two beloved favourites leap off the screen and page onto the stage for Riverside’s annual Spot On Children’s Festival 2026, taking over Riverside Theatres in Parramatta from 25 September – 10 October. With live shows and free interactive activities, there is something for the whole family to enjoy. Lineup includes:
Bluey’s Big Play
Join the Heelers as they pull out all the games, tricks and cleverness they can muster to get Dad off that bean bag! Experience Bluey’s first live theatre show, brought to life with brilliantly crafted puppets. It’s Bluey like you’ve never seen it before – live, playful and full of heart.
When: 25 September – 10 October
Where: Riverside Theatres – Corner of Church and Market Streets, Parramatta
Recommended Age: 3 – 7
Tickets: From $59.90
Where is the Green Sheep?
Blending puppetry and animation, the show invites young audiences to join three farmers on their quest to find the elusive green sheep. Along the way, we meet Blue Sheep, who loves blue flowers; Red Sheep, who cartwheels through the fields; Bath Sheep, who adores bubbles; and Bed Sheep, who loves to bounce. But where IS that Green Sheep? Read our review of Where is the Green Sheep here.
When: 7 – 10 October
Where: Riverside Theatres – Corner of Church and Market Streets, Parramatta
Age Recommendation: Ages 1-6
Tickets: From $32
Sydney Fringe – Fringe Kids
Looking for an easy, affordable day out with the kids? Fringe Kids is your go-to destination for family-friendly fun at Sydney Fringe Festival. It’s packed with wacky, whimsical, and wonderfully accessible shows for children of all ages (and their grown-ups too!). Events take place at the home of fun, The Entertainment Quarter, And with tickets starting from just $12, Fringe Kids is proof that magical memories don’t need to come with a hefty price tag. Find the full schedule here. A few highlights include:
The Flying Bubble Show
Expect giant rainbow spheres, smoke-filled galaxies, and iridescent bubbles that feel alive, all set against dazzling lightscapes and soaring movement with a beautiful soundtrack. Joyful, calming, and unforgettable — this is bubble art as you’ve never seen it before.
When: 12 September – 11 October
Where: Entertainment Quarter
Tickets: $35
Typo
A contemporary circus show for all ages, following the journey of a writer as they delve into the writing process. Typo is an homage to the joys of being creative, determined, and the satisfaction of seeing a project and a dream through to the end.
The mind of the writer is projected to the stage, embodied by acrobats as they develop as characters within the writer’s world, giving the audience a unique and fun insight into the highs and lows of creating. Follow the writer on a journey of imagination, creativity, and dreams, experience the challenges of writing as they do, battling writer’s block, procrastination, plot holes, and far too much coffee, and emerge on the other side with a wholesome story and a sense of pride.
This show features a wide array of circus skills, everything from acrobatics, juggling, balance, object manipulation, trapeze, and even magic! It’s suited to a family audience, with nuance and metaphor for older viewers, impressive skills and comedy for younger viewers, and a quirky fairytale that everyone can relate to.
When: 11 September – 11 October
Where: Entertainment Quarter
Tickets: $35
Mr Snotbottom’s Stinky Silly Show
The Prince of Putrid, The Willy Wonky of Weird! He’s Mr Snot bottom! A hilariously deeeesgusting kids comedian brimming with all the oooey, gooey, yucky things kids love! Like a cross between Shrek and Mr Bean, you can expect snot-loads of gross-tastic gags, slimy songs and just wrong routines perfect for weird kids 5 and up and their even weirder parents!
When: 1 – 3 October
Where: Darling Quarter Theatre
Tickets: $22 – $25
More on Stage
Erth’s Shark Dive and Shipwreck Oddyssey
Erth’s Shark Dive: The whole family is invited on an unforgettable journey below the surface with Erth’s Shark Dive: Live on Stage, a thrilling theatrical experience that will change the way you see sharks and the oceans they call home. Through exquisite life-sized puppetry, interactive staging, humour, audience participation and powerful storytelling, the production takes families on a journey through the history of our oceans, from prehistory to the present day. The story follows a young girl named Salt, whose encounter with an injured baby shark sparks an unexpected friendship. Salt, now as an enigmatic shark enthusiast guides audiences as they come face-to-face with Australia’s sharks, prehistoric ocean dwellers and mysterious deep-sea-life.
Where: Carriageworks
When: 26 September – 3 October
Tickets: $25
Also on at Carriageworks is Shipwreck Oddyssey: The whole family is invited to dive beneath the waves for a fantastical marine adventure from Box of Birds (Space Play, Creature), blending cutting-edge technology with soulful storytelling to bring the ocean to life. Led by the ghost ship Jenny Lind, one of Australia’s most famous shipwrecks, journey beneath the turquoise waters and coral cays of Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef to dance with stingrays, bask with whales and drift through shimmering vistas of plankton in a mesmerising encounter with the wild wonders and mysteries of the ocean. (Weekdays free, $5 tickets on the weekend)
Tinkerbell and the Dream Fairies
Created especially for children aged two and over, this enchanting outdoor production invites families into the magical fairy world of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, where the adventurous Tinkerbell meets some very special new friends – cheeky Mustardseed, fluttery Moth, daring Cobweb and sweet Peaseblossom.
When: Saturday 26 September – Sunday 11 October
Where: Royal Botanic Garden
Recommended Age: 2+
Tickets: $25 – $30
Season Squad
Welcome to Calendar Grove, where Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter come to life. Sunny, Blaze, Bloom and Chill are the guardians of the seasons, working together to keep the world in balance — until fun-loving Sunny convinces the others to make summer last forever. It seems like the perfect idea, until the seasons begin to lose their magic and Calendar Grove starts to unravel. Packed with pop anthems, spectacular dance and plenty of laughs, Season Squad is a heartwarming musical about friendship, teamwork and discovering that our differences make us stronger.
Recommended Age: 4+
Season:
Pioneer Theatre (Castle Hill) – 29 September – 3 October
The Joan (Penrith) – 6 – 7 October
Zenith Theatre (Chatswood) – 8 – 9 October
Dog Man: The Musical
With the head of a dog and the body of a policeman, Dog Man loves to fight crime and chew on the furniture. But while trying his best to be a good boy, can he save the city from Flippy the cyborg fish and his army of Beasty Buildings? Can he catch Petey, the world’s most evil cat, who has cloned himself to exact revenge on the doggy do-gooder? And will George and Harold finish their show before lunchtime?? Find out in this epic musical adventure featuring the hilarity and heart of Dav Pilkey’s beloved characters.
Where: Seymour Centre
When: 26 – 30 September
Recommended Age: 6+
Tickets: $39 – $56
The Gruffalo’s Child
Join the Gruffalo’s Child on her adventurous mission in this magical musical adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s much-loved picture book. One wild and windy night the Gruffalo’s Child ignores her father’s warnings about the Big Bad Mouse and tiptoes out into the deep dark wood. After all, the Big Bad Mouse doesn’t really exist… does he?
Where: Seymour Centre
When: 3 – 4 October
Recommended Age: 3+
Tickets: $39 – $49
The Listies: This Showis a Joke
This Show is a Joke! is a one-hour explosion of slapstick, songs, chaos and ridiculous gags. Hot off their latest joke books, Matt and Rich mix fan favourites with ridiculous new antics in a comedy free-for-all for kidults aged 5 to 5 million.
Where: Bondi Pavilion
When: 8 – 10 October
Tickets: $25
The Quizzical Mr Jeff
The Quizzical Mr Jeff is a versatile circus showman and magician renowned for his unique blend of object manipulation, whimsical illusions, and engaging humour. Globally renowned for redefining what’s possible with circus hoops, Mr Jeff brings 11 hoops to life in stunning mandalas and living geometry, mesmerising audiences with skill and precision in these never seen before circus tricks. Set to orchestral music with minimal spoken word, this show is a delightful mix of illusion, dazzling circus feats and mind-bending magic, inviting audiences of all ages to experience the enchanting world of The Quizzical Mr Jeff.
Where: Glen Street Theatre (Belrose)
When: 8 October
Tickets: $40
Club Flamingo
Sydney families are invited to slip on their sparkles, sequins and dancing shoes as Club Flamingo transforms The Grand Electric into Australia’s Family Nightclub Saturday afternoons from 5 September. Expect a resident DJ, incredible guest circus stars, a giant dance floor and spectacular live entertainment. Think dance-offs, confetti, bubbles, incredible circus acts and one giant dance floor where kids and their grown-ups are invited to join the action together.
Where: The Grand Electric
When: Saturdays from 5 September
Tickets: $52 – $60
Art Experiences
Art Gallery of NSW
Art Gallery of NSW is hosting a series of drop in and make workshops and guided tours for families.
Find the full schedule here. While you’re there, be sure to drop into the beautiful Children’s Library.
I See You Like This
How does your child see you? Become the subject of your child’s imagination with an artwork that uses your face as their canvas! Forget “Smile for the camera!”. In this playful art experience, kids become art directors, choosing props and transforming their parent’s face into a living canvas. A professional photographer captures the results – part-hilarious, part-moving, all unforgettable – forming an exhibition open to all. Click here for information on Studio Photography sessions (27 – 30 September), as well as attending the free exhibit based on the work created.
Where: Bondi Pavilion
At the Library
The State Library of NSW has several activities on for the crafty-bookish types.
A Night at the Library show
Bell Shakespeare takes audiences young and old on a magical journey of discovery exploring the many known and unknown spaces in the Library, its collection, and items from the weird to the wonderful. Along the way we meet literary greats, legendary explorers, real people and fictional creations for a madcap adventure of epic proportions. A video backdrop opens doors and invites the audience to explore all that lies hidden behind the scenes of the Library.
Where: State Library of NSW
When: 29 September – 1 October
Recommended Age: 8+
Tickets: $25
Drop In Centre: A Delicious Feast
Pop into our drop-in centre and investigate food-related art and craft — so playing with your food is allowed! Enjoy a range of activities including colouring, gluing, drawing and imaginative play activities. We have set up a play cafe for you to explore being a chef, waitstaff or a customer! You can also pick up the 200 Trail for Kids card and explore the whole Library. Suitable for all ages.
When: 6 – 9 October, 10a.m. – 3p.m.
Free, drop in
Check Your Local Library
Always check your local library for free and low cost offerings for families!
Happy artsploring, Sydney families!