Fire Gardens: Illuminate Adelaide | 4 – 21 July
In the heart of the city, the Adelaide Botanic Garden will be transformed into a night-time wonderland, with captivating fire pots, candlelit archways and live musical performances for all to enjoy. The event is part of the Illuminate Adelaide festival.
Storybook Trail | Available all holidays
Hidden among Carrick Hill's picturesque gardens is the Storybook Trail, which brings to life classic tales to encourage children to let their imaginations flow and discover the natural world. Discover nods to stories including Charlotte's Web, The Jungle Book, Wind in the Willows and many more. Make sure to check out the grand mansion while you're there.
Multiple events | 4 – 21 July
Illuminate Adelaide - a celebration of art, light, music and technology - returns this July. There are plenty of light shows and activations waiting to be explored, from Base Camp at Lot Fourteen, EDEN showcasing the unparalleled beauty of nature to the free City Lights event packed with installations and projections.
Multiple events & activities | 5 – 21 July
Brought to you by the team behind the much-loved Gluttony, the Glenelg Winter Arts Festival hits the Bay these school holidays, with a wide variety of exciting shows, fun workshops, and delicious food for the family to enjoy.
Events & workshops at multiple locations | 1 – 31 July
Visit your local library these school holidays and try something for the first time! Libraries across South Australia are holding a variety of workshops, events and activities to encourage both the old and young to try something new this July.
Superluminal: Combo Critters 11 & 16 July
Head to the South Australian Museum these school holidays and discover the science of light and colour at the Superluminal: Combo Critters hands-on workshop on July 11 and 16. Meanwhile, the museum is also hosting a sensory-friendly morning for all guests to enjoy, particularly for neurodiverse visitors and those with sensory sensitivities, on July 20.
Art Gallery of South Australia
Start at the Gallery: Ignite the Spirit | 7 July
Calling all art lovers! Time to get hands on at the Art Gallery of South Australia with a variety of workshops and activities with the Start at the Gallery: Ignite the Spirit program, which celebrates NAIDOC Week. There will also be music from First Nations performers and cultural sharing circles with Kumarninthi. Don'f forget to drop into The Studio, AGSA’s free, hands-on activities space for art lovers of all ages open daily.
Universal Kingdom: Prehistoric Nights | 4 – 21 July
Witness the evolution of the first creatures to crawl onto earth at the Universal Kingdom: Prehistoric Nights at the Adelaide Zoo - part of the Illuminate Festival. Featuring state-of-the-art puppetry, wander in a sea of floating biolumes and learn about the prehistoric times. Tickets are essential.
State Library of South Australia
Multiple events | Now – 31 August
Have a crafty experience and create your own plant or leaf using folding and cutting techniques such as weaving, pleating, curling, pinching and more on the Fantastic Foliage and Books family table and once finished, add it to the garden trellis, or explore a family adventure at the Disrupt, Persist, Invent exhibition.
Australian Space Discovery Centre
Multiple activities | 6 – 21 July
Explore the solar system, design rockets or learn about the best way to grow plants in space at the Australian Space Discovery Centre. They have a school holiday program full of free and fun events for all ages.
The Kids Kitchen | 9 July | Regency Park & Mount Gambier
Calling all budding chefs! Explore a world of culinary fun with Kids Kitchen at TAFE SA, where children can get involved with hands-on sessions, learning to make both sweet and savoury dishes. Taught and guided by professional chefs, book in now before classes fill up.
Multiple activities | 1 – 31 July
There are a range of sporting activities on offer these school holidays designed to get the kids moving, or they can try their hand at a new sport from calisthenics, BMX, football or mountain biking.
Council school holiday programs
Local governments across the state run school holiday programs. Below are some events on offer, but for more activities please check out your local council website.
School Holiday Activities | 10 – 19 July | Port Pirie Library
The Port Pirie Regional Council is offering an array of activities for young ones this school break, from making friendship bracelets, cuttlefish tooning (cartoons), reading with guinea pigs, VR gaming and many more.
School Holiday Activities on the Fleurieu | 7 – 21 July | Multiple locations
There is something for everyone on the Fleurieu Peninsula these school holidays. Enjoy activities including creating a fluffy penguin, test your balance with an inflatable wobble run or head down to the Yankalilla Library for some science craft activities.
Onkaparinga Youth School Holidays | 8 – 20 July | Multiple locations
The holiday fun starts with the Onkaparinga Youth School Holidays program where children can enjoy all things craft, a Christmas in July escape room, movies, DJing, art workshops and guess what? So much more.
The Barossa Council School Holidays | 8 – 19 July |Multiple locations
Fill in the school holidays with all things arts and crafts. From pom pom pet workshops, to creating botanical sun prints and making your own clay face, keep the children busy with these hand-on activities.
