Nature-based wellbeing: Nature Dough children's workshop (external site)

Adelaide Botanic Garden | 13 July

Get hands-on with nature in this sensory-rich workshop where children create their own ‘nature dough’ using natural colours, scents and textures from plants gathered from the Adelaide Botanic Garden. Young creators can take their dough home for further play or use moulds to make ornaments. Recommended for ages 5+.

SA Police Road Safety Centre (external site)

West Beach Parks Precinct | Until 17 July

Enjoy a day of outdoor fun while the kids build life skills at the SA Police Road Safety Centre. Designed for schools, students, teachers and parents, this free holiday program is delivered at the Road Safety Centre in the West Beach Parks Precinct. The sessions will be guided by road safety educators who bring their expertise and lived experience as police officers. When you’re done, explore the other activities nearby. West Beach Adventure and West Beach Mini Golf are just around the corner, and if you’d prefer to keep the fun rolling on wheels, the West Beach Parks Skate and BMX Park is free to enjoy.

State Library of South Australia (external site)

Adelaide | Various events | 4 - 19 July

• Pull Pop Play: (external site) Families are invited to get hands-on with a series of playful programs inspired by the magic of pop‑up art. Create your own butterfly pop‑up bookmark, craft a charming animal‑themed pop‑up greeting card and then settle into our cosy reading nook to explore a delightful selection of pop‑up books. Whether you’re snipping, folding, or simply turning the page, there’s something to spark every imagination.
• Character Spinners: (external site) Create quirky cartoon characters in this fun paper engineering workshop with artist Ruby Chew. Children will design a spinning artwork that mixes and matches heads, bodies and legs to invent surprising new characters while exploring drawing, expression and character design. Suitable for ages 8–12. All materials supplied. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
• Fantastical Face Paper Sculpture (external site): Let creativity pop in this hands-on paper art workshop inspired by the Pop Pull Push exhibition. Children will learn simple paper sculpting techniques to transform ordinary sheets into a fantastical 3D paper face. Suitable for ages 8–12. Free event. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
• See more State Library of South Australia school holiday activities here. (external site)

Illuminate Adelaide (external site)

Adelaide | 1 July – 19 July

Experience Adelaide’s annual winter celebration of light, art, colour, music and technology at Illuminate Adelaide.  Choose from a variety of events and explore the celebration from its hidden gems to its grand displays. There’s something on offer for everyone, with a program that includes some free events and installations designed to be enjoyed by people of diverse age, interests and support needs. Whether it’s your first time attending, or you can’t wait to see what’s new this year, Illuminate is bound to delight.

Illuminate Adelaide – Night Visions (external site)

Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium | 1 July – 19 July

Enter a world of spellbinding possibility and see the Adelaide Botanic Garden transformed by cutting-edge light, lasers, projection and sound with Night Visions, by Illuminate Adelaide. Walk through the garden on a journey of sensory exploration that reimagines the beauty of nature. Families with children over 4 can also enjoy the collective vision of local and international artists as part of a unique dining experience at Botanic Lodge.

Libraries SA: Firstival (external site)

Various location | 1 July – 31 July

Dive into something new with Firstival. Whether you’ve been waiting for an opportunity to finally start that new hobby, or you’d like to try something totally unfamiliar, Firstival’s diverse program has something for everyone. Almost all events are free to attend, and you can book using your Libraries SA membership - which is also free to join. Events are hosted across South Australia throughout July. So, wherever you are, whatever your schedule, consider: is it time to do something for the first time?

Ancient Animals School Holidays (external site)

Adelaide Zoo | 6 July – 19 July

Step back in time and uncover the connections between Earth’s prehistoric creatures and the animals that share our world today. Adelaide Zoo’s Ancient Animals program is included with any general admission during the school holidays. You’ll be invited to explore the similarities between brachiosaurus and giraffes, sabre-tooth cats and Sumatran tigers and see the path of evolution that travels from ancient fauna all the way to the animals that call Adelaide Zoo home.

July School Holidays at the Museum (external site)

South Australian Museum | 4 July – 19 July

Get hands-on at the SA Museum and explore the range of exciting activities on offer. Create your own poster and learn about the power of posters in a NAIDOC Week workshop lead by Museum researcher Jacinta Koolmatrie, or spend time with mineralogy staff learning how to create a scientific mineral sketch. You can also explore the 2026 Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize Exhibition to see science and art come together. For a more self-paced day out, people of all ages can visit the Discovery Centre on Level 1. Entry to the Discovery Centre is free and you’ll have the opportunity to explore natural wonders like insects, fossils, meteorites and even a beehive.

William Morris Winter Wonderland (external site)

Carrick Hill | 9 July – 26 July

See Carrick Hill transformed in an immersive nighttime celebration of art, light and imagination. Wander through glowing gardens where William Morris’s designs bloom in a series of visual chapters mapped to the architecture of Carrick Hill’s historic house. The evening is accompanied by a soundtrack recorded by the Adelaide Youth Orchestra, and you’ll hear Morris’s poetry brought to life by acclaimed South Australian actor Tilda Cobham-Hervey. As you explore, you can enjoy cosy winter treats including mulled wine, hot cinnamon donuts and seasonal soups, with family-friendly options also available for children.

School holidays with the Australian Space Discovery Centre (external site)

Lot Fourteen | 1 July – 18 July

Have an out-of-this world school holiday experience at the Australian Space Discovery Centre. With a lineup including in-person and online activities, and events designed for children across all ages, there’s something for every burgeoning space explorer. Join a space mission, come for a drop-in craft activity or have your portrait drawn by a robot and more. Entry is free and you can register interest for activities online.

The Kids Kitchen (external site)

TAFE SA, Regency International Centre & Mount Gambier | 6 July – 19 July

Inspire your budding chef with the TAFE SA Kids Kitchen these school holidays. TAFE SA are delivering an opportunity for children to learn alongside professional chefs in a commercial kitchen environment where all ingredients are provided. Sessions are offered for children of all ages, so you can find a class that caters your future gourmand wherever they’re at in their culinary journey.

The Studio: Make an Impression (external site)

Art Gallery of South Australia | 4 July – 8 November

You are invited to slow down and lose yourself inside a painting. Come and see the works of South Australian artists Arlon Hall and Billie Justice Thomson in a display inspired by Monet to Matisse: Defying Tradition. This all-ages event asks you to take your time and experience an iteration of the Studio that explores the fundamentals of art through hands-on experimentation.

For more events, make sure to check out your council website for what's on in your neighbourhood.