With summer holidays approaching and Sydney taking tentative steps out of lockdown, events are back! Here are some family-friendly activities we think the kids will love (and the grown-ups secretly will too!).
Sky Castle at Darling Harbour (pictured at top)
This free, rainbow-inspired light and sound installation symbolises brightness after lockdown. A series of inflatable arches, it was designed by Australian multimedia artists eNess and first launched in Melbourne’s Federation Square in 2020 as a celebration of that city’s emergence from its third lockdown.
Move through the arches, watch the lights change and hear music build.
When: 10am to 10pm, until December 26
Where: Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour
Details: https://www.darlingharbour.com/whats-on/events/sky-castle
Also on: The Darling Harbour Christmas Festival will run for two weekends, 11 – 12 December and 18-19 December, 4pm to 9pm. Includes a Christmas concert hosted by Emma Palmer from Play School.
Sydney Festival is back!
Our city’s popular creative arts festival is back in 2022 with some exciting family-friendly events on the program. Head to the Botanic Gardens or Parramatta Park to picnic with the dinosaurs in a world premiere experience from Erth. Let the kids get creative with recycled paper at Carriageworks with interactive family show Fluffy by Artbomb Australia. And more!
When: January 6-30
Where: Venues across Sydney
Details: Visit here to find the family friendly events https://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/explore#state
How To Move a Zoo at Museum of Sydney
We don’t have a lot of information on this exhibition yet, but the IWM team were big fans of the Museum of Sydney’s immersive Enchanted Valley installation so our hopes are high. How To Move a Zoo is described as a “space of immersive projections” which re-create the sights and sounds of animals being re-located from the old Moore Park Zoo to the purpose-built Taronga Zoo in 1916. This six-month process saw an elephant, lions, kangaroos and more, transported through the streets of Sydney to their new homes. The exhibition will be interactive and feature old photographs as well as recently commissioned illustrations.
When: From November 20
Where: Museum of Sydney, corner Phillip and Bridge Streets, Sydney
Details: https://sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/exhibitions/how-move-zoo
Also on: Taronga Zoo welcomed five lion cubs earlier this year. The cubs are still young, but are visiting the lion enclosure with their mum Maya at certain points throughout the day.
Wind in the Willows in the Botanic Gardens
Pack a picnic and settle in for a theatrical re-telling of classic children’s story Wind In The Willows, back at the Botanic Gardens for its 20th year.
When: January 5 – 23
Where: Main Pond Lawn, The Royal Botanic Garden, Mrs Macquaries Rd, Sydney
Details: https://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/What-s-on/Wind-in-the-Willows
Also on: There’s great line-up of kids’ shows on at the Sydney Opera House over summer. In December, catch Grug or Bluey on stage. In January, Alison Lester’s captivating tale of Australian summer Magic Beach will be brought to life. Or see the world premiere of Scaredy Cat. Find out more here: https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/events/whats-on.html?genres=event-type:kids-and-families
Photo credit: Zhu Rui