10 Children’s Activities In Melbourne For December

If you are looking for Children’s Activities for 2009 please check my recent posts:

You wouldn’t currently guess it by our current weather patterns, but summer is approaching in Melbourne and so too are the summer school holidays. As always there is so much to do in Melbourne with the children. Some of these events are free, some are cheap and others more expensive but a very special treat.

(1). NGV International – Family Day: The Cricket and the Dragon
Date: 7 December 2008
Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Cost: Free
Location: 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

To be held in the Grollo Equisit Gardens and Great Hall to celebrate The cricket and the dragon: Animals in Asian Art, a special exhibition for children. Artist Tom Ripon will be sculpting a large baby elephant from wire mesh, KITA Performing Arts Company will be on at 11am when they present Tricky Tales a performance based around three traditional stories from Korea, China and Indonesia. Children will have an opportunity to paint an animal picture and make an origami jumping frog from 12noon.

(2). Homeless World Cup
Date: 1 – 7 December 2008
Time: Lunchtime until early evening
Cost: Free
Location: Federation Square and Birrarung Marr, Melbourne

This should be amazing and it is the first time it has been held in Melbourne. If you haven’t heard of this before here is a description from their website:

The Homeless World Cup is an annual, international football tournament, uniting teams of people who are homeless and excluded to take a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country and change their lives forever. It has triggered and supports grass roots football projects in over 60 nations working with over 25,000 homeless and excluded people throughout the year.

In Melbourne across the week there will be over 400 matches, 56 international teams, each match lasts 15 minutes. There is no reserved seating, so you can just turn up and see some great street football action.

(3). Christmas in the City
Date: 1 – 30 December 2008
Time: All day
Cost: Free
Location: City Of Melbourne

The Myer Christmas Windows are part of Christmas in the City Of Melbourne. Each year the windows of this department store are decorated with a Christmas theme, which is always visually entertaining for children (and adults).

Whilst in the city you can also check out the Nativity Wall.

This striking display features a message of hope and joy in the heart of the City of Christmas, through a contemporary calligraphic interpretation of a traditional nativity scene. A blessing ceremony, held on the eve of Saint Nicholas Day, Friday 5 December at 10.15am will be marked by traditional carols sung by a choir.

(4). State Library of Victoria – Sparky Stories: Digital workshop for kids
Date: 7 & 14 December 2008
Time: 10am – 12pm
Cost: Free, but booking required.
Location: 328 Swanston Street, Melbourne

Aimed for children aged 5 to 12, each child can create a digital picture-book, complete with illustrations and their own narration.

(5). ACMI – Animated Kid’s Christmas Classics
Date: Mon 15 – Sat 20 Dec & Mon 22 – Wed 24 Dec 2008
Location: Federation Square, Melbourne

A number of movies being shown including – The Snowman & Mickey’s Christmas Carol.

(6). Art Play – Homage à Picasso
Date: 20 December 2008
Time: 1pm – 3pm
Cost: $20 and booking required.
Location: Birrarung Marr, Melbourne

Artist Edna Primoratz will teach the children about some of Picasso’s finest works before leading them through the creative process to help paint their own portrait on a plate to take home.

(7). Carols by Candlelight
Date: Various
Time: Various
Cost: Local tend to be free.
Location: Various locations around Melbourne

The link above is to the biggest Carols by Candlelight in Melbourne, we however will be going to our local and much much smaller version. Check with your local council to see when your Carols by Candlelight is on, some are very early in December.

(8). Lysterfield Park – Open Water Learning Experience
Date: 1 – 5 December 2008
Cost: $5 per child
Location: Lysterfield Park – approx 40kms east of Melbourne.

The Open Water Learning Experience (OWLE) is part of the state governments ‘Play It Safe By The Water’ campaign offering fun and educational activities that provide students with a practical approach to familiarising themselves with open water environments. With a major emphasis on water safety the program teaches and empowers students to use potentially lifesaving skills.

(9). Raspberry Picking
Raspberry picking starts in December, with the season beginning to peak late December. There are many pick your own berry farms around an hour away from Melbourne. Here are just a couple that would provide a fun family outing for the day:

(10). Wave Pool
Being summer, water activities are always a great way to enjoy time with the children. My children love wave pools and we have spent many hours in the water having fun. In Melbourne you can try the wave pools at: