New year, new arts adventures for the family! Sydney in January is always bursting at the seams with fun, wacky and unusual opportunities on stage, in our galleries and beyond. Here is a round up of some of the best family arts activities happening in Sydney these January school holidays. Get artsploring!
On Stage
Josephine Wants to Dance
“Making her Sydney Opera House stage debut, Josephine the Kangaroo will dance her way through this beautiful Monkey Baa Theatre Company stage adaptation of Jackie French and Bruce Whatley’s classic book. Programmed for children aged 3+, this heartwarming tale shares the importance of following your dreams, despite all odds.”
When: Friday 3 January – Wednesday 15 January
Where: Sydney Opera House
Ages: 3+
Tickets: Tickets from $29 + $8.95 booking fee
The Wind in the Willows
“This critically acclaimed outdoor theatre production delivers music, songs, and laughs. There is fun for young and old as the Head Chief Rabbit transforms the audience into rabbits with a waggle of the ears and a wiggle of the nose. The young ‘rabbits’ are encouraged to get involved in the action and are given every opportunity to scream out loud, sing along and become part of the adventure. With laughs and surprises for children and adults, this is interactive theatre at its best.” Read our review of the 2024 season here.
Where: Royal Botanic Garden Sydney | Near the Main Pond
When: 4 to 25 January 2025
Tickets: $30 each plus Family (4 tickets) $110
Animal by Cirque Alfonse
“Loved for their high-flying antics and infectious energy, Cirque Alfonse spins childhood memories and rural cliches into Animal, a surreal circus experience set to an infectious live soundtrack of ‘agricultural funk’. They’re flipping farm life on its head – and the barn upside down!” Animal appears as part of the Sydney Festival.
Riverside Theatres Parramatta – 3 – 12 January
The Pavilion Performing Arts Centre Sutherland – 16 – 19 January
Bluey’s Big Play
“Join the Heelers in their first live theatre show made just for you, featuring brilliantly created puppets, this is Bluey as you’ve never seen it before, brought to real life.”
Where: Theatre Royal
When: 2 – 18 January
Tickets: $54.90 – 114.90
Air Time
“Skate ramps tower over you, propelling BMXers, skaters, dancers and parkourists with extreme speed and height. Air Time is a thrilling nexus of wheels in motion with the elegant flow of dance and parkour. Sydney Festival favourite Branch Nebula returns with a hair-raiser – the anarchic street energy of Air Time is set to be exhilarating, with the risk and danger of bodies on foot and on wheels colliding in a confined space. “
Where: Seymour Centre
When: 7 – 11 January
Tickets: $59 + booking fee
BullyBully
“BullyBully is a hilarious musical for ages 3+ told in the style of West Side Story, with many songs, funny quarrels, a bit of bickering and (eventually) a happy ending. This joyous show follows two childish grown-ups – lords of their own pink and green kingdoms – on a squabble odyssey. Who can shout the longest? What kind of hissy fit gets your toy back? I’m the king of the castle, so no-one tells me how to run things.”
Where: Riverside Theatres Parramatta
When: 7 – 12 January
Recommended Age: 3+
Tickets: $39
Tinkerbell and the Dream Fairies
“In an enchanting world of song and dance, the adventurous Tinkerbell meets up with the fairies from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Together, the cheeky Mustardseed, fluttery Moth, daring Cobweb and sweet Peaseblossom go on a magical quest with Tinkerbell. The audience is invited to dress up and join in the fun! Come as a fairy, an elf, a Jedi, a pirate or even a superhero! Everyone is welcome to join this sparkling adventure with a special visit to ‘Bubble Land’ to help Tinkerbell and her new fairy friends find her lost wings.”
Where: Gunnamatta Park Amphitheatre, Cronulla
When: 8 – 19 January
Tickets: $25 – 30
The Gruffalo
“Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in this magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.”
Where: The Concourse (Chatswood)
When: 17 – 19 January
Recommended Age: 3+
Tickets: $46
Andy & The Odd Socks
“Straight off the TV and onto the live stage, Andy and the Odd Socks bring their brilliant madcap mix of songs, slapstick and silliness to life with a show to entertain families of all ages.”
Enmore Theatre – 19 January
The Concourse (Chatswood) – 20 January
The Box Show
“Step into a world where household items become extraordinary instruments and discarded junk springs to life! The Box Show is a vibrant, music-in-education performance that captures the imagination of children and adults alike, merging drumming, dance, theatre, and comedy in an unforgettable experience for all ages. The Box Show promises an energising journey filled with surprising beats, infectious energy, and the message that art and music can be created from the simplest of materials.”
When: Tuesday 21st January – Thursday 23rd January 2025
Where: Riverside Theatre, Riverside Theatres Parramatta
Recommended Age: 5+
Tickets: From $32
The 78-Storey Treehouse
“Andy and Terry’s treehouse just keeps on growing. With yet another 13 levels, it’s now got a Scribbletorium, a high-security potato chip storage facility (guarded by one very angry duck!) and even an open-air movie theatre. Speaking of movies, our friends are going to be famous! The legendary Mr Big Shot has arrived to make a Hollywood blockbuster! But when his first step is to fire Andy and replace him with a monkey – well, a gibbon named Mel Gibbon – the battle is on. Will the Treehouse Blockbuster ever get made? Who will win the battle of Andy and Terry? And why are those mysterious spy cows turning up everywhere?”
Where: Seymour Centre
When: 29 January – 2 February
Recommended Age: 6 – 12
Tickets: $47 plus $6 booking free
Workshops
Colour in Worlds
“Children and their families invited to take part in an immersive sculptural installation created by world-renowned artist and pioneer of Thai contemporary art Mit Jai Inn. This participatory experience will evolve over the week as audiences bring it to life with their imaginative contributions through paint markings, colourful drawings and design.”
When: Friday 3 January – Wednesday 15 January
Where: Sydney Opera House Centre for Creativity
Ages: 4+
Tickets: Tickets from $10 + $8.95 booking fee
Stop Motion Animation Workshop
“In collaboration with London International Animation Festival, 6-14 year-olds will join award-winning animator and filmmaker Jelena Sinik to create their very own stop motion film.”
When: Friday 17 January – Sunday 19 January
Where: Sydney Opera House Centre for Creativity
Ages: 6 – 14 years
Tickets: Standard tickets from $35 + $8.95 Booking Fee
Art Galleries
Art Gallery of NSW
Art Gallery of NSW is host to the HIVE Festival, as part of the Sydney Festival, which has a huge lineup of free arts activities for kids. Children under 12 also get free admission to the Magritte exhibition. And, don’t forget to stop in to the Children’s Library.
HIVE FESTIVAL full lineup here – 18 – 19 Janaury
Blacktown Arts
HIVE Festival also comes to Blacktown Arts 16 – 17 January with a unique lineup of arts activities.
HIVE Festival Blacktown information here – 16 – 17 January
Museum of Contemporary Art
MCA hosts free drop-in workshops inspired by Julie Mehretu: A Transcore of the Radical Imaginatory. City Soundsapes run 15 – 18 January. Entry to the exhibition is free for those under 17.
For older kids, poetry workshops will take place 15 and 17 January. For ages 12 – 17. $20.
National Maritime Museum
While not primarily an art museum, the National Maritime Museum is home to one of our favourite maker spaces. Kids On Deck is included in a “See It All” ticket, and is open daily during school holidays. (Dates/times/pricing here)
Superluminal: “A magical journey through light and time! Step into the wondrous wild with Patch Theatre’s new immersive installation, Superluminal. Blending bold visual design, collaborative storytelling, and interactive play, Superluminal is an enchanting and unmissable experience for young audiences.”
When: 4 January – 2 February
Recommended Age: 4 – 8
Tickets: $22
Love Your Library
State Library of NSW
The State Library of NSW has a lineup of activities for families in January, including:
- Aviation drop-in centre – free drop-in craft and activities: 13 – 17 January
- Author workshop with Sandhya Parappukkaran: 20 January ($10)
- Golden Age of Flight Workshop – become the star pilot!: 23 January ($15)
- Family Library Tours: 20 – 24 January, free
Local Libraries
Be sure to check your local libraries for free and low cost activities!
Something a Bit Different!
Colour Maze
“Step inside a kaleidoscopic wonderland of colours and creativity. Colour Maze is an imaginative play experience created and brought to life by Amigo & Amigo. It inspires children to get hands-on with visual art and journey through the “Tongpop” aesthetic of Sydney Festival Visual Artist in Residence Telly Tuita. Kids will wind their way through ten rooms – with building blocks, swings and knitted playgrounds, and channel their inner artist with hands-on craft and sticker activities featuring Tongan motifs.”
Where: Pier 2/3 (Walsh Bay)
When: 4 – 25 January
Recommended Age: 2 – 12
Tickets: $23
London International Animation Festival
“Arriving direct from London, this festival will transform the Playhouse into a red-carpet experience for our small but mighty superstars, where an incredible variety of independent animations from across the globe will be presented over three days.”
When: Friday 17 January – Sunday 19 January
Where: Playhouse
Ages: 2 – 14
Tickets: Tickets from $20 + $8.95 booking fee
Swing! by Sydney Trapeze School
“Roll up, roll up, the circus is in town, and it’s free! The aerial experts at Sydney Trapeze School are bringing their high-flying, jaw-dropping best to Darling Harbour for two shows a day during the Sydney Festival. ” (15 minute performances)
Beyond their free daily performances, the Sydney Trapeze School will also be conducting outdoor workshops suitable for all skill levels. For more information, visit the Trapeze and Circus Skills Workshop webpage.
Where: Darling Harbour Palm Grove
When: Saturday 4 January to Saturday 25 January at 12:30pm / 6:45pm (closed Mondays)
Free, no bookings required