Measuring 300 metres long, the Tuff Nutterz inflatable maze on Parkes Place lawns is packed with 30 obstacles. Photo: Tuff Nutterz.
With the school holidays in full swing, this week is not short of things for bored kids and teens to do.
Art, dance, music, drama and outdoor fun (including the Tuff Nutterz inflatable maze) – you name it.
Plus, new shows at Canberra Theatre Centre, three festivals spanning heritage to sustainable living and more!
Friday
Muesli (pictured) will be among the line-up of performances. Photo: National Gallery of Australia.
Art IRL – National Youth Week Opening Event
When: Friday 14 April, from 3 pm
Where: National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place, Parkes
Cost: free; book here.
Young people aged 13 to 25 are invited to kickstart National Youth Week with the National Gallery Youth Council. The chilled-out afternoon will include music and performances by Tahalianna, Jye Cole Hopkins, Girls Rock! Canberra, Kulture Break, Muesli and more. Refreshments are provided. Bring a picnic blanket or bean bag, comfortable clothing and dancing shoes.
Friday onwards
Macbeth
When: Friday 14 to Saturday 22 April, various times
Where: Canberra Theatre Centre, Civic Square, London Circuit
Cost: $58 to $110 plus transaction fee; book here.
Bell Shakespeare presents the story of Scottish general Macbeth (Logie award-winning Hazem Shammas), who is prophesied to be king, and his wife, Lady Macbeth (Jessica Tovey). Driven by an insatiable hunger for power, posterity and certainty, they commit a murder. With blood on their hands, the pair must face the dire consequences of their despicable actions.
Saturday
Ginninderry’s Inspire Festival will run all-day Saturday. Photo: Ginninderry.
Inspire Festival Presented by Ginninderry
When: Saturday 15 April, 10 am to 4 pm; see map and full program here
Where: Ginninderry GX Display Village, Bonthrone Street, Strathnairn
Cost: Free; register here.
Ginninderry’s Inspire Festival is a day for the whole family, packed with the latest trends, products and innovations in sustainable living. These include EV and e-bike testing, cooking and gardening workshops and opportunities to sample food and other products from local artisans and producers. Plus, kids’ activities, music, several guest speakers and more.
This community iftar event is open to all ages, nationalities and faiths. Photo: Ginninderry.
Community Iftar at Kippax
When: Saturday 15 April, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Where: Uniting Care Kippax, Hardwick Crescent and Luke Street, Holt
Cost: Free; register here.
All ages, nationalities and faiths are invited to this ‘breaking of the fast’ event, jointly hosted by Ginninderry, HelpingACT and UnitingCare Kippax. The evening will include the breaking of the fast with a catered dinner, alongside the opportunity to learn more about and share in the blessings of Ramadan, the month in which Muslims all over the world fast from dawn to dusk.
Showmen is packed full of live magic, illusions and stunts. Photo: Canberra Theatre Centre.
Showmen
When: Saturday 15 April, 2 pm and 6:45 pm
Where: Canberra Theatre Centre, Civic Square, London Circuit, Canberra
Cost: $35 plus transaction fee; book here.
Described as ‘The Avengers of Magic’, Showmen is a supergroup of conjurers, tricksters, comedians, illusionists, daredevils and dancers. The live show stars Mike Tyler, Christopher Wayne, Apollo Jackson, Josh Norbido and Joel Fenton, who have performed around the world and on TV shows such as America’s Got Talent, The Bachelorette and Entertainment Tonight.
Tuesday onwards
Dr Hubble’s Bubbles will be among the shows on display at Canberra Circus Festival. Photo: Canberra Circus Festival.
Canberra Circus Festival
When: Tuesday 18 to Saturday 22 April, various times; see full program here
Where: Chifley Community Oval and Warehouse Circus, Maclaurin Crescent, Chifley
Cost: various prices; book here.
A line-up of Australian and international circus, clown, magic and sideshow acts come together this April with a program for the whole family. This includes full-length circus shows in the May Wirth Big Top, outdoor performances, street artists, roving performers, workshops, food from around the world, markets (Saturday), unusual attractions and community stalls.
Thursday
The Sunset Festival will be at Eddison Park in Woden on 20 April. Photo: Supplied.
Sunset Festival
When: Thursday 20 April, 3 pm to 6 pm
Where: Eddison Park, Launceston Street, Phillip
Cost: Free entry; no booking required.
Woden Community Service’s Youth Engagement Team will host their annual Sunset Festival as part of Youth Week 2023. Young people, children and their families are invited to attend the free community event, which features free pizza and drinks, activities and entertainment. For more information, please contact the Woden Youth Centre on Facebook.
All week long and beyond
The Arboretum has something for the whole family this April. Photo: National Arboretum Canberra.
School holiday fun at the National Arboretum
When: program continues throughout April, with various dates and times
Where: National Arboretum Canberra, Forest Drive, Molonglo Valley
Cost: various prices; book here.
The Arboretum has activities for everyone in the lead-up to its 10th anniversary. Families can drop in daily until 23 April to pick up an orienteering map and clue sheet. A special quest and fairy hunt through the Cork Oak Forest for the younger ones will take place on 18 and 19 April. And for the adults, guided forest walks will be held on 16, 19 and 25 April.
Tuggeranong Arts Centre will hold three school holiday programs for creative fun this April. Photo: Tuggeranong Arts Centre.
School holiday fun at Tuggeranong Arts Centre
When: Thursday 13 to Thursday 20 April, various times
Where: Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 137 Reed Street, Greenway
Cost: various prices; book here.
Do your kids want to show off their creativity? Art and Action includes day programs for littlies (6 to 8) and bigger kids (9 to 12) in art, dance, music and drama on 13 and 14 April. The following week, the ANU School of Music will run a hip-hop songwriting workshop on 18 and 20 April; kids and teens are invited to join a mural artist to paint a wall of the Arts Centre.
Artist Katie-Ann Houghton blowing glass in the Hotshop. Photo: Canberra Glassworks.
School holiday fun at Canberra Glassworks
When: sessions until Saturday 22 April, various times
Where: Canberra Glassworks, 11 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston
Cost: $50 to $550; book here.
Kids and teens can learn introductory glassmaking techniques and create their very own masterpiece under the guidance of expert glass artists. Three workshops will run during the period, including a two-day glass-blowing workshop suitable for children over 14 and two shorter glass flower and seasonal tile creation workshops ideal for younger children.
Blundells Cottage – one of Canberra’s oldest permanent homes. Photo: File.
Canberra and Region Heritage Festival
When: Tuesday 11 to Sunday 30 April, various times
Where: various locations; see full program here
Cost: free and paid events; book here.
This year’s Heritage Festival features over 160 activities under the theme of sharing stories to celebrate the diversity and importance of the Canberra region’s heritage. Events include open days, tours, workshops, exhibitions, access to places not usually open to the public and a week dedicated to child-friendly family fun during the school holidays.
The Tuff Nutterz inflatable obstacle course first came to Canberra in 2019. Photo: Tuff Nutterz.
Tuff Nutterz returns to Canberra
When: daily until Sunday 23 April, 9 am to 5 pm
Where: Parkes Place lawns, King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Cost: $25 to $40; book here.
Australia’s biggest inflatable obstacle course is coming back to Canberra this April. The headline inflatable maze measures 300 metres long and is packed with 30 obstacles, including slides, climbing walls, hanging rails and balance balls. There’s also a mini obstacle course for the little ones and those less confident and a six-metre-high slide for the more adventurous thrillseekers.
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