School holiday events in Perth: The ultimate guide to entertaining the kids during the July break

If the thought of keeping the kids entertained for the next two weeks is boggling your mind, there are plenty of fun, creative and affordable options planned in Western Australia to stave off the cries of “I’m bored” for at least a few hours.

Gray skies and tight budgets don’t need to overshadow winter holiday fun. Dozens of free activities are offered in addition to ticketed events and paid workshops to ensure kids come back to school with plenty of magical memories aboard.

Craftsman Studio:

If you live with a school-aged child, you probably can’t escape the “soft” craze. Flexible, sensory toys, including the hard-to-find Needoh brand, are appealing to people of all ages, and Crafter Studio on Beaufort Street has embraced the phenomenon by offering a DIY tutorial.

Participants create and decorate their own taba (a type of malleable squishy) and a stress ball (which parents may need to borrow until the end of the holiday).

For those who have enough squishi at home, the studio also offers mosaic, bag painting, fluid art and polymer clay classes. For bookings visit https://crafterstudio.com.au/.

Get Ready, Set Up, Tour at Perth Convention and Exhibition Center

This new event promises a winter wonderland filled with classic carnival rides, sideshow games, shows and DJs. A variety of two-hour sessions are available, including twilight time slots on select dates. It is valid throughout the holidays and tickets can be purchased on the door or at Readysetride.com.au.

MJ Michael Jackson Musical:

The curtains of this popular series, which has received great acclaim, will close at the end of the school holidays. The show, which is recommended for adults and children over the age of 8, will host matinees on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays as well as night shows.

The four-time Tony Award-winning hit show features more than 25 of the music legend’s hits and takes viewers behind the scenes of his 1992 Dangerous world tour.

Jumps and Bites at Nikola Estate

Swan Valley winery has teamed up with Fun Depot to create an action-packed school holiday playground that will delight kids and adults alike.

The grounds of Nicola Estate will be transformed into a giant weatherproof entertainment area where children can burn off their energy with bouncy castles, obstacle courses, toys and games.

It will begin on Tuesday, July 7 and run through July 19, with scheduled sessions from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Booking is required via https://megatix.com.au/events/bounce-and-bites-swan-valley.

Ice skating in Mandurah

Mandurah’s East Shore has been transformed into a winter wonderland, complete with an ice rink open daily until July 19.

Ice skating in Mandurah offers 45-minute skating sessions starting on the hour throughout the day, as well as seasonal entertainment, dining experiences, amusement rides and community events designed to bring winter magic to the coastal region.

On Friday nights, market stalls selling handmade goods, food and drinks will be set up nearby. The event will focus on accessibility and inclusivity with sensory-friendly sessions and Kanga Skateboarding Aids. The track includes ramp access for wheelchair users. City of Mandurah Mayor Amber Kearns said ice skating in Mandurah was the highlight of the season.

“This brings a real sense of energy and fun to the beach and gives families the chance to come together and enjoy something a little different over the school holidays,” he said.

Literature Rules

Spare Parts Puppet Theatre’s adaptation of Shaun Tan’s award-winning 2013 book returns for another season after premiering in 2017.

Expect to be a part of the story as the interactive, multi-sensory performance designed for ages five and up tells the story of two boys trying to navigate the mysterious rules of their friendship. Tickets $29 from sppt.com.au

Walyalup Fremantle Arts Center

We still have places available for a range of creative workshops including pet portraits and abstract painting for teenagers, an introductory acting class for toddlers, script writing sessions, loom weaving and a design your own skateboard session for 13-17 year olds. For more information visit https://wfac.org.au/art-classes/kids/.

Nostalgia Box

Take a trip down memory lane at this unique video game console museum in City West; entrance here gives visitors access to the museum section, which houses more than 100 consoles from the last fifty years, and to a playground where adults and children can try out classics such as Space Invaders, Super Mario Bros. and Crash Bandicoot.

The museum is open seven days a week during school holidays but advance booking is highly recommended at www.thenostalgiabox.com.au.

FREE ACTIVITIES:

go out into nature

As Nature Play WA says, there is no such thing as bad weather; There are only bad clothes!

But if you’ve got the right equipment and no idea where to go, download the free Play Trails App, which guides families on a series of outdoor trail scavenger hunts.

Nature Play partnered with local governments and community organizations to create the app, which encourages users to explore unique, scenic spots in Perth.

Scarborough Beach is the latest landmark to sign up for, with a 1.5km stroller-friendly route that takes kids across eight stops with quick and fun challenges.

Marble Run at Hillarys Boardwalk

Visitors to Hillarys can experience a giant indoor marble run that runs the length of the secret zone every day from 11am to 2pm from July 6th to July 19th. Reservations are not required but all children must be supervised by an adult.

Squash Stars at Karrinyup

To celebrate the 2026 Squash Masters Championships later this year, Squash Australia is hosting free workshops at Karrinyup Shopping Centre.

New skills will be taught through interactive activities and games in the workshops designed to suit all ages and skill levels. July 6 – 8, 10am – 3pm at Center Court near The Coffee Club.

Search for Sunken Treasure at the WA Shipwrecks Museum

This free, free event runs from 10am to 2pm at the Fremantle Shipwrecks Museum during school holidays.

Sessions for children ages four and up include undersea-themed craft activities and searches of galleries to uncover “treasures” on the ocean floor.

local libraries

Local councils are holding a range of free, interactive and educational events planned for all ages, including reading camps and tie-dyeing sessions in the City of Wanneroo, virtual reality gaming workshops at Forrestfield library, oil pastel workshops at Spearwood library and egg carton art at Success.

Check your local library website for details; Reservations are essential in most cases.

In the City of Joondalup, a $5 fee applies for school holiday library workshops, which include vinyl record painting at Woodvale, fairy house building at Joondalup library and Minecraft movie making at Whitford.

Rio Tinto Scenic Kings Park

Children will have plenty of opportunities for messy, imaginative play and adventure with a range of nature-based activities including a new Wild Child guided trail, plant-based art lessons, free-range bush camping and mud kitchen play.

Reservations are not required, but Naturescape is closed on Mondays. Visit https://www.bgpa.wa.gov.au/kings-park/events/ for details.

Freo Structures

This popular event returns the first week of the holiday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pick up your map at Fremantle City Hall or the WA Maritime Museum before setting off on an adventure to explore eight Lego creations around the city. After completing their map, children will receive a free Lego toy. Reservations are required.

Play Dates at the Art Gallery of WA

Children can tap into their creativity in a range of arts, crafts and performance holiday workshops at AGWA, including seed pod necklace making, “cardboard couture” wearable sculpture making workshops and interactive traditional dance and didgeridoo sessions.

Visitors can also check out the interactive Cranky Pants exhibition, a collaboration with British artist Bruce Asbestos. Workshops are free but bookings are required at https://artgallery.wa.gov.au/whats-on/events/play-dates-winter-school-holidays-2026.

Western Australian Pulse

While at AGWA, be sure to pass by the 34th Pulse exhibit for a lively look at 63 bright and intelligent young adults. The free exhibition runs until September 13 at the Art Gallery of WA, showcasing the work of 2025’s top Year 12 visual arts graduates. The selected works open a window into the private, social and artistic concerns of young people.

Percy’s Playground activities

The popular playground at the Stirling Arms Hotel in Guildford has a calendar full of school holiday activities from 10am to 7.30pm each day, including nursery rhyme time, circus workshops and potion making. Families can then extend their trip with a pub lunch at the Stirling Arms. Visit their website to reserve a place.

Alphabet I Spy

Perth mother and entrepreneur Tori Bowman Johnson and her son Hamish have created a web app for rainy, cold days at home that offers a safe, fun and collaborative form of screen time for kids over the age of three. Alphabet I Spy is similar to Wordle, but contains images instead of words and was created to help Hamish with his spelling, reading and focus.

“Intergenerational love has been on the rise lately, with families playing for friendly competition and banter,” Ms Bowman Johnson said. To play, visit www.alphabetispy.com.