Your Ultimate School Holiday Game Plan for Sydney Festival 2025

Sydney Festival

Sydney becomes a playground for families during the school holidays, and this summer, the Sydney Festival 2025 offers a feast of activities designed to entertain and inspire kids of all ages. From interactive art installations to heart-stopping circus acts and immersive theatre performances, there’s no shortage of fun. The best part? Many of the events are free! Here’s your guide to the must-see events that will make this school holiday unforgettable.

Interactive Art and History for Curious Minds

Kick off the fun with a journey into a world of art and history that will captivate both little ones and teens alike.

Colour Maze by Amigo & Amigo is a must-visit for younger kids. This interactive wonderland at the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct features 10 kaleidoscopic rooms filled with swings, knitted playgrounds, and building blocks, providing endless opportunities for hands-on fun. Kids can channel their inner artist with craft activities and sticker projects featuring Tongan motifs. It’s an adventure in creativity and color!

For teenagers interested in history and technology, head to the Australian Museum for the groundbreaking Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru exhibition. Experience the rich history of the Andean people through state-of-the-art projections, videos, and over 130 priceless artifacts. The exhibition even includes a virtual reality visit to Machu Picchu, bringing the ancient city to life in an exciting and immersive way.

Unforgettable Theatre and Circus Fun

The circus is back in town for Sydney Festival 2025, and it’s bigger and better than ever. The aerial experts at the Sydney Trapeze School will be performing Swing! at Darling Harbour. These daily shows are not to be missed, featuring jaw-dropping acrobatics high above the ground. Plus, the school will also offer free outdoor workshops for all ages and skill levels. A chance to learn a few tricks of the trade!

For a surreal and thrilling experience, the Cirque Alfonse troupe brings its latest show, Animal, to Sydney. This Québécois circus group is known for its blend of daring acrobatics, slapstick humor, and jaw-dropping stunts. Prepare for everything from juggling giant cowbells to a tractor doing wheelies!

Sydney Festival

For an entirely different kind of performance, check out Air Time at the Seymour Centre in Chippendale. This street-style show features BMX riders, skaters, dancers, and parkour athletes, putting on an exhilarating display of physical feats and urban creativity.

Sydney Festival 2025 also offers a variety of theatre productions perfect for family viewing. The ATYP production of Converted! is a hilarious disco musical about queer teenagers, while BullyBully by Maas theater en dans from the Netherlands offers a playful and funny show for kids as young as 3. It’s like West Side Story, but with more tantrums and laughs!

Free Family Fun Across Sydney

There’s no shortage of free activities to enjoy during the Sydney Festival, making it easier than ever to stick to your holiday budget.

For a truly unique experience, head to Tallawoladah Lawn for the What We Leave Behind installation. This bamboo structure invites visitors to write messages of hope for the environment, which are then woven into the artwork. It’s a fantastic opportunity for families to come together and reflect on sustainability in a fun, hands-on way.

Over at Barangaroo Reserve, Vigil: Gunyah offers a large-scale, immersive evening event on January 25. The night will feature live performances and emotional shared experiences, all centered around First Nations voices. It’s a poignant event that brings people together and fosters a deep sense of community.

For families visiting Bondi Beach, be sure to stop by the Bondi Pavilion Courtyard, where the Spare Parts Puppet Theatre will showcase a giant, interactive whale installation. This stunning display celebrates the majestic creatures and educates visitors about the vital role whales play in our ecosystem.

Kids who love getting their hands dirty will enjoy Hive Festival at the Art Gallery of NSW and Blacktown Arts. This art-making festival offers hands-on craft, storytelling, and performances, ensuring there’s no shortage of creative fun for children.

If your family enjoys classical music, Sydney Symphony Under The Stars at Parramatta Park is the perfect event for an evening of live music, picnics, and a breathtaking fireworks finale. It’s the ideal way to cap off a day of family fun!

Making Memories at Sydney Festival

The Sydney Festival 2025 truly has something for everyone, no matter your age or interests. From immersive art installations and historical exhibits to jaw-dropping circus performances and free outdoor events, this year’s festival promises to make the school holidays unforgettable for the entire family. Best of all, many of these activities won’t cost you a cent, allowing you to create lasting memories without the stress of overspending.

So pack up the family, grab your hats, and get ready to experience all that Sydney has to offer this January. With so many free and family-friendly activities, Sydney Festival 2025 is sure to be a highlight of your summer holidays!

Sydney Festival

02 8248 6500
https://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/