Holiday fun in the School Free Zone

These school holidays, check out the Sunshine Coast Council’s ‘School Free Zone’ packed with a huge range of boredom-busting activities from 21 September to 2 October to keep kids (and parents) happy over the break.

Kids can battle out Playstation play-offs, cook up a storm or paint a masterpiece – and there won’t be a textbook in sight at the activities, workshops and events designed especially for children of all ages at council libraries, galleries, leisure and aquatic centres around the region.

Lots on at libraries

Sunshine Coast Libraries is offering a full program of holiday activities from cooking to cartooning. Programs vary between libraries so contact your local branch for details.

• Cartooning workshops – fine tune your skills and learn from the experts – Brian Doyle and ‘Swamp’ creator Gary Clark. Ages 10+
• Create your own comics and graphic novels – with your original art, or use library’s old books! Ages 7+
• Kids in the kitchen – cook up a storm at the kids cooking classes. Ages 5-7
• Storytime and crafts – become lost in the world of storytelling at the Bookstart for Babies sessions (ages 3 and under) and the under 8s storytelling, or make something new at the craft sessions
• Treasure Island – come dressed as a pirate to make treasure chests, maps and celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Ages 6+.

Get creative at art galleries

Caloundra Regional Art Gallery and Noosa Regional Gallery are running a range of children’s arts programs over the holidays. Contact your local gallery to find out what’s on.

• Contemporary art workshop at Caloundra Regional Art Gallery – create your own canvas 2D piece of art. 24 September. Ages 8-15
• Holiday arts program at Noosa Regional Gallery – take part in one of the workshops inspired by the gallery’s current exhibitions on flora, the patterns or ‘anon’ of everyday life, and life under the sea at high tide. 24 and 25 September. Ages 5-12.

Butter Factory Arts Centre

There’s plenty happening at the Butter Factory Arts Centre to keep the kids’ creativity flowing over the holidays. Visit the School Free Zone website for booking details.

• BodyJam with Delany – A high energy session full of rhythm, music and fun. 22 September. Ages 8-12
• Clowning with Florence Teillet – Learn the basics of non-verbal humour and comedy and develop your own clown character! 29 September. Ages 8-12
• Drama and Music Play – A workshop with Delany and Florence to create characters, music and song. 1 October. Ages 6-8.

Vacation care programs

There’s plenty on offer at the vacation care programs at the Bicentennial Community Centre and Noosa Leisure Centre from 21 September to 2 October.

• Barnyard Friends Day – play with hatchlings and try your hand at egg painting and Hessian sewing
• Fun Fitness Day – test your skills at obstacles, balance games and challenge your coordination skills
• Enjoy plenty of other activities including badminton, soccer workshops, Dr Joe’s Science experience, Noah and the Ark excursion, indoor and outdoor games and much more.

Other venues

For fun, colour, music and laughs, take the kids along to one of the latest shows at council venues around the Coast.

• Dorothy the Dinosaur Show – the TV show is seen in 21 countries around the world and has been brought to the stage in a new smash hit show! Nambour Civic Centre (21 September)
• Noah and The Ark – join the passengers along the voyage of Noah and The Ark at this interactive children’s theatre. The Lake Kawana (30 September) and The J, Noosa (1 October)
• The Kingdom of Paramithi Presents Cinderella – from the creators of The Wiggles comes the delightful stage performance of Cinderella. Nambour Civic Centre (3 October).

Programs vary so contact your local venue for session details and costs. Bookings are essential – make sure you get in early because places fill up fast!

The School Free Zone is a partnership between council departments including libraries, leisure and aquatic centres, venues, events, Living Smart and Community Creative Programs.

For the full program and to find contact details to book your spot, go to the School Free Zone link on council’s homepage.