DIY Terrarium Workshop
Unleash your inner gardener with our DIY terrarium workshops as you learn to build your own mini ecosystem in a glass container! Our skilled instructors will guide you through the process - selecting the perfect plants, artfully arranging and adding decorative elements.
When: Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 September, 10.00am–12.00pm
Where: Eida’s Plants & Pots at Geelong Illustrators, 105 Moorabool Street Bookings: call 0400 258 836
Cost: $50 - $150 depending on size
Geelong Nature Festival
Bookings: Essential. For information and bookings visit geelong.link/NatureFestival
Attract Garden Pollinators with Hannah Moloney
Join Hannah Maloney to learn about pollinators and how to attract them to your garden. Enjoy hands on gardening demonstrations including planting native and herbaceous plants, building a Hoverfly Lagoon and using wood offcuts to construct an insect hotel.
When: Saturday 16 September, 10.00am–12.00pm
Where: Geelong Botanic Gardens, Podbury Drive, East Geelong
Cost: Free
Night Moves with Moths and Other Creatures
See moths and other creatures that emerge as night falls at our gardens with a tour hosted by Geelong Field Naturalists Club. Enjoy a spotlight walk around our gardens looking for owls, bats and other night-loving creatures.
When: Wednesday 20 September, 6.30pm–8.30pm
Where: Geelong Botanic Gardens, Podbury Drive, East Geelong
Meet at office car park
Free
Geelong Library & Heritage Centre
Where: 55 Little Malop Street
Bookings: Please register online at events.grlc.vic.gov.au/events
Cost: Free
Your Family Storytime
Every family story is different and unique to you! Enjoy a fun-filled story time and craft session all about families. All Ages.
When: Monday 18 September, 10.30am–11.30am
Zesty Zines
Join us in creating a food zine this school holidays. Bring a favourite family recipe or create your own and help us design a food zine to share with all our library branches. Ages 12+
When: Monday 18 September and Wednesday 27 September, 2.30pm–3.30pm
Longest Book in the World
Creatives of all ages are invited to join local artist Fern Smith to help create the longest book in the world!
When: Tuesday 19 and Thursday 28 September, 10.30am–11.30am
Story Coders
Once upon a time there was a child who loved to code, so they went to the library where they created their own digital story! Bring along your Scratch coding club account login details or join on the day. Ages 8+
When: Tuesday 19 September and Thursday 28 September, 2.30pm–3.30pm
Your Story with Puppets
Create some cool pop-stick puppets and star in your own puppet show to tell your story! Ages 5+
When: Wednesday 20 September, 10.30am–11.30am
Rap and Rhyme
If you have something to say, why not say it in a rap? Join us and put your story to a beat. Ages 12+
When: Wednesday 20 September, 2.30pm–3.30pm
Who Helped Me Grow?
Who helped you grow? Come along with your grown up and find out more about them! Have fun finger painting your family tree and celebrate how every family is different in their own special way. Ages 5+
When: Thursday 21 September, 10.30am–11.30am
Event Calendar
Happy Holidays!
Welcome to the spring edition of the Central Geelong Fun Guide.
This program is your go-to-guide for all activities, events and exhibitions being delivered by Central Geelong businesses and the City of Greater Geelong during the spring school holidays - Saturday September 16 – Sunday 1 October.
Activities are suitable for kids aged 3 – 18 years.
Bookings and cost
• See each activity listing for details on how to book and any associated costs.
• Events and bookings are subject to change.
• Places are limited and capacity numbers vary for each activity.
• Please contact the activity provider for further information.
Your Story Suitcase
Create your own story suitcase, to fill with memories and treasures that reflect how unique you are. Ages 8+
When: Thursday 21 September, 2.30pm–3.30pm Wednesday 27 September, 10.30am–11.30am
Your Story in Paper Pixel Art
Using iPads and craft supplies, participants will create pixel artwork that tells a story about who they are. Ages 8+
When: Friday 22 September, 10.30am–11.30am
Dear Future Me
Hello future self... who will you be? Begin to imagine what your future might look like. Write letters and design artwork to give to your future self.
All ages.
When: Monday 25 September, 10.30am–11.30am
Your Story in a Podcast
Get started with your own podcast without the need for expensive equipment! Using Spotify for Podcasters (formerly Anchor), you can record your thoughts, research, or story for an audience. Ages 15-18
When: Monday 25 September, 2.30pm–3.30pm
My Favourite Things
Express yourself and your interests through collage as we create art, play games, and celebrate what makes us unique. Ages 5+
When: Tuesday 26 September, 10.30am–11.30am
Your Portrait in a Single Line
Tell your story by creating your own masterpiece without lifting your marker. Learn how to execute the single line technique and take home your own single line artwork. Ages 15-18
When: Tuesday 26 September, 2.30pm–3.30pm
Paper Pixel Art
Eida’s Plants Pots DIY Terrarium Workshop
Eida’s Plants Pots DIY Terrarium Workshop
Geelong Library & Heritage Centre Dear Future Me Your Story in a Podcast
Pinot & Picasso Ladybug Love
The Carousel The Broken Horse storytelling
Geelong Library & Heritage Centre My Favourite Things
Your Portrait in a Single Line
Johnstone Park Bebop ‘Pop Up’ Circus Picnic in the Park - Disco beats & bubbles
Pinot & Picasso Mystical Mermaid
Wishart Creative Mirror Magic
National Wool Museum Learn to Knit and Plait
Eden Ariston Artist Abstract Painting Workshop
Geelong Library & Heritage Centre Your Story Suitcase Zesty Zines
Pinot & Picasso Sid the Sloth
Geelong Library & Heritage Centre Longest Book in the World Story Coders
Pinot & Picasso Decked Out workshop
National Wool Museum Scrap-estry Loom Weaving
Pinot & Picasso Unicorns Market Square Colour in Geelong MoPA MoPA Makers Session: Sticky Fingers National Wool Museum Patchwork Play
Bebop Pop Up Circus with ringmaster Nikolas Ridiculous
Roll up, roll up! Join the Bebop ‘Pop Up’ Circus and learn cool circus tricks, enjoy fun games and visit the mini–circus theatre led by the hilarious Nikolas Ridiculous! (Subject to weather permitting)
When: Tuesday 26 September, 10.30am–12.30pm
Where: Johnstone Park
Bookings: This is a drop-in activity, no booking required
Cost: Free
Picnic in the Park - Disco Beats & Bubbles
Pack your snacks or grab a bite from one of the many great cafés in Central Geelong and enjoy a picnic in the park these holidays.
Entertainment provided by Nikolas Ridiculous means the air will be alive with funky beats and giant bubbles! (Subject to weather permitting)
When: Tuesday 26 September, 12.30pm–2.00pm
Where: Johnstone Park
Bookings: This is a drop-in activity, no booking required
Cost: Free
Kids Painting Classes
Where: Pinot & Picasso Geelong, 150 Ryrie Street
Bookings: Essential. pinotandpicasso.com.au/geelong
Cost: $39 for regular classes, see exemptions* below Calling all pint size Picassos! Come and experience one of the special kids school holiday sessions and unleash your creativity! Kids will learn artistic techniques and take home their own masterpiece!
Butterflies
When: Monday 18 September 11.00am–12.30pm
Sid the Sloth
When: Tuesday 19 and Wednesday 27 September 11.00am–12.30pm
King of the Jungle
When: Wednesday 20 September 11.00am–12.30pm
Crush the Turtle
When: Thursday 21 September 11.00am–12.30pm
Ladybug Love
When: Monday 25 September 11.00am–12.30pm
Mystical Mermaid
When: Tuesday 26 September 11.00am–12.30pm
Unicorns
When: Friday 29 September 11.00am–12.30pm
Neon Nights - Ollie the Glowing Octopus
Let’s go under the sea with UV lights! This glowing Octopus artwork come to life with fluoro colour.
When: Friday 22 September, 11.00am–12.30pm
Cost: $49
Decked Out Workshop
This. Is. Gnarly! ‘Decked Out’ is a creative experience where the young ones design their own rad skate deck using Paint Pens! ‘Decked Out’ is an exciting new concept to Pinot & Picasso founded by Australian Artist, Mitch Revs. Ages 8+
When: Thursday 28 September, 11.00am–1.00pm
Cost: $79
Trolls Craft Village - Westfield
Westfield Geelong will be hosting a Trolls Craft Village activation with a special character meet and greet for the September school holidays. Children are invited to ‘feel the rhythm’ with the trolls activation in Centre Court.
When: Monday 18 September – Friday 22 September, 11.00am–2.00pm
Where: Westfield Geelong
Bookings: No bookings required
Cost: Free
Colour-in Geelong - Market Square
Come and add your touch of colour to our ‘Colour-in Geelong’ floor which highlights the icons and places in our city that make Geelong such a special place to live!
When: From Monday 18 September, during centre opening hours
Where: Market Square Shopping Centre – Level 1 near Harris Scarfe.
Bookings: No bookings required
Cost: Free
Build a Bee Hotel
Spring has sprung and the bees are buzzing! Support our amazing native bees by creating a bee hotel. Using recycled materials, kids will make their own bee hotel to take home and help improve the biodiversity of our ecosystem.
When: Tuesday 19 and Wednesday 20 September, 10.30am–12.30pm
Where: 111-113 Little Malop Street
Bookings: This is a drop-in activity, no booking required
Cost: Free
Bring out your Barbies!
The Creative Geelong Makers Hub at Centrepoint Arcade are inviting kids, adult collectors and admirers of all ages to join in the Barbie fun these holidays with Barbie themed workshops & window displays.
BLING your Barbie
‘Bling’ up Barbie’s existing outfits, design unique accessories and create new clothing from no-sew patterns. After Barbie has been ‘blinged’, kids will be able to take part in their own ‘professional’ photoshoot, creating scenes for their dolls in a vintage makeshift Barbie set. Ages 6yrs +
When: Tuesday 19 September, 10.00am–12.30pm
Where: Wishart Creative & Vintage Remixed, Shop 14, Centrepoint Arcade, 132 Little Malop Street Bookings: Essential. wishartcreative.com
Cost: $55
Barbie Runway
Take part in a special photo-fun activity with a Barbie-sized fashion runway where your dolls can strut their stuff like the divas they are! Capture them in action to share with your friends. We will also be offering music and free drawing tables for kids in the undercover atrium space.
When: Weekdays across the school holidays, 11.00am–2.00pm
Where: Vintage Remixed, Shop 6, Centrepoint Arcade, 132 Little Malop Street Bookings: Pre-pay your session at vintageremixed.com.au
Drop-ins welcome on a first come, first served basis
Cost: $15
SPECIAL OFFER!
Score a FREE RUNWAY SESSION with Vintage Remixed when you book a Barbie workshop with Wishart Creative! After all, you will need somewhere to show off your newly ‘blinged’ Barbie and fashion creations. This offer will book out quickly so don’t miss out!
Art Fun at Wishart Creative
Where: Wishart Creative, Shop 14, Centrepoint Arcade, 132 Little Malop Street
Bookings: Essential. wishartcreative.com
Cost: $55
Fluid Art
Bring some colour to your holidays and join us to swirl and pour your way to a one of a kind masterpiece! In this session kids will get to enjoy the techniques of paint pouring and create a set of two canvases to take home!
When: Thursday 21 September, 10.00am–12.30pm
Mirror Magic
Upcycling reclaimed wood, kids will create a unique block art mirror, using a variety of materials including sand, beads, string and lace to add texture to blocks before arranging them around a mirror on canvas, ready to hang at home.
When: Tuesday 26 September, 10.00am–12.30pm
The Carousel
Where: The Carousel, 1-11 Eastern Beach Road
Cost: Free
Make your own Blissfully Beautiful Butterfly
Springtime is the favourite time of year for butterflies. Join us at The Carousel to create your own Blissfully Beautiful Butterfly!
When: Wednesday 20 September, 2.00pm–4.00pm
Bookings: No bookings required
‘The Broken Horse’ Storytelling at The Carousel
Join Geelong author and illustrator Bronte Stead for a storytelling event of ‘The Broken Horse’. Purchase books and have them signed by Bronte. Participating children receive a bonus two-for-one Carousel ride voucher.
When: Monday 25 September, 9.30am–10.30am
Bookings: Essential. Places are limited. Please email: carousel@geelongcity.vic.gov.au with subject line ‘Broken Horse Storytelling’ and include name of one parent/ guardian, phone number and number of children attending.
Make Your (Book)Mark!
Join local artist Clare Holder and make fun bookmarks with your own special art on them! Perfect for book lovers, or to give as gifts to family and friends.
Multiple sessions available.
When: Friday 22 September
11.00am session: 5 – 8 years
2.00pm session: 9 – 12 years
Where: Geelong Illustrators Studio Gallery, 105 Moorabool Street
Bookings: To book, go to eventbrite.com.au and search Geelong Illustrators
Cost: $7.50per child
MoPA Makers Sessions: Sticky Fingers
Explore the glorious world of food, where kids will interact with a range of materials to express their ideas while designing their very own delicious looking plate or shopping bag.
When: Every weekday of the school holidays. 4 x two-hour museum sessions each day, each starting at 9.00am, 11.00am, 1.00pm and 3.00pm.
Where: Museum of Play & Art (MoPA), 51 McKillop Street
Bookings: Essential. museumofplayandart.com.au
Cost: Child $18, Adult $12
Get Crafty at the National Wool Museum
Where: National Wool Museum, 26 Moorabool Street
Bookings: Visit the National Wool Museum website for more information or to book a session - nwm.vic.gov.au
Patchwork Play
Dive into the colourful world of quilting inspired by Art Quilt Australia 2023. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced quilter, this drop-in and selfguided craft activity is perfect for all the family. Learn how to use different patterns and basic sewing techniques to create your own patchwork square using recycled wool, fibre, and textiles. Ages 6+
When: Daily 16 September – 1 October
Cost: Free with Museum admission
Upcycle Fabrics with Block Printing
Do you have a stained or well-loved garment that could use a revamp or plain fabric for decoration? Block printing or stamping is a tactile technique to upcycle clothes. Ages 8+
When: Tuesday 19 September, 10.30am–12.30pm
Cost: $25 per child, one adult free per booking
Learn to Spin and Felt
Have you ever wondered how wool is transformed into your favourite pair of socks or craft material? Museum staff take you on a journey of discovery, learning how raw wool fibres bind together to make yarns and felts. Try your hand at a spinning wheel or drop spindle and make a felted bookmark, wall hanging or necklace to take home. Ages 6+
When: Thursday 21 September, 10.30am–12.00pm
Cost: $12 per child, one adult free per booking
Learn to Knit & Plait
Get crafty this winter by learning how to knit and plait. In this beginnerfriendly class, you will learn all the basic skills needed to knit and plait up a storm. You will learn how to cast on and off, master knit and purl stitches and how to read a pattern. Ages 8+
When: Tuesday 26 September, 10.30am–12.30pm
Cost: $12 per child, one adult free per booking
Scrap-estry Loom Weaving
Join Rachel Wood from Wunder Weave for tapestry weaving using up-cycled materials, diverted fashion waste, and color scraps. Learn loom setup, construction methods, and create shapes and texture. Make a beautiful woven wall hanging from recycled textiles. Ages 8+
When: Thursday 28 September, 10.30am–12.30pm
Cost: $25 per child, one adult free per booking
Abstract Painting Workshops
Where: Eden Ariston Artist, 111-113 Little Malop Street
Bookings: Essential. Only 12 spots available.
Text or call Eden on 0467 078 059
My Favourite Thing
Local artist Eden Ariston will take you through her own creative process and show you how to preserve your most loved toy, animal, food (or anything else you like) by turning it into an abstract painting. BYO favourite item (or photo of it) and water bottle. Ages 6 - 12
When: Thursday 21 September, 1.00pm–4.00pm
Cost: $60 per child
Nature in Geelong!
Develop your painting skills and create a masterpiece inspired by the plant life of Geelong! Local artist Eden Ariston will show you how to create an abstract painting using native flowers and leaves as an inspiration. BYO water bottle. Ages 6 - 12
When: Wednesday 27 September, 10.00am–1.00pm
Cost: $60 per child