Six Of The Best Events For Kids & Families In Sydney In January

By: Phoebe Ackland, ellaslist

The silly season is over, but that doesn’t mean the school holiday fun stops! Here are some exciting events to take your kids to this January to fight off that inevitable January boredom.

1. Children’s Festival, Darling Harbour

This Australia Day, Darling Harbour is set to become a giant playground for the young and young at heart. The line-up is pretty epic for families, and includes Jimmy Giggle as the resident MC, the “Children Are Stinky” show with daredevil stunts and incredible acrobatics, a performance by The Wiggles on the main stage, a Bob the Builder construction zone, water playground, food stalls, roving performers and SO much more!
Where: Tumbalong Park Stage, Darling Harbour, Sydney
When: Thursday 26 January; 11am-6pm
Cost: Free

 

2. Sydney Hills Lunar Festival

Welcome in the year of the rooster with a fusion of flavours, cultures, and traditions. Eat from one of Sydney’s most popular and delicious food trucks, see a spectacular fireworks display, and check out traditional rituals and performances like the ‘dotting of the Lion’s eyes’ and dragon dancing.
Where: Bella Vista Farm Park, Cnr Norwest Blvd & Elizabeth MacArthur Drive
When: Sunday 29 January 2017; 12-9pm
Cost: Free

 

3. Chinese New Year Lunar Lanterns

A family favourite of Sydney’s Chinese New Year celebrations! Check out 12 enormous zodiac animals standing up to 10m high, 2017 welcoming a new rooster, rat, pig and snake! Kids can sound the ‘gong’ belly of one of Chinatown’s five roosters, marvel at a 23m long glistening snake, or climb aboard a glowing chariot pulled by 3.5m tall horses!
Where: From the Sydney Opera House along Circular Quay to Dawes Point, with an additional rooster lantern in Chinatown
When: 27 January–12 February 2017
Cost: Free

 

4. You And Me And The Space Between

Part of Sydney Festival- you can’t miss the the part picture book, part play, and completely magical adventure brought to you by the Terrapin Puppet Theatre! One of our top family picks for the 2017 festival, follow an adventurous little girl as the story is drawn out right in front of you by cartoonist Cathy Wilcox. The Island of The Proud Circle has sprung a leak and its citizens must find a solution to stop their home disappearing forever. It will come down to the ingenuity of the youngsters to ensure their way of life isn’t lost in the process…
Where: Seymour Centre, Everest Theatre, cnr of City Rd and Cleveland St
When: 17-22 January; showtimes at 2pm & 6pm
Cost: Costs vary; family passes for 2 adults & 2 children are $25

 

5. Cinema In The Sand

Wet’n’Wild Sydney is the hottest place in Sydney to cool down this Summer! Experience a cinema experience like no other- from a deck chair, on a towel or splashing about in the water! January’s film schedule includes Home, Alice Through the Looking Glass, Zootopia, and Ice Age: Collision Course.
Where: Wet’n’Wild Sydney, 427 Reservoir Rd, Prospect
When: Saturdays in January 2017; 6pm
Cost: $99 Summer Days Pass. Check website for all ticket prices.

 

6. Australia Day In Parramatta

The perfect way for families to celebrate all the things that make Australia great. There will be roving entertainment, Sydneys biggest hot air ballon sky display, vintage car and truck displays, an 80m long line of meat at the Big BBQ, the Triple J Hottest 100 countdown blasting loud and live, and of course, a dedicated Kids’ Crescent with story time, wild jungle face painting, parade of creatures, a drumming workshop, sing-alongs, magic workshops, giant bubbles, boat making workshops and a HEAP more! A FULL family day of epic fun.
Where: Parramatta Park, Pitt St & Macquarie St, Parramatta
When: Thursday 26 January 2017; 6am-9pm
Cost: FREE