School holiday activities for the festive season

Published: 06 Dec 2022

Ensure the kids are kept entertained these school holidays, with a host of fun and exciting activities across the region.

Artspace Mackay

Garlands from the Garden
Saturday, December 10, to Friday, December 23
Workshop Room, Artspace Mackay
Free
Bring your friends and family to Artspace Mackay during the December school holidays and learn to use different kinds of leaves to make beautiful, natural garlands for a wonderful sustainable Christmas! You can say no to plastic decorations this year - simply snip, fold, stitch and tie mango, eucalypt and coconut leaves together to create special handmade garlands to decorate your room. The possibilities are endless! This is a drop-in style activity with instructions and signage to guide you, parental supervision for children is essential. Stay for a few minutes or a few hours, no bookings necessary. Artspace Mackay opening hours are Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 5pm and Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 3pm (closed Mondays).

Libraries

Mackay Regional Council Libraries school holiday program is specifically designed for children aged five to 12 years and young adults aged 12 to 18 years.

Bookings for all events can be made online at https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/school-holiday-activities-869109 except events promoted as ‘drop in’, these events do not require a booking.

Anime Manga Club
Thursday, January 19, from 5.30pm to 7pm
Gordon White Library
Come on out anime and manga fans! Share your favourite story ideas, drawings and all things Japanese. Suitable for young adults aged 12 to 18 years.

Hogwarts Mega Lego Drop-in Project
From Monday, December 19 to Friday, January 20
Sarina Library and Mirani Library
Hogwarts and Lego – does it get any better? Drop into Sarina and Mirani Libraries over the holidays to contribute to this mega Lego structure!

Puppeteering Workshop
Thursday, January 12, and Friday, January 13, from 10am to 2pm
Gordon White Library

Two whole days of puppeteering! Learn the secrets to bringing your puppets to life (and maybe cause a little mayhem).  For young adults aged 12 to 18 years. Please note: Participants should be able to commit to both days.

Bedtime Stories
Thursday, December 15, from 5pm to 6pm - Gordon White Library
Thursday, December 15, from 5pm to 6pm - Dudley Denny City Library
Thursday, January 19, from 5pm to 6pm - Gordon White Library
Thursday, January 19, from 5pm to 6pm - Dudley Denny City Library
A fun evening for children from birth to eight years of age and their families. This session features nursery rhymes, stories, songs and a craft activity. Don’t forget to wear your pyjamas!

Movie Matinee
Join us for an afternoon movie and popcorn.  This event is for children aged 5 to 12 years old.

A Boy Called Christmas (PG)
Friday, December 16, from 2pm to 4pm
Gordon White Library
An ordinary young boy called Nikolas sets out on an extraordinary adventure into the snowy north in search of his father who is on a quest to discover the fabled village of the elves, Elfhelm. Taking with him a headstrong reindeer called Blitzen and a loyal pet mouse, Nikolas soon meets his destiny in this magical, comic and endearing story that proves nothing is impossible. Adapted from the best-selling book by Matt Haig.

Lightyear
Friday, January 20, from 2pm to 4pm
Gordon White Library
Legendary space ranger Buzz Lightyear embarks on an intergalactic adventure alongside ambitious recruits Izzy, Mo, Darby, and his robot companion, Sox.

Christmas for Kids
Tuesday, December 13, from 10am to 11am - Walkerston Library
Tuesday, December 13, from 2pm to 3pm - Mirani Library
Wednesday, December 14, from 10am to 11am - Gordon White Library
Thursday, December 15, from 10:30am to 11:30am - Dudley Denny City Library
Friday, December 16, from 10am to 11am - Sarina Library
Hey kids, get into the spirit of Christmas at your local library! Children aged five to 12 years of age are invited to join us for some Christmas craft and some festive carols.

Lego Drop-in Days
Tuesday, December 13 to Thursday, December 15 - Walkerston Library
Tuesday, December 20 to Thursday, December 22 - Sarina Library
Tuesday, January 10 to Thursday, January 12 - Mirani Library
Tuesday, January 17 to Thursday January 19 - Walkerston Library
Imagine. Connect. Construct. Lego encourages children to explore, design, create and play. No bookings required.

Magformers Drop-in Days
Tuesday, December 13 to Thursday, December 15 - Mirani Library
Tuesday, December 20 to Thursday, December 22 - Walkerston Library
Tuesday, January 10 to Thursday, January 12 - Sarina Library
Tuesday, January 17 to Thursday January 19 - Mirani Library
Click. Connect. Create. Magformers are educational construction toys for children of all ages that allow you to build your own magnetic 3D structures. A world of exploration and discovery, limited only to your imagination. No bookings required.

Bamboo Construction Drop-in Days
Tuesday, December 13 to Thursday, December 15 - Sarina Library
Tuesday, December 20 to Thursday, December 22 - Mirani Library
Tuesday, January 10 to Thursday, January 12 - Walkerston Library
Tuesday, January 17 to Thursday January 19 - Sarina Library
Engineer. Design. Build. Children are encouraged to explore, investigate, develop ideas and find new ways of thinking, creating and building. No bookings required.

Summer Reading Club
The Summer Reading Club is on again! Young people and families are invited to join the Summer Reading Challenge, which encourages summer-long reading, plus engagement with your local library.

The challenge runs from Thursday, December 1 until Tuesday, January 31. Sign up for our eNewsletters for more information closer to the date.

Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens  

Tibbles Word Search
Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm until Friday, December 23
Tropical Shade Garden
Tibbles the friendly garden gnome is adventuring through the Tropical Shade Garden during the holidays. Find all the hidden gnomes to discover the secret code. Suitable for kids aged five to 12 years.

Additional self-guided activity resources can be found here: mackayregionalbotanicgardens.com.au

Nature Crafts
Tuesday, December 13, 9am to 10am
Wednesday, December 14, 9am to 10am
Tuesday, December 20, 9am to 10am
Wednesday, December 21, 9am to 10am
Botanic Gardens Meeting Room
Create holiday-themed crafts, perfect for gifts or ornaments. Open to all ages, children must be supervised by an adult.

Holiday Card Creation
Tuesday, December 13, 10:30am to 3pm
Wednesday, December 14, 10:30am to 3pm
Tuesday, December 20, 10:30am to 3pm
Wednesday, December 21, 10:30am to 3pm
Botanic Gardens Meeting Room
Add a personal touch to gift giving this year with a handmade holiday card. Decorate a native fauna themed card and write a kind message inside. Open to all ages, children must be supervised by an adult.

Pot Plant Decorating
Thursday, December 15, 10am to 11.30am

Thursday, December 22, 10am to 11.30am
Botanic Gardens Meeting Room
Cost: $5
Decorate a small pot and take home a plant from the Mackay Natural Environment Centre. Bookings required and spaces limited, phone 4952 7300 to book your spot.

MECC  

Centre Stage Dance Company presents That’s Entertainment 2022
Monday, December 5, 6pm
Tuesday, December 6, 6pm 
MECC Auditorium
Centre Stage Dance Company presents "That's Entertainment 2022" featuring dancers from two to 18 years. Our first half features a pantomime based on a family favourite, Peter Pan. Our second half features a smorgasbord of dance routines in jazz, tap, hip hop, boys hip hop, contemporary, ballet, cabaret and showgirl. This show is for all ages and is only group routines, no solos.

Fame Talent School presents ROYAL
Saturday, December 10, 11am
MECC Auditorium
FAME Talent School presents its 2022 production of “Royal. Starring Fame Talent School’s homegrown dancers, singers and actors, this production will have you tapping your toes, singing along and planning a trip to London…

Sarina Sugar Shed  

Special kids tour of the Sarina Sugar Shed
10.30am every day of the school holidays (Please note, no school holiday tours from December 27, 2022 to January 2, 2023)
Field of Dreams Parklands, Railway Square, Sarina
Adult entry at the children’s price of $13.60, bookings are essential and can be booked online at www.sarinasugarshed.com.au
This fun, interactive session focuses on the kids, with the added bonus of adults being welcome at kids' prices! During the 45-minute tour, the kids will discover the growing and harvesting of the sugar cane and complete a hunt for the critters that live in our sugar cane patch. They’ll enter our miniature sugar mill to see how sugar cane is crushed, and sample deliciously sweet sugar cane juice straight from our miniature mill, 'Bill the Mill Junior’.

Special stickers help the kids to understand how the machines work to transform sugar cane juice into sugar – they can touch and feel the different stages of the production from the bagasse to the sugar, to tasting the molasses! They’ll also receive a free information sheet at the end, which is great for school projects, and the quick, fun quiz will help to keep the young ones engaged. They are guaranteed to learn something!

Sarina Youth Centre

The Sarina Youth Centre will host a range of school holiday drop-in activities for young people aged 10 to 21 years. There is a limit of spots, so please register to attend by calling 4961 9278 or email sarinayouthcentre@mackay.qld.gov.au