School holiday activities ready to begin!

Artspace Mackay

APT10 Kids on Tour
Saturday, December 11, to Sunday, January 23, during opening hours
Artspace Mackay Workshop Room
Free
During the summer school holidays, bring your family and friends to make art in the gallery with APT10 Kids on Tour. There’ll be a variety of art-making activities developed by the Children’s Art Centre in collaboration with artists Shannon Novak (Aotearoa, New Zealand), Phuong Ngo (Australia), Syagini Ratna Wulan (Indonesia), Jamilah Haji (Thailand), Gidree Bawlee (Bangladesh) and Vipoo Srivilasa (Thailand/Australia). No bookings are necessary but parental supervision is required. If no seats are available when you arrive, simply try again later. This program is presented by the Queensland Art Gallery, Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA). Visit artspacemackay.com.au for more details.

Bluewater Lagoon

Open 7 days, from 9am to 5.45pm
River Street, Mackay
Splash around with the whole family at the Bluewater Lagoon. Overlooking the picturesque Pioneer River in the heart of the Mackay City Centre, the facilities provide the ideal stinger-free environment for kids and adults alike. For more details visit mackay.qld.gov.au/bluewaterlagoon

Greenmount Homestead

Virtual homestead tours
Access anytime online 
Tour the stunning, heritage-listed gardens of Greenmount Homestead and view photos from the archives on an educational and fun 3D tour from the comfort of your own home! This is a great way to learn more about Mackay’s most valued historical attraction. https://bit.ly/3sDLQ95

Ken Burgess Orchid House

Monday to Friday, 10am to 11am
Sunday, 10am to 2pm
Kids and adults alike will love the beautiful and rare orchids on display at the Ken Burgess Orchid House. Stroll through the display, which houses an astounding variety of orchids, all flowering at different times of the year. Enjoy the natural surrounds of Queens Park whilst you explore the Ken Burgess Orchid House. Make a day of it and bring along a picnic and let the kids enjoy the playground.

Libraries

Children’s school holiday activities

Summer Reading Club  
Monday, December 1, to Friday, January 21
All library branches
The State Library of Queensland Summer Reading Club is on again! Young people and families are invited to join the Summer Reading Club, which encourages summer-long reading, engagement with your local library, plus there are some fantastic local and state prizes to be won. Register for the local Summer Reading Club and visit any of our branches to pick up a challenge sheet. While you're there participate in our “Find all the Koalas” and “Koalas Like To” competitions. All registered participants who submit an entry at our library branches go into the draw to win a double pass to any show in DBCT’s Young People Entertainment Season at MECC 2022 or a $20 QBD book voucher.

Register for Mackay Regional Council Libraires Summer Reading Club to win local prizes here www.mackay.qld.gov.au/src

Register for the State Library of Queensland Summer Reading Club to win state prizes www.summerreadingclub.slq.qld.gov.au

Takeaway Christmas craft packs  
Available from Monday, December 13
All library branches
Get creative over the Christmas holidays with our free takeaway Christmas craft packs! Packs are free however you must have your library membership card and borrow one library item to collect your pack. There is a limit of one pack per child. Available while stocks last, so get in quick!

Bedtime Stories  
Thursday, December 16, 5pm to 6pm at Gordon White Library https://bit.ly/3peArN9
Thursday, January 20, 5pm to 6pm at Gordon White Library https://bit.ly/3xF0rp4
Thursday, January 20, 5pm to 6pm at Dudley Denny City Library https://bit.ly/2ZEJgay
A fun evening for children aged from birth to eight years-of-age and their families. The session features nursery rhymes, stories, songs and a craft activity. Don’t forget to wear your pyjamas!

Reef Rocks 
From Monday, January 3
Throughout the Mackay region
The sneaky library team have been out and about hiding Reef Rocks. We challenge you to find these hidden gems and return them to your local library in exchange for a free book. You can then re-hide your Reef Rock for the next rock hunter to discover.  This initiative is suitable for children from five to 12 years.

Drop-in Days  
Drop into our library branches for some creative fun during library opening hours. For children aged five to 12 years.

• Magformers 
  Tuesday, January 11, to Thursday, January 13, at Sarina LibraryTuesday, January 18, to Thursday, January 20, at Walkerston Library
  Click. Connect. Create. Magformers are educational construction toys that allow you to build your own magnetic 3D structures.
• Bamboo Construction
  Tuesday, January 11, to Thursday, January 13, at Walkerston Library
  Tuesday, January 18, to Thursday, January 20, at Mirani Library  
  Children explore ideas and find new ways of thinking, creating and building with our bamboo construction sets.
• LEGO
  Tuesday, January 11, to Thursday, January 13, at Mirani Library
  Tuesday, January 18, to Thursday, January 20, at Sarina Library
  Drop into the library for some LEGO fun during library opening hours.

Ukulele for kids
Monday, January 17, 10am to 10.45am at Sarina Library https://bit.ly/3D5ptOY
Monday, January 17, 11am to 11.45am at Sarina Library https://bit.ly/3I6SA8w
Wednesday, January 19, 10.30am to 11.15am at Gordon White Library https://bit.ly/3ljfkZ0
Wednesday, January 19, 11.30am to 12.15am at Gordon White Library https://bit.ly/3rme1fY
Thursday, January 20, 2pm to 2.45pm at Dudley Denny City Library https://bit.ly/3FZPzVu
Thursday, January 20, 3pm to 3.45pm at Dudley Denny City Library https://bit.ly/3xzOroy
This program is the perfect opportunity for children and their parents to come along and have a go at playing the ukulele and learn some basic musical skills in a fun environment. Specifically designed for children aged eight to 12 years and their parent/guardian.

Under the Sea puppet show  
Tuesday, January 18, 10am to 11am at Walkerston Library https://bit.ly/3xCA6I1
Tuesday, January 18, 2pm to 3pm, at Mirani Library https://bit.ly/31cQ2EE
Thursday, January 20, 10.30am to 11.30am at Dudley Denny City Library https://bit.ly/3D10BYF
To celebrate the launch of Strolling Stories, “One Remarkable Reef” at the Bucasia Esplanade, our friend Ros from Wild Puppets will be presenting an Under the Sea puppet show for children aged five to 12 years of age.

Roving Puppets 
Thursday, January 20, 1.30am to noon at Dudley Denny City Library
Say hello to Ros and her puppets after the show. No bookings required for this.

Movie Matinee
Moon Bound (PG)
Friday, January 21, 2pm to 4pm
Gordon White Library
When siblings Peter and Anne move to a new home, Anne’s imaginary stories of talking June Bugs and adventures to the moon begin to bother Peter. However, Peter soon realises his little sister’s enchanting tales are far more real than he could ever imagine. Join us for an afternoon movie and popcorn. This event is for children aged five to 12 years.  https://bit.ly/31cManB

Young adult school holiday activities

Personalised Christmas gift wrapping  
Tuesday, December 14, 3.30pm to 4.30pm
Gordon White Library
Wrap your gifts with personalised style, save $$$ and save waste! Bring any scrap cotton or silk materials (light colours preferably). This event is for young adults aged 12 to 18 years. More info here: https://bit.ly/32JUT14

Hogwarts mega LEGO project
Monday, January 10, to Friday, January 14, during opening hours
Dudley Denny City Library & Gordon White Library
Drop into our libraries to contribute to this mega LEGO structure! This event is for young adults aged 12 to 24 and will operate during usual opening hours. No booking is required for this event. Parents and carers, please be advised this activity is not suitable for children under eight due to choking hazards from small pieces.

Beautiful bugs
Tuesday, January 11, 10am to noon
Dudley Denny City Library
Join our own in-house entomologist for an introduction to insect preservation. You are welcome to bring your own (deceased) bugs. This event is for young adults aged 12 to 18 years. More info here: https://bit.ly/3lfrHW7

Bullet journals for 2022
Get organised for 2022 with quirky bullet journals that keep you on track with a creative flare. More than just a diary! This event is for young adults aged 12 to 25 years.

Monday, January 17, 2pm to 4pm
Sarina Library
https://bit.ly/3o3jfeb

Tuesday, January 18, 10am to noon
Mirani Library
https://bit.ly/3rqKlhL

Tuesday, January 18, 2pm to 4pm
Walkerston Library
https://bit.ly/3rlJkY7

Wednesday, January 19, 10am to noon
Dudley Denny City Library
https://bit.ly/3rlJrmv

Thursday, January 20, 10am to noon
Gordon White Library
https://bit.ly/3pdMXwp

Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens  

Kids painting competition 
Opens Monday, December 6, 2021, until Wednesday, January 19, 2022 
Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens
Is there a budding artist in your home? If so, here’s an opportunity for your children to have their artwork showcased in the February Lagoons Gallery Art Exhibition at the Botanic Gardens and win a $50 Wish gift card. This competition is open to children aged 10 to 17 years old. All you have to do is use your imagination to create a piece of hand-painted canvas art that reflects the theme ‘nature’. As part of the exhibition, we will ask members of the public to vote for their favourite artwork. The winner will be announced once the exhibition is over. For more information, please contact the Visitor Services Officer on phone 4952 7300 or email botanic@mackay.qld.gov.au

Self-guided activities
Any day or time
Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens
Discover which birds live in the Botanic Gardens, head on an epic voyager’s hunt to learn about some of our local native plants that were collected 250 years ago and see if you can complete the Alphabet I Spy! Self-guided activities are available all school holidays and can be printed from the Botanic Gardens website (mackayregionalbotanicgardens.com.au) or pick up copies from the brochure holders opposite the café.

Bocce with a buddy 
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Cost: $5 for hire of bocce set ($50 cash only refundable deposit)
Enjoy a game of bocce or croquet with a friend on our sand bocce court. Bocce sets are available for hire from the Botanic Gardens Visitor Information Centre.

Butterfly Host Plant Trail
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (when the Visitor Information Centre is open)
Tropical Shade Garden
Follow the trail around the Tropical Shade Garden and discover some of the plants you can grow at home to attract butterflies to your garden. Along the way, there is a kids fun facts trail to do. Don’t forget to visit the Visitor Information Centre and have a look at some of the critters on display.

MECC  

Centre Stage Dance Company presents That’s Entertainment 2021
Monday, December 6, 6pm
Tuesday, December 7, 6pm 
MECC Auditorium
Centre Stage Dance Company presents "That's Entertainment 2021" featuring dancers from two to 18 years. Our first half features a pantomime based on Summer Camp. Come along and see our cute lifeguards, little bears, campers, chefs and so many more characters as we spend some time on Summer Camp. 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. https://bit.ly/31d3hFJ

FAME Talent School presents The World’s Got Talent
Saturday, December 11, 11am
MECC Auditorium
FAME Talent School’s 2021 production tells the tale of the hottest new reality show set in Paris.
Move over the Eurovision Song Contest, there’s a new reality show captivating the globe. You’ve heard of Australia’s Got Talent, Britain’s Got Talent and America’s Got Talent. The world has opened up again for travel and is marking the occasion with the first, The World’s Got Talent! 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 the Moulin Rouge. https://bit.ly/3xOPOA9

Triple Bill
Sunday, December 12, 7pm
MECC Auditorium
Contemporary Ballet Youth Company Z proudly presents Triple Bill. It’s an innovative neo classical, contemporary ballet collaboration that’s dreamy and edgy. Three completely different productions all in one show. Take a dream with the Jewels inspired by George Balanchine, show your feminine side wearing Rouge and take a walk around the Lake. https://bit.ly/31aFwxW

Sarina Sugar Shed  

Special kids tour of the Sarina Sugar Shed
10.30am every day of the school holidays
Adult entry at the children’s price of $13.20, bookings are essential.
Field of Dreams Parklands, Railway Square, Sarina
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!

Everyone gets a chance to taste our non-alcoholic ginger beer brewed on-site and freshly-spun fairy floss. Limited spaces are available. Book online at sarinasugarshed.com.au

Sarina Youth Centre

The Sarina Youth Centre will host a range of school holiday fun activities for young people aged 10 to 21 years. There is a limit of 10 people each day. You must be registered to attend. Please indicate the day and program by calling 4961 9278 or email sarinayouthcentre@mackay.qld.gov.au

Deck the halls  
Monday, December 13, 10am to 2pm
Christmas decorating at the centre

Christmas card craft
Tuesday, December 14, 10am to 2pm
Spreading community joy

Cultural cooking
Wednesday, December 15, 10am to 2pm
Cooking from around the world

Christmas treats
Thursday, December 16, 10am to 2pm
Come dressed in theme

Centre closed
Friday, December 17

Christmas craft
Monday, December 20, 10am to 2pm
Enjoy a range of craft activities

Christmas treats
Thursday, December 21, 10am to 2pm
Come dressed in theme

Cultural cooking
Wednesday, December 22, 10am to 2pm
Cooking from around the world

Relax by the pool
Thursday, December 23, 10am to 2pm
Swimming day

Sarina Youth Centre Christmas lunch
Friday, December 24, 10am to 2pm
Christmas party games and lunch