Hot and Happening School Holiday Hits!

More often than not, when it seems perilous times lay ahead, the infamous quote from Game of Thrones springs to mind - “Winter is coming”. As melodramatic as this might sound, anyone who has experienced the wrath of Winter School Holidays will know this is a period not to be taken lightly.

Colder days tend to mean more hours spent inside and more pent up energy with the kids. And, I can promise, there is nothing quite as terrifying as having pent-up, bored-out-of-their-

brains children lurking in your midst.

Lucky for all who have the pleasure of taking on the school holiday break, we have a few ideas that might make this a bit easier. We’ve rounded up the best local hits to keep the kids busy and enjoy family time these holidays.

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**Covid Measures are in Place**

• Booking capacities have been reduced to comply with the 4m2 rule

• With the new capacities sessions may be fully booked

• Any event attendees are being contacted to ask anyone who has been required to go into lockdown to cancel their booking

• Any larger sessions have been split to keep attendee numbers below 25

All other COVID-safe measures continue to apply eg. mandatory check in for events, social distancing, mask wearing, hand sanitising, and attendees to stay at home if unwell.

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Newcastle Region Libraries

Calling all bookworms, artists and curious minds! Every day is a new opportunity to learn at Newcastle Region Libraries. Newcastle and Wallsend Library branches will be a hive of activity with ‘how to’ workshops on just about everything. From learning about Aboriginal weaving, creating shadow puppets or discovering the inner artist at the various painting workshops, there are loads of opportunities to unleash your imagination. If you just need to get out of the house, families are even welcome to snuggle up and join the special family movie afternoons!

Over on the digital library, there is plenty to keep little minds busy. Whether it’s creating your very own music video or creating some old-fashioned opera seeing glasses, there is something for everyone. It’s also the best place to pick up new release books for both kids and adults!

The library is always open and available via your fingertips on the Newcastle Libraries app. Be sure to visit

www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/library/whats-on/events and book your spot!

**Dry to Dry launch/street event Friday 2 July (evening) - POSTPONED until 23 July. All other school holiday programming is going ahead as planned - ALL TAKING PLACE**

Newcastle Museum

Take the kids and enter a whole new world! Over at the Newcastle Museum, kids can enjoy some fun science time with our resident scientist Catherine as she lets loose with some liquid nitrogen and talks about all things freezing cold. Or, explore the wonderful world of international architecture as seen through the photographic lens of the renowned Australian photographer John Gollings and help create a cardboard mini-city at the Museum. There is plenty more on offer for your future Einstein. To find out more and book your place, head to www.newcastlemuseum.com.au

**Winter Science Shows - CANCELLED

Build a city School Holiday program - POSTPONED**

Newcastle Art Gallery

Creative minds need stimulation. There is no better way for your mini-Monet to get their fix than to head to Newcastle Art Gallery. Budding artists will love what’s on offer. Touring Rachel Milne’s exhibition ‘Rest’, ‘Paint a Cupcake’ workshops or designing their very own Torres Strait Islander flag, kids will delight in the creative and hands-on art experiences. Open throughout the school holidays, take a wander through the gallery and discover the incredible exhibitions, or book into one of the awesome workshops. Be sure to register for these workshops prior. Visit www.nag.org.au for more details.

**General non-School Newcastle Art Gallery Holiday Workshop programs**

Curator and Artist Talk - POSTPONED

Coming of the Light - Event altered to adhere to restrictions

Art Cart to continue as usual

Free Sunday Guided Tours - Cancelled until further notice

Experience Fort Scratchley

With spectacular vistas across Newcastle’s coastline, Fort Scratchley is not only home to one of the best views in Newcastle but a great place to discover more about the history of our city. Make the most of the grassy hills for a family picnic, or book in for a tunnel tour where you will learn about the history of this amazing site. Then, stick around for the daily gun firing at 1 pm, weather permitting! Eagle-eyed youngsters might even be lucky enough to spot whales from the headland. For more details, visit www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/fort-scratchley/home

Blackbutt Reserve

Looking for the perfect way to get outdoors and enjoy that beautiful Winter sun? Get the family to Blackbutt Reserve for the ideal day out! Get up close and personal at the Reptile Show, where Blackbutt's expert team allow attendees to meet and learn about their favourite scaly, slithery friends! Kids will learn interesting facts about animal behaviour, physiology and habitats. With sessions running Monday to Friday ($4 per child), the kids will love the time spent out in nature. Alternatively, let the kids blow off some steam at the adventure playground at Richley Reserve.

**Reptile shows and feeding have been cancelled until further notice**

Visit www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/blackbutt-reserve for more details.

Lake Macquarie Libraries

Kids are sure to delight in a range of activities across the various Lake Macquarie Council libraries! Discover the ‘Digital Animation’ Workshop at Charlestown Library, where kids aged nine and above will learn how to write, shoot and edit a short claymation movie using the latest equipment.

Over at Wangi Library Creative Hub, there will be a hands-on branch-weaving workshop on Tuesday 6 July for ages eight and above. Kids will create woven wall hangings in the colours of the Aboriginal flag to celebrate NAIDOC Week. There will be plenty more activities on offer! Be sure to visit www.library.lakemac.com.au for more information, prices and to book your place.

Museum of Art and Culture Lake Macquarie

Over at MAC at Lake Macquarie, there is plenty in store to keep creative minds active. With a range of incredible workshops and exhibitions, your little one is sure to be a Van Gogh in the making. Be sure to join the incredible large-scale pastel drawing workshop on Wednesday 30 June and Thursday 1 July. Kids will be able to put brush to canvas and express their creative flair in two separate age-appropriate sessions. Head across to www.mac.lakemac.com.au to discover what is on these school holidays.

Out and About

Are the kids feeling a bit cooped up? Get them out of the house and burn off that energy! There is plenty more to see and do across Newcastle, Port Stephens and Lake Macquarie.

Over at Charlestown and West Wallsend Swim Centres, school holiday celebrations will be kicking off with the Aqua Fitness, STOMP squad and Swim squad. Check out www.lakemac.com.au for class times and details.

Looking to inspire little minds? Rathmines Theatre will host a live puppet show on Monday 28 June and Tuesday 29 June using three styles of puppetry to tell three classic fairy tales. Kids will see how the puppets work with hands-on interaction after the show. Follow this with a stop at SEEN@Swansea on Wednesday 7 July and enjoy the collage and mixed material landscapes workshop.

For the tech-obsessed, Edgeworth Memorial Neighbourhood Centre will provide kids with the opportunity to try their hand at coding with Ozbots and engineering Snap circuits on Wednesday, 30 June. Parents are encouraged to stay and play as well!

There is plenty in store these school holidays - click here to discover more or for more information visit your local council website.