KEY DATES
- Public school holidays start Saturday 5 July. School goes back on Monday 21 July but most public schools have a staff development day on the first day back, with kids returning to school on Tuesday 22 July.
WHAT’S ON IN THE HILLS
- Messy Makers at Lynwood Country Club. Every Wednesday. 11am to 12pm (excluding school holidays)
- Messy Makers every Thursday at Castle Hill Bowling Club. 10.30am to 11.30am (excluding school holidays)
- Jellybean Jam live at Bella Vista Hotel. Saturday 5 July. From 9pm.
- Bella Vista Farm Open Day. Sunday 6 July. 9am to 2pm.
- Rouse Hill Estate open to the public. Every Sunday. 10am to 4pm.
- Powerhouse Castle Hill. Open every Saturday and Sunday. 10am – 4pm.
- NAIDOC Week: Have a Yarn on the Farm. Bella Vista Farm. Thursday 10 July. 10am to 2pm.
- Tiktok Winterfest Food Festival. Richmond Race Club. Friday 11 July – 5pm till 10pm. Saturday 12 July – 5pm to 10:30pm. Sunday 13 July – 12pm-9pm.
- Burramatta NAIDOC. Parramatta Park. Saturday 12 July. 11am to 3pm.
- Galston Valley Railway Open Day. Sunday 13 July. 9.30am – 3pm.
- NAIDOC Week at Rouse Hill Estate. Sunday 13 July. 10am to 3pm.
- Sportsman’s Lunch at Bella Vista Hotel. Friday 18 July. From 1pm.
- Hills High End pre-loved Clothing Market. Sunday 20 July. 9am to 1pm.
- Brown Sugar live at Bella Vista Hotel. Saturday 26 July. From 9pm.
- National Tree Day. Sunday 27 July.
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
Do you still need to arrange a camp, class or activity if you need to work or just need to fill in a half-day, a day or more? Here are some options in and around the Hills that may have some spots left.
Powerhouse School Holidays
From July 5 to 20, primary and high school aged kids can learn new skills in engineering, media arts, artificial intelligence in space, exhibition design, and comic design, or enjoy a free drop-in textiles activity for the whole family. There’s something for everyone. Here’s what’s on:
- Creative Studio: Comic Design – Dive into the world of comic storytelling in a three-day workshop led by artist Annie Huang and comic writer Christof Bogacs. Students will be guided to sketch and script their own comic strips that blend personal reflection with visual storytelling. 7-9 July, 10am-2pm | Phive, Parramatta | Ages 11-17 | $20 | BOOK NOW
- Creative Studio: Engineering – Discover how civil, electrical, chemical and computer engineering impact cities in a high-energy, hands-on workshop. Equipped with an Engineering Kit, students will be encouraged to think bigger, build smarter and collaborate with purpose to shape a more innovative and inclusive world. 9-11 July and 16-18 July, 10am-2pm | Phive, Parramatta | Ages 12-16 | $20 | BOOK NOW
- Creative Studio: Media Arts – Calling all future filmmakers, digital designers and creatives! Step into the world of film, storytelling and digital media in this immersive workshop designed for high school students and dive into the core of media arts: blending screenwriting, character design, AI innovation and visual storytelling. 8-10 July, 10am-2pm | UTS Building 5, Haymarket | Ages 14-18 | $20 | BOOK NOW
- Creative Studio: AI in Space – AI for Good? Explore the capabilities of artificial intelligence in space in with Space Machines Company, one of Australia’s leading space technology startups. This workshop is for students who are curious about AI and generative tools or are thinking about a career that uses AI, one of the fastest-growing technologies. 14-16 July, 10am-2pm | Powerhouse Castle Hill | Years 10-12, ages 15-18 | $20 | BOOK NOW
- Powerhouse Academy: Curatorial Kids – Transform a museum exhibition from a concept to reality in this creative and hands-on full-day design workshop. Guided by Powerhouse curators, students will learn about the creative and technical processes involved in making an exhibition come to life. 10 July, 10am-4pm | Powerhouse Castle Hill | Ages 9-12 | $10 | BOOK NOW
- Powerhouse Materials: Textiles Studio – People of all ages are invited to drop-in to the Textiles Studio, to create their own soft toy inspired by objects from the Powerhouse Collection. Experiment with remnant and deadstock fabrics, while discovering new techniques and connections to textiles. Every weekend between 5-20 July, 10am-4pm | Powerhouse Castle Hill | All Ages | Free | MORE INFO
School Holidays at Castle Hill RSL
- Marvel v DC Family Trivia Night – Monday 7 July. 6pm start time. Cost: $5 for adult (redeemable for a drink voucher). Find out more here.
- Ultimate Magic Show with Jonas Jost – Tuesday 8 July. 11am. A super popular action packed family show, featuring hilarious comedy and mind-blowing magic for kids and adults alike. This show is highly interactive, getting the kids involved in all the action onstage and isn’t just funny for the kids but the parents will have a good laugh too! Find out more here.
- Starlit Galaxy Painting Workshop – Wednesday 9 July. Held at Castle Hill Bowling Club. 10am to 11am. Find out more here.
- Minions Painting Workshop – Wednesday 9 July. Held at Castle Hill Bowling Club. 11.30am to 12.30pm. Find out more here.
- Magical World of Crazy Science – Thursday 10 July. 11am. Crazy Science is a one-of-a-kind show that blends science, magic, comedy, mime, and music. Chemistry and physics take centre stage as the audience witnesses giant columns of elephant toothpaste, toilet paper flying high, smoke rings zooming through the air, the incredible magic of polymers, and gigantic bubbles that have to be seen to be believed! Add to this a hilarious mix of world-class interactive magic from an award-winning magician, cool music, and immersive sound effects from the DJ, and you’ve got one of the world’s most engaging science shows! Find out more here.
- Rainbow Speckled Pom Pom Pencil Workshop. Wednesday 16 July. 10.30am to 12pm. Find out more here.
- Coffee and Colouring with a Cop. Thursday 17 July. 10.30am. Find out more here.
Winter Holidays at the Discovery Centre
Mirvac is excited to welcome families back to the Discovery Centre in West Pennant Hills for a series of fun and free school holiday workshops! This popular program offers children a great way to connect with nature, culture, and the local community – all within their own neighbourhood. These hands-on sessions are designed to be both educational and engaging, featuring eco-friendly activities such as:
- Waste Warriors Workshop
- Composting and Worm Farming
- Natural skincare creation
- Insect craft-making
- Propagation: How Plants Grow from a Seed
- The Secret Life of Powerful Owls
- Wildlife Detectives
- First Nations Gardening and Culture Workshops
- Wildlife Wonders with Sydney Wildlife Rescue
Each workshop encourages children to learn through play while discovering more about the environment around them. It’s a fantastic opportunity for families to enjoy meaningful, memorable experiences together during the school holidays. Find out more and register here.
Space Play at PHIVE
Take a voyage into the universe and play in the star fields of space! Create asteroid clouds and send stars shooting in this awe-inspiring, interactive digital experience. Only at PHIVE, these Winter School Holidays. Immerse in the solar system, the planets, moons, meteors and more in this interplanetary adventure from the creative people at Box of Birds. Space Play is a visually rich and fun experience for audiences of all ages – the young and young at heart. Relaxed Sessions will be held Mondays at 10am, offering an experience designed to support people with neurodivergent access needs and others who benefit from a calmer environment.
If you loved Sea of Light and Creature, you’ll love this stellar, galactical experience. Book now! Box of Birds is a collective of artists creating immersive experiences that ignite the creative human spark through social interaction, playful participation, spectacular visuals, and technological innovation. CLICK HERE TO BOOK
Dates: Saturday 5 July. Monday 7 – Saturday 12 July. Monday 14 – Friday 18 July. Closed Sundays
Times: 10am, 11am, 12pm, 2pm & 3pm | Run time: 45 minutes approximately.
Where: PHIVE, 5 Parramatta Square
Hills Shire Council
Keep the kids entertained and learning all winter holidays with Council’s range of FREE and fun workshops and activities. The Hills Shire Council School Holiday Program is designed to give Hills kids the opportunity to learn, grow, and connect during the break – and best of all it’s free!
The main event is Yarn at the Farm on Thursday 10 July from 10am to 2pm at Bella Vista Farm. This NAIDOC week event families will enjoy FREE cultural workshops, traditional arts and crafts, sporting activities with AFL NSW, Parramatta Eels, and Western Sydney Wanderers. There will also be FREE servings of Indigenous fusion cuisine from Wilka Thalta food truck (500 servings), alongside live music, storytelling, traditional dances, performances, and market stalls.
Other events:
- Play Well Soccer Program
- Games Afternoon with Headspace
- Air Dry Clay Workshop
- NAIDOC Workshops
- Technology Workshops
- Environment Workshops
- Library Workshops (some workshops might charge a fee)
To check out more activities and workshops and to register, visit: https://www.thehills.nsw.gov.au/Residents/Your-Family/School-Holiday-Activities
Castle Towers
Jurassic World Rebirth Zone – Enjoy an interactive, action-packed experience that transports you back to the age of the dinosaurs. From 7 – 20 July, families are invited to visit the the Adventure Zone to discover a prehistoric land featuring life-sized animatronic dinosaurs. Kids can dig for fossils, go wild in the dino free-play zone and snap a pic at the photo wall featuring the Mosasaurus! Find the Adventure Zone located on level 2, opposite David Jones.
Sushi Hub kids sushi making workshop – Thursday 10 July. Sessions from 10am. Book here.
Bundle of Fun pass – From striking out at bowling to catching the latest flicks on the big screen, Castle Towers have got the whole family covered with hours of fun. Their Bundle of Fun Pass gives you access to all THREE of their great entertainment attractions and more! Find out more here.
Castle Mall
Dino Reptile Fun | 10am–1pm on 9, 12 and 13 July – Join in the excitement with hands-on, educational activities during the school holidays:
Tuesday 9 July – Slither into Craft Workshops where kids can create their own pet snakes.
Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 July – Live reptile encounters for curious minds and brave explorers, with exciting shows at 11am.
You’ll find the Dino Reptile Fun on the Level 1 bridge near the playground.
Hudson Hotel Seven Hills
Hudson Hotel’s popular School Holiday Program is back and bookings are essential. Book via the link! https://www.sevenrooms.com/xof0lmZu
Vineyard Hotel
Spend the Winter School Holidays making memories with the whole family with the Vineyard Hotel’s free kids activities every weekday from 12-2pm!
Week 1: Mon 7 July: Features Creatures Reptile Show | Tues 8 July: Pony Rides and Petting Zoo |Wed 9 July: Elsa and Anna Show | Thur 10 July: Young Scientist Slime and Snow Making | Fri 11 July: Visit from Snow Angels
Week 2: Mon 14 July: Visit from Snowman and Snow Fairy | Tues 15 July: Reptiles Up Close Show | Wed 16 July: Minecraft World Lego Experience | Thur 17 July: Pony Rides and Petting Zoo | Fri 18 July: Visit from Nutcracker Ballerinas
Plus, enjoy daily snow experiences, jumping castles and more! Find out more here.
MARKETS
- Castle Hill AussieNightmarkets – Winter Markets. Saturday 5 July. From 12pm to 8pm.
- Sydney Boutique Markets. Sunday 6 July. 10am to 4pm. Rouse Hill Town Centre.
- Castle Hill Farmers and Fine Food Market – Saturday 12 July and Saturday 26 July. 8am to 12pm. Castle Hill Showground.
- Dural Village Markets. Sunday 13 July. 9am to 1pm. Dural Country Club.
- DownTown Markets. Sunday 20 July. 9am to 3pm. Wollundry Park, Pennant Hills.
- The Hills UPMarket. Sunday 27 July. 9am to 2pm. Castle Hill Showground.
STORYTIME
- FREE storytime sessions for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers are held by libraries in the Hills throughout the week. Check out the Hills Shire Library website for more details. Note: These sessions don’t run during school holidays.
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