Published on 06 July 2023
Beat the winter blues these school holidays
The school holidays (8–23 July) are almost upon us, and there are a ton of fun activities on offer at Onkaparinga’s centres, libraries and nature places to help you and the family beat the winter blues.
You can check out the full list at council’s website, where you can sort events by date, suburb, category, or phrase/keyword, or you can see some of the highlights we’ve compiled below.
Many of the activities are free, but make sure you book early to avoid disappointment—spots are filling up fast!
Stay active
Keep your heart rate pumping and stay warm with a free school holiday skate session for 6–16 year olds at the Niipu-niipu Wama (Morton Park) skate park, with coaches available for all skill levels, on Monday 10 July.
Run away and join the circus with a free circus gymnastics workshop at Hub Library for 5–10 year olds on Thursday 13 July, with an experienced coach showing you how to do some specky tricks.
Try your hand at disc golf with the whole family at a free come and try session at Wilfred Taylor Reserve on Sunday 16 July, or have a go at soccer, Australian rules football and ultimate frisbee with a free sports day at Niipu-niipu Wama (Morton Park) on Tuesday 18 July.
Get for a skate at Ice Arena and then knock over some pins with ten-pin bowling at an Onkaparinga Youth outing for 10-15 year olds on Wednesday 19 July (tickets $20).
Get creative
Onkaparinga Libraries has a range of mostly free sessions allowing younger kids to get crafty and creative during the school holidays, including an Imagination Playground Drop-in for kids aged 2+; and circus-themed arts and crafts sessions (at Noarlunga, Seaford and Aldinga) and children’s craft drop-ins at Seaford and Hub libraries for kids aged 5+.
If you’re looking for creative inspiration, head along to the Onkaparinga Youth Enterprise Hub’s meetup event on Friday 21 July to connect with other young creatives, entrepreneurs and change-makers south of Adelaide, featuring inspirational guest speakers, great food and music from local artists.
Learn a new skill
If you want to learn a new skill in the school holidays, you’re in luck.
At Base 10 Youth centre you can take advantage of masterclasses and workshops on remixing and editing your music with renowned DJ and producer DJ Inskwel (15-25 year olds, $5), starting your own Dungeons & Dragons group ($5, pizza lunch included), or learning the art of origami (12-25 year olds, free).
At the Onkaparinga Youth Enterprise Hub, you can learn the ways of makeup artistry ($10), graphic design (free) or smart phone photography (free).
Try your hand at street art (12-26 year olds, free), mosaic art (8-15 year olds, $5) or cooking (8-14 year olds, $5) at Studio 20 Youth Centre.
Learn some killer circus skills at Aldinga, Hub, Noarlunga, Seaford, Willunga Woodcroft libraries (5-12 year olds, free).
Or solve your first escape room with an immersive Hogwarts-themed experience for adults and ages 14+ at Hub Library on 20 or 21 July, or a Star of Greece-themed escape box at Aldinga or Willunga Libraries for ages 10+.
Hang out
If you’d prefer to relax, sit back and simply hang out with friends (or meet new ones), or catch a show or movie, there are heaps of options too.
At Onkaparinga Libraries, free movies will be showing at Noarlunga and Hub Libraries, with storytime sessions at the Aldinga, Hub, Seaford and Woodcroft Libraries.
You can hang out in your PJs and a blanket while enjoying bingo and quiz challenges with a hot chocolate and toastie at Wardli Youth Centre, or join the Solace LGBTQIA+ hangout at Base 10 Youth Centre to enjoy Nintendo Switch battles, art and craft, and pizza.
Port Noarlunga’s Arts Centre is hosting a Magic Music Show, featuring Tony Genovese from Cool 4 Kids and Drew the Magician on Monday 10 July ($10).
Get back to nature
On Monday 10 July you can join the Green Adelaide Education team, in partnership with the City of Onkaparinga, and prepare to get muddy as you discover the creatures that live in and around Morphett Vale’s Brodie Road Wetland. Bookings are essential for the free event, which is suitable for all ages.
Wardli Youth Centre is hosting a Food Growing for Families workshop on Thursday 20 July, including activities for younger gardeners aged 8-25. A light lunch is included, cost is $6 per family.