Musical Rogues
Mon 6th to Friday 10th October, 10:00am to 11:30am.
Hyde Park Barracks Museum
$10 for the child and one adult gets in free
Dance and sing with the musical rogues, convicts and members of the church choir. Each child can make their own instrument to take home with them. Suitable for children aged 4 to 8 years.

Bookings are essential, go to www.hht.net.au

Splashers Swim School Open Day
Fri 10th October
Sutherland Leisure Centre
Free!
Get free swimming lessons and assessments. Join in relay and novelty races. Be a participant in the introduction to the new Goldfish Level swim class. The first 250 children get show bags. If you enrol into a swimming program today there is a chance to win a family holiday to Nelson Bay. All welcome, regardless of age or swimming ability.

Ph 8536 9777 or visit www.sslc.com.au for more info.

Sculptures By The Sea
16th October to 12th November
Along the Tamarama Beach to Bondi Beach Coastal Walk, Sydney
Free!
100 sculptures from 7 different countries will be displayed for all to see. Make it a day at the beach that’s a little more interesting and chill out on the sand after you and the kids have seen some incredible sculptures.

Just choose a nice day for the beach and take the Coastal Walk. For more details on location, distance, etc click here

Teddy Bears’ Picnic!
19 October (Sunday) 2008 – 10:30am
Rosehill Gardens.
Tickets are $15 each or $50 for a family of 4. This includes entry, all activities, entertainment and parking. All proceeds go to The Westmead Children’s Hospital.
A great day of family fun. See Alvin and the Chipmunks, Kung Fu Panda and the Marvel Superhero Show. There are free rides, jumping castles, face painting and the Bear Clinic, where you can fix your sick and injured teddies.

Book through Ticketmaster

The Kurrajong Scarecrow Festival
25 & 26 October 2008
Kurrajong (various venues)
Some events require tickets, others are free.
See Some traditional Kurrajong events, a concert on the village green and a scarecrow trail. There’s also a young talent quest, open gardens for charity and the spectacle of scarecrows. If that’s not enough, maybe you’ll enjoy the sheep shearing, reptile show, clowns, stage and village entertainment, stalls, children’s activities and more.

Click here for details (location, program etc.)

Ryde Epping Children’s Festival
26th October 10:00am - 2:00pm,
Darvall Park, Chatham Rd, West Ryde.
Unlimited rides pass $8 per child, $20 family pass.
Circus performers, magic shows, amusement rides, animal farm, jumping castles, pony rides, face painting and craft activities.

For info about Ryde Council and events click here

Eastern Suburbs Children’s Festival
26th October, 10:30am to 3:30pm
Waverley Park, Waverley
Free
Kids between 0 and 5 yrs of age can be let their imagination, creativity and free-play run wild, while their parents and carers join in the fun activities.

www.randwick.nsw.gov.au

Golden Ridge Animal Farm and S.O.S Aussies
Animal Farm 29th September to 4th October, S.O.S Aussies 6th October to 10th October
Southpoint Shopping Centre, 238-262 Bunnerong Rd, Hillsdale.
Free

For more info call the centre on 9311 3301

Family Fun Weekend
11th and 12th October
Coogee Bay Hotel, cnr Coogee Bay Rd and Arden St, Coogee
Free entry

For more info call the hotel on 9665 0000 or visit their website www.coogeebayhotel.com.au

What’s On Sydney by Kelly Makhoul

Dream Festival
October 3 – 6.
Birrarung Marr, Batman Avenue, Melbourne.
This is a free public event.
Over four days Birrarung Marr will play host to enormous illuminated artworks depicting the dreams and aspirations of Australians. Each installation will have its own soundtrack and accompanying story to give background to the inspiration behind each creative concept. On Saturday 4 October, the waterfront will burst to life with a full schedule of music in Alexandra Gardens featuring some of Australia’s most talented musicians leading up to a spectacular night time finale along the waterfront.

For more information go to www.dreamfestival.com.au

MILO in2CRICKET Program
October 2 – 11-2pm – Launch Day.
Federation Square, 2-20 Swanston Street, Melbourne.
This is a free public event.
Bring the whole family to the MILO in2Cricket Program these school holidays for fun, free activities. Get up close with the MILO in2CRICKET ambassadors and test your cricket skills.

For more information call (03) 9653 8863 or go to www.in2cricket.com.au

Yea Wetlands - Womindjeka Day (Welcome Day)
October 4 - 2pm.
Yea Wetlands, Goulburn Valley Highway, Yea.
Spend a spring afternoon at the Yea Wetlands with 32 acres of crown land between two branches of the Yea River. There will be informative walks and fun activities for the kids and the whole family, with a community barbeque at dusk, followed by a campfire corroboree at nightfall.

For more information go to www.yeawetlands.org.au or call 0408 576 588.

Meccano Model Exhibition
October 11 – 10-5pm, October 12 – 10-4pm.
Corner of Gardenvale and Magnolia Rds, Gardenvale.
Family tickets are $10, Adults $5, Teenagers $2 and smaller children are free.
Come and experience the large range of Meccano machines, mechanisms, models and mysteries. The traditional Meccano cranes, planes and trains will be on display. Also expect to see mechanical computers, curious clocks, and mysterious ball rollers. Members of the Melbourne Meccano Club will be showing off their mechanical skills and their collections of rare Meccano sets, parts and literature.

For more information call (03) 9789 5796.

Pets’ Day Out
October 12, 10-4pm.
Ballam Park, Cranbourne Rd, Frankston.
This is a free public event.
Treat your furry friend to a free day full of fun activities, entertainment and displays for the whole family to enjoy.

For more information go to www.frankston.vic.gov.au or call 1300 322 322.

State Duck, Sheep and Cattle Championships
October 25-26.
South Gippsland Highway, Welshpool.
Come and experience the annual State Duck, Sheep and Cattle Championships and watch events such as the frisbee catch, dog race, dog high jump, puppies on sheep, kids events and an animal nursery. There is also $1000 up for grabs, as well as trophies, sashes, ribbons and free dog food giveaways.

For more information call Paul Macphail on 0418 335 306.

The Melbourne Magic Festival
September 22 – October 4.
Northcote Town Hall, 189 High Street, Northcote.
Go to website for admission prices.
Come and experience the Australian Institute of Magic’s Melbourne Magic Festival with over 50 performances of 10 different shows for all ages to enjoy.

For more information go to www.australianinstituteofmagic.com.au

RSPCA Happy Tails Day
October 10.
This is a nation-wide event, raising money for the RSPCA by buying merchandise and giving donations.
Celebrate Happy Tails Day by wearing plush tails and ears to show you care about animals and support the work of the RSPCA. This year’s Happy Tails Day theme is about enjoying the great outdoors with your best friend.

For more information go to www.rspca.org.au or call 02 6282 8300.

What’s On - Melbourne by Amy Braddon

Gogo Fish
(suitable for 5 - 12 years)
Sept 30 – Oct 11th Tues – Sat. 11am and 1pm
Subiaco Arts Centre studio, 180 Hammersley Rd Subiaco
$14.90pp
This drama recreates the world of the Placoderms, water borne, amour-plated evolutionary ancestors of humans that lived in the Kimberley 375 million years ago. Its story takes you back there with a time-travelling fish club. The club arrives at an evolutionary turning point: swamp fish are developing the bone structures of arms and legs. Will the Placoderms realise that to be a ‘fish out of water’ IS progress? This is a West Australian story with international significance and a comedy based on scientific fact.

Phone 9380 3080
www.barkinggecko.com.au

GinGin Observatory – Family Space Adventures Star Gazing and Cosmic Dinner
2, 3, 9 & 10th October 5.30 – 8.30pm
Gingin Observatory, Military Rd Gingin
Adults $46 Children $32
Join astronomers and discover the universe. Enjoy the stargazing and a meal as a family.

Phone 9575 7740
www.ginginobservatory.com

Fremantle School Holiday Fun
10am – 3pm Tuesdays and Wednesdays 27th Sept – 10th Oct.
Kings Square Fremantle
Free
Activities include giant chess, card making, origami workshops, poetry classes, colouring competitions, face painting and balloon giveaways.

Phone 9432 9888
www.fremantle.wa.gov.au

Belmont Festival
Launch on Sunday, October 5, 2008 from 10am to 2pm Festival continues from Oct 5 – Nov 22nd.
Hardey Park, Great Eastern Highway, Belmont
Free events
Huge variety of activities including outdoor movie nights, concerts in the part, extreme sports competition, breakfast with the stars and Railway stakes with Jimmy Barnes. There will be a water ski show at the launch and tons of free activities and entertainment including a teddy bears picnic and other family events during the festival period.

Phone 9477 7248
www.belmont.wa.gov.au

Kelmscott Show
October 17th 4-10pm, 18-19th 9am – 9pm.
Showgrounds, River Road Kelmscott
Nominal entry fee and purchases as chosen
A great day out with food and fun for everyone; rides, showbags and animals. Kelmscott Agricultural Society Fire Works Display will kick off at approx 8:30PM on both Friday & Saturday nights. There will be exhibiting and judging of dairy goats, cattle, sheep, rabbits, donkeys, mules, pigeons, poultry and the ever popular children’s farmyard nursery provides everyone with a touch of living the country life. The horses in action on the lower arena allow local riders to enter into hacking, novelties and show jumping events.

Phone 9390 7121
www.kelmscottannualshow.com.au

Zigzag Community Arts Festival
11:00am till 8:00pm 10am Oct 26th
Stirk Park Kalamunda
Free
The festival theme for 2008 is collaboration. Soak up the culture at the Kalamunda Community Arts Festival focused on building and nurturing scores of creative partnerships and collaborations in the local community. The collaborations will celebrate the rich cultural life in the Hills – the musicians, visual artists, dancers and creative community artisans in all areas of the arts. Kids can try out pottery, woodwork, hessian crafts, weaving, storytelling, dressing dolls and music. Pre-festival workshops and activities for children and teens are also available.

www.zigzagfestival.org

Spring Family Bushwalks
Bungendore Park Djilba Walk

Sunday 21 September 2008
Choice of two walks - 2.5km or 3km
Register at Armadale Christian College car park Admiral Road, Bedfordale
Settlers Common Walk

Sunday 5 October 2008
Choice of two walks - 3 km or 6 km (both one way)
Register at the Field Centre, Corner of Carradine road and Albany Highway
Walk the Wungong

Sunday 19 October 2008
This walk is approximately 5km one way
Register at Wungong Dam’s lower car park,
Admiral Road, Bedfordale
Churchman Bushland Walks

Sunday 2 November 2008
Choice of a 5km or a 6km walk
Register at Beeloo Close, Off Churchman Brook Road, Roleystone

Free
Wonderful family outings spent in the natural bushland surrounding Armadale. Great opportunity to teach children about respect for our environment and the myriad of wildflowers and animals we have at our fingertips to enjoy. So why not pack a picnic and the kids and spend some time discovering the wonders of your own back door.

Phone 9399 0187
www.armadale.wa.gov.au

Bayswater Waves 10th Birthday Fun Day
12 – 4pm 25th October
Bayswater Waves, Cnr Broun Ave and Priestley St Embleton
$2 entry
Fun activities for all children. Bob the Builder show will commence at 2pm. Also pony rides, Old McDonald’s Travelling Farm, Mechanical Surfboard, Junior Pirate Slide, Pool Inflatables, bouncy castle and free showbags for the first 100 entrants.

Phone 9276 6538
www.bayswater.wa.gov.au

What’s On Perth by Rebecca Doughty