The Sydney Christmas Parade
Sun 30th November 11:30am to 2:30pm (Parade) then 2:30 onwards (activities)
Free!
From Circular Quay to Tumbalong Park
The parade will end at Tumbalong park where there will be a Santa’s village set up. Activities will begin there from 10:30pm before the parade starts and all events will conclude at 7pm. The parade will feature all different kinds of floats, both local and international. There will be dancers and singers, cheerleaders, celebrities (including famous sports people) and cartoon characters. Getting there on public transport is recommended - the city will be very busy and parking is difficult and expensive. Watch the parade from anywhere along George St in the city, or on the big screen which will be at Tumbalong Park. Stay after the parade and join Santa Clause in his Christmas Cave - then have a photo with him to take home! Enjoy activities in the park until 7pm.
Visit www.sydneychristmasparade.com/faqs.htm for more info.

******************************

Bouncing Babies Story Time
Every Tuesday of school terms. Finishes 12th Jan 09
Campsie Library, 14-28 Amy Street, Campsie
Free!
For babies between 0 and 18 months. There will be stories, rhymes, songs and puppets and you can meet other mums and bubs.
Phone 97899243 or visit www.canterbury.nsw.gov.au

******************************

The Tram to Bondi Beach
Thursday, 6 November 2008 9.00am, 11.00 am, 12.30 pm and 2.00 pm
Randwick Town Hall, corner of Avoca and Frances Streets in Randwick.
Watch a stage adaptation of Libby Hathorn’s book The Tram To Bondi Beach. Aimed at children aged 5 to 11.

Phone 9314 4888 for more info

******************************

The Wiggles: The New Dorothy the Dinosaur Show
On various days in different locations between 3rd Nov and 14th Nov
All tickets $18
See all your favourite Wiggles characters in their latest show, Dorothy the Dinosaur! For show times, locations and ticket purchases, go to:
www.thewiggles.com.au/au/events/38
And be quick, tickets are selling fast!

******************************

Gumnuts
Wed 5th Nov
$3 per child
Parramatta Heritage Centre.
The Gumnuts activities are for 3 to 4 year olds. They are held monthly for one hour from 10:30am. There will be story tellings, craft activities and games for the children to participate in. Bookings are necessary and children must be accompanied by an adult.
Ph 02 8839 3323 for bookings

******************************

Dandy Lions: Wild Things
Thurs 6th Nov
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
$8 for a family of 2 adults and 2 children
Kids up to 5 years old can enjoy garden craft, music, interactive gardening, music and plays every Thursday during the school term. Each month has a different theme and in November it’s “Botanical Senses�, where the kids will learn about the five senses – taste, touch, sight, smell and sound.

For more information and exact location, call 9231 8134.

******************************

The Magic Garden
1st to 30th November, between 10am and 5pm.
The Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo
$25 for a family, $5 for kids and $10 for adults.
Interactive activities for kids between 2 and 8 years old aimed to teaching them about being active and eating healthy. They can play in a virtual garden and hunt virtual animals.
www.powerhousemuseum.com or 9217 0111 for more info.

******************************

Kids Deck: Trash or Treasure?
$7 per child, adults free.
Take your kids on a worldly adventure as they explore the world from Sydney’s Maritime Museum. Join the groups between 11am and 3pm on Sundays during November. The kids can make their own souvenirs of each place they “visit� and take them home at the end of the day.

See www.anmm.gov.au or call (02) 9298 3777.

What’s On Sydney by Kelly Makhoul

Living Legends 2nd Birthday Celebrations
November 2, 10.00am – 3.00pm.
Woodlands Homestead and Historic Park, corner of Sunbury and Oaklands Rd, behind Melbourne Airport.
This is a free, family event.
Visitors will be able to pat racehorse champions and feature in Melbourne Cup photo opportunities, plus there will be pony rides, children’s activities, food tastings, and The Woodlands Homestead and Heritage gardens will be open to view.

For more information go to www.livinglegends.org.au

************************************

The Circus Sunrise Spectacular
November 14, 2008 – January 26, 2009.
Waterfront City, Docklands.
Tickets start from $10 for children, $15 for adults.
Combining traditional circus skills with aerial acts, hand balancing, juggling, wild west cowboys, trapeze and clowns!

For more information go to www.circussunrise.com.au or call 0458 030 500.

************************************

Viva 2008
November 15, 11.00am – 6.00pm.
Princes Gardens, Prahran.
This is a free, family event.
There will be fun for all ages with a wide array of free activities on offer, market stalls, entertainment and a smorgasbord of international cuisine available. The world music stage will feature community group performances in the morning followed by an afternoon and evening of professional bands; ranging from indigenous artists to Afro beats and Brazilian jazz to Cuban ska and percussion. The VIVA skate competition will once again take place on both the Vertical Ramp and Street Skate areas.

For more information go to www.stonnington.vic.gov.au or call (03) 8290 1333.

************************************

Halloween 2008
November 1, 8.00pm onwards.
Room 680, Level 1, 680 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn.
Tickets $15.
Come on down and celebrate Halloween 2008 with ALL proceeds going to the Starlight Children’s Foundation. Have some fun and raise some funds for charity through partying with the whole family. Best Dressed Male/Female/Group Costume Awards to be handed out on the night. Many other ‘Trick or Treat’ Games to be held.

For more information call 0414 965 486 or email halloweenmelb@gmail.com

************************************

Seeing Eye Dogs Open Day
November 16, 11.00am – 3.00pm.
17 Barrett Street, Kensington.
Entry is by gold coin donation.
Meet lots of puppies to pat and cuddle, meet Big Brother housemates Alice and Ollie the Dog, and see the latest cadets get put through their paces on the SEDA obstacle course. The whole family can visit Australia’s only Canine Midwife in our breeding centre, take a blind fold walk with a Seeing Eye Dog and Instructor and enter our competition to name a Seeing Eye Dog.
Note: No other pets permitted.

For more information call (03) 93816400 or go to www.seda.org.au

************************************

Big Dog Day Out
November 24, starts at 11.00am.
KCC Park, 655 Westernport Hwy, Cranbourne.
Entry is $5 per car.
DOGS Victoria’s and Companion Dog Club are hosting a Big Dog Day Out! All dog owners and their dogs are invited to attend this day of interactive doggy events. There will be demonstrations in: Obedience, Agility, Jumping, Herding, Flyball and grooming. This day promises to be a fun filled day for all the family, and a chance for family dogs to be winners in a busy program of events including a treasure hunt, Lure Coursing and Lure Racing.

For more information call (03) 9788 2500 or visit www.dogsvictoria.org.au

************************************

Myer Santaland
November 7 – December 24, 9.00am – 6.00pm.
Myer, 314 Bourke Street, Melbourne.
This is a free, family event.
Experience all the fantasy and magic at Myer this Christmas with a visit to Santaland - a Christmas wonderland where children’s wishes come true. At Santaland kids can hop aboard a miniature locomotive train – tickets are available from the station master. Ride the train through a tunnel and a flashing crossway and illuminated rail signals. Santa and his red-nosed friend, Rudolph, will be receiving visitors for photos. You can also send a letter to the North Pole via post or email.

For more information call (03) 9661 1111 or go to www.myer.com.au

************************************

Chookas
November 1-2, 10.00am – 4.00pm.
Victorian Arts Centre, 2-128 St Kilda Road, Southbank.
Mostly free events.
Roll up, roll up kids! This one’s for you! Come to the Victorian Arts Centre for a whole weekend of low-cost and free kids entertainment and family fun at our annual children’s festival, CHOOKAHS! Delivered by top notch circus and theatre companies, energetic and interactive performances will inspire and amaze as kids take over the Arts Centre! Join us for two extra special shows, ‘Special Delivery’ and ‘LaLaLuna’, and come and enjoy a myriad of other free entertainment over the whole weekend too!

For more information call 1300 136 166 or visit www.theartscentre.com.au/chookahs

What’s On - Melbourne by Amy Braddon

Canning Agricultural, Horticultural & Recreational Society
Friday 31 October 5.00pm – 10.00pm Saturday 9.00am – 10.00pm*October 31st and November 1st 2008.
Cannington Greyhounds, Station Street Cannington
Adults $10 , Children 5 to 15 years $5 , Aged Pensioner Card Holders $5
A great day out with food and fun for everyone; rides, showbags and animals. 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. Friday night fireworks!!!!
Black String Puppet Theatre, Fire Jugglers, Childrens farm animals, pony rides
Show rides, show bags etc

Phone 9451 1820 www.canningshow.net

******************************************

Red Bull Air Race, Perth
Saturday 1 November and Sunday 2 November.
Spectators will be able to view the race from around the banks of the Swan River, with the best viewing location on Sir James Mitchell Park in South Perth.
Free – Packages available.
$11.10 standard
$9 group (10+)
Touching down in 10 cities worldwide in 2008, the Perth Red Bull Air Race event is the only race of its kind in Australia. From the heart of the city to the open countryside, over land or water, a Red Bull Air Race can take place almost anywhere. Spectacular backdrops and jaw dropping stunts guarantee that spectators experience one of the most innovative and exciting new sports competitions around today. Red Bull Air Race 2008 promises more nail biting racing action as the pilots face off in the deciding round of the World Series competition.

Tel: 08 9288 4569 or www.redbullairrace.com.au

******************************************

Be Kids Community Fair 11:00am to 4:00pm 15 November (Saturday) 2008
Princess May Park, Adelaide Street, Fremantle.
Free admission
All proceeds to assist Be Kids projects in Kenya. Stalls will feature homemade multicultural food, local and African handicrafts, plants and cakes. There will be storytelling, face painting, magic, fun activities, Bubblemania, and much more.

Tel: 08 9337 1735 or www.bekids.org

******************************************

Little Feet Festival 2008
1:00pm to 5:00pm 16 November (Sunday) 2008
City of Joondalup Leisure Centre, Craigie Whitfords Ave, Craigie.
Free entry
Children can explore a world of possibilities at the City of Joondalup’s Little Feet Festival. Featuring Olympic pentathlete Kylie Wheeler, Postman Pat, artwork, games, baby animal farm, aquatic playground, and much more.
Tel: 08 9400 4921 or www.joondalup.wa.gov.au

******************************************

Broom! Broom!
18 to 23 November 2008
Tuesday, 18 November 7:00pm
Wednesday, 19 November 11:00am & 7:00pm
Thursday, 20 November 11:00am & 7:00pm
Friday, 21 November 11:00am & 7:00pm
Saturday, 22 November 2:00pm & 7:00pm
Sunday, 23 November 2:00pm
Subiaco Arts Centre
Tickets are available through BOCS
Standard $15.00
Concession Pensioners, Seniors Cardholders, Unemployed, Full Time Students 13 Years and Older $12.00
Children 5 - 12 Years
Fusing clowning, puppetry, and music, this show is designed for the whole family. Broom! Broom!! tells a story of the mystery of friendship and the befriending of mystery, and how together two clown cleaners sweep away life’s cobwebs with some high-powered high-jinks. Broom! Broom!! takes the timeless art of clowning, adds a contemporary twist and fuses it with puppetry and music to create this dynamic and delightful show, a must see for the whole family. This hilarious new production is suitable for family audience and particularly for children 5 - 12 years.

Tel: 08 9484 1133 or www.broombroomshow.com.au

******************************************

Great Bike Ride
23 November (Sunday) 2008
Registration Closing Dates
Online - 12pm Friday 21st November
Post/Fax - Must be received by Friday 14th November
Shop - Closes at 4pm Saturday 22nd November
Langley Park, Perth
Pricing: see website
Presented by The City of Perth and the Rotary Club of Perth to raise funds for the St John of God Foundation Horizon House Project, Hope for Children, and the Heart Foundation. 3 different courses, 10km, 53km or 106km course!! this event is really all about riders getting their friends, colleagues and families to give money to the charities through sponsorship (and enjoying a great ride around the river of course) we thought we would give something back to you for all your hard fundraising efforts!!

Register by calling 08 9244 5200 or www.greatbikeride.com.au

******************************************

Sunset Markets
7.00pm to 10.00pm, every Friday evening, 21 November to 19 December 2008
Central Walk and Reid Promenade, Joondalup
Free
Presented by the City of Joondalup. Goodies for sale, free entertainment such as bands, buskers and street performers, plus free rides and activities.

www.joondalup.wa.gov.au

Kwinana Hornets Shell Novice Swim Meet
From 9:00am 16 November (Sunday) 2008
Kwinana Recquatic Centre, Gilmore Ave, Kwinana.
Free to try out
Dive in and try out competitive swimming. There is no need to be a member of a swimming club or have any special skill - you just have to enjoy swimming! Kwinana Hornets is a small south of the river swimming club that began swimming in 1964. It is very family orientated and a friendly atmosphere, a big range of training is available and memberships range from non-competitor, recreational and full competitive. It is very fun and relaxing and everyone should give the club a go.

Email: webmaster@kwinanaswimming.org for further details

What’s On Perth by Rebecca Doughty