YOUR SCHOOL HOLIDAY ACTIVITY AND EVENT GUIDE
DECEMBER
Christmas Lights Bike Ride When: 5pm-8pm, Friday, December 14 Where: Fogarty Park, the Esplanade Enjoy a bike ride past some of Cairns’ best Christmas light displays while raising money for Ronald McDonald House. The ride leaves from Fogarty Park at 6pm, riding along the Esplanade to Collins Ave into Whitfield and then returning to Fogarty Park by about 8pm. There will be prizes for bestdressed bike. Register at www.cairnstickets.com.au Barr St On a Fork When: 4pm-9pm, Friday, December 14 Where: Lions Park, Mulgrave Rd, Earlville There will be live music, entertainment for the kids and lots of food trucks for the final Barr St On a Fork event for the end of the year. Tickets $2. Holloways Beach Christmas Carols When: 5.30pm-9pm, Saturday, December 15 Where: Holloways Beach Sports Club oval, Wistaria St, Holloways Beach A free event opened by the Barbary Coasters followed by the Soul Sisters. Raffles, food stalls, fireworks and an appearance by Santa. Children’s Christmas Party When: 3pm-7pm, Saturday, December 15 Where: Xavier Herbert Park, end of Xavier Herbert Drive, Redlynch Live music, food vans and an appearance by the big man in red at 4.30pm. If you would like your child to receive a book, it can be dropped off – wrapped, and with your child’s full name on it – to the Cairns Property Office Redlynch. The Grinch When: Already released Where: Earlville, Cairns and Smithfield cinemas A grumpy Grinch plots to ruin Christmas for the village of Whoville. Cinemas will have free fun art activities to celebrate the school holidays. Visit: www.eventcinemas. com.au Santa — The Adventure Begins When: Until December 16 Where: Rondo Theatre A hilarious and entertaining tale about Santa, who has gone missing. Boo at the mischievous Tootsie Roll who causes festive mayhem and cheer on the hilarious Brandy Snapp, who helps to save Christmas. Tickets from www.ticketlink.com.au Cairns Taipans v New Zealand Breakers When: 4pm-6pm, Sunday, December 16 Where: Cairns Convention Centre Cheer on the Taipans as they take on the New Zealand Breakers in a Round 9 game. Tickets from www.taipans.com Christmas Craft When: 10.30am-11.30am, Monday, December 17 Where: City Library A free Christmas craft session for children aged 3+. For information, ph: 4044 3720. Christmas Tree Painting Party When: 10am, Monday, December 17 Where: Painting Party, 1/203205 Mulgrave Rd, Bungalow For kids aged 7-10, parents and older siblings, artist Adriana Braid takes participants through the creation of a Christmas scene. To book, visit: www.paintingparty.com.au Carols and Christmas Craft When: 10.30am-noon, Tuesday, December 18 Where: Edmonton Library A free carols and Christmas craft session recommended for children aged 6+. For information, ph: 4044 3735. Santa arrives by helicopter When: About 11am, Tuesday, December 18 Where: Cazalys Cairns Santa arrives by helicopter on the Cazalys Stadium oval. Santa will then visit the Cazalys foyer where the kids can have a photo with him and put in their Christmas present orders. Christmas cards and stories When: 10.30am-noon, Tuesday, December 18 Where: Smithfield Library A free Christmas craft and stories session. Ph: 4044 3711. Robot workshop When: 10.30am-11.30am, Tuesday, December 18 Where: Stratford Library Registration is essential to this free session where children aged 7+ can explore the world of programmable robots. For more details and to register, find this event at www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library/ news-events/events Robot Buzzbots When: 10.30am-11.30am, Tuesday, December 18 Where: Earlville Library Registration is essential for this event for children aged 7+ where they can build, create and learn about small robots. For more details and to register, find this event at www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library/ news-events/event Christmas Craft When: 10.30am-11.30am, Wednesday, December 19 Where: Earlville Library A free Christmas craft session. Ph: 4044 3766. Christmas Craft When: 10.30am-11.30am, Wednesday, December 19 Where: Gordonvale Library A free Christmas craft session. Ph: 4044 3778. Printmaking workshop When: 10am & 1pm, Wednesday, December 19 Where: Cairns Art Gallery A printmaking workshop with artist Adrienne Shaw, ages 4-7 10am and ages 8-12 1pm. Visit: www.cairnsartgallery.com.au/ whats-on/programs-events/ kids-art-classes History tours of the Tanks and Botanic Gardens When: 10am-11am, Thursday, December 20 Where: Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre, Collins Ave, Edge Hill A free one-hour history tour of the Tanks and Botanic Gardens precinct. Bookings are essential. Ph: 4032 6650 by 3.30pm on the Wednesday prior to the tour. White Wizard Christmas Magic Show When: 6.30pm, Thursday, December 20 Where: Cazalys Cairns The White Wizard weaves his magic in a side-splittingly funny festive show for children aged 4-12. Gold coin donation entry and registration essential at Cazalys reception or ph: 4054 1464. Floristry workshop When: 10am & 1pm, Thursday, December 20 Where: Cairns Art Gallery Artist Marian Wolfs will teach children the art of designing foliage, flowers, berries and other natural materials. Children aged 4-7 at 10am and 11-15 at 1pm. To book, visit: www.cairnsartgallery.com.au/ whats-on/programs-events/ kids-art-classes Carols and Christmas craft When: 10.30am-noon, Thursday, December 20 Where: Babinda Library A free Christmas craft session for children aged 6+. Ph: 4067 8400. Christmas Twilight Race Day When: Noon-6.30pm, Thursday, December 20 Where: Cannon Park For the final race meeting of the year there will be Fashions on the Field, a jumping castle and the Fun-e-Farm for the kids, along with six TAB races. Visit: www.cairnsjockeyclub. com.au
Cairns Taipans v Sydney Kings
When: 6.30pm-8.30pm, Thursday, December 20
Where: Cairns Convention Centre Expect a mammoth game as the Snakes take on the Kings. Tickets from www.taipans.com
Treats for Santa — Kids Cooking Class
When: 10am-noon, Thursday, December 20
Where: Modern Pantry, 1 Tarana Close, Caravonica Participants aged 6+ will make cranberry and white chocolate cookies, choc caramel truffles and Santa hat brownies. Bookings essential. Visit www.modernpantry.com.au
Robotics
When: 10.30am-1pm, Thursday, December 20
Where: City Library Children aged 7+ can explore the world of programmable robots. Registration is essential.
For more details and to register, find this event at www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library/news-events/event
Bumblebee
When: Thursday, December 20
Where: Cairns, Smithfield and Earlville cinemas On the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee the Autobot seeks refuge in a junkyard in a small California beach town. These school holidays, Event Cinemas will have fun free art activities for children with moviethemed colouring-in tables and craft stations. Tickets from www.eventcinemas.com.au The Worst Christmas Pageant Ever When: December 21-22 Where: All Saints Theatre, St Andrews Catholic College There is bedlam in Bethlehem as Box Jelly Theatre Co. presents a hilarious show within a show. Laugh and sing along to this all-ages show. You can get your tickets from www.ticketlink.com.au
Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse
When: Release date Thursday, December 26
Where: Cairns, Smithfield and Earlville cinemas Bitten by a radioactive spider, teenager Miles Morales suddenly develops mysterious powers that transform him into Spider-Man. These school holidays, Event Cinemas will have fun free art activities for children with movie-themed colouring-in tables and craft stations. Tickets from www.eventcinemas.com.au
New Year’s Eve
When: 5.30pm-midnight, Monday, December 31
Where: Cairns Esplanade A fun and festive familyfriendly event with children’s entertainment from 5.30-9pm; fireworks at 9pm and midnight; a NYE Resolution Fun Run from 7.30pm at Fogarty Park. To register for the fun run, visit: www.cairns.qld.gov.au/whatson/annual-events/nyresolution-fun-run
Cairns Taipans v Perth Wildcats
When: 6.30pm-8.30pm, Monday, December 31 Where: Cairns Convention Centre In the biggest game of the season, the Taipans go headto-head with the Perth Wildcats on New Year’s Eve. Tickets will sell fast. Tickets from www.taipans.com
JANUARY Mary Poppins Returns
When: Movie releases on January 1
Where: Cairns, Earlville and Smithfield cinemas A now-grown Jane and Michael Banks, along with Michael’s three children, are visited by the enigmatic Mary Poppins following a personal loss. Cairns Taipans January matches When: January 3, 7, 13 & 21 Where: Cairns Convention Centre The action ramps up as the Taipans play against the Brisbane Bullets on January 3, Sydney Kings on January 7, Melbourne United on January 13 and New Zealand Breakers on January 21. Tickets from www.taipans.com
How to Train your Dragon: The Hidden World
When: Release date Thursday, January 3
Where: Cairns, Smithfield and Earlville cinemas The arrival of a female Night Fury turns Hiccup and his dragon Toothless’s lives upside down. These school holidays, Event Cinemas will have fun free art activities for children with movie-themed colouringand in tables and craft stations. You can get your tickets from www.eventcinemas.com.au
Kite making
When: 10.30am-11.30am, Tuesday, January 8
Where: Babinda Library Free school holiday kite-making workshop for children aged 6+. Ph: 4067 8400.
Legomania Creatures
When: 10.30am-11.30am, Wednesday, January 9
Where: Gordonvale Library Create a curious creature with LEGO for children aged 5+. Ph: 4044 3778.
Make It
When: 10.30am-11.30am, Wednesday, January 9
Where: Edmonton Library Make recycled objects in this free craft session for children aged 5+. Ph: 4044 3735.
Pizza making — Kids Cooking Class
When: 10am-noon, Wednesday, January 9
Where: Modern Pantry, 1 Tarana Close, Caravonica Participants aged 6+ will make fresh pizza dough, kids’ choice of pizza and trifle cups. Bookings essential. To book, visit: www.modernpantry.com.au Sand art, scratchboards and craft When: 10.30am-11.30am, Wednesday, January 9 Where: Earlville Library A free craft session for children aged 5+. Ph: 4044 3766. Drawing tricks workshop When: Wednesday, January 9 Where: Cairns Art Gallery Children aged 9-15 can learn useful drawing techniques with art teacher Jim Rae. To book simply visit www.cairnsartgallery.com.au/ whats-on/programs-events/ kids-art-classes
Puppet Masters
When: 10.30am-11.30am, Thursday, January 10
Where: Stratford Library Make your own puppet in a free workshop for children aged 6+. Ph: 4044 3733.
Socceroo workshop When: 8am-11.30am, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, January 11-13
Where: Caravella Football Academy, Tiger Park, Cairns Socceroo mega-star Luke Wilkshire will be the guest coach for an exclusive threeday workshop. To book visit: www. car av ella football academy .com.au
Miniature assemblages workshop
When: 10am & 1pm, Thursday, January 10
Where: Cairns Art Gallery Create miniature assemblages from objects to make a brooch or a pendant to attach to a bag with artist and teacher Jenny Martin. Children aged 6-9 is at 10am and ages 9-13 at 1pm. To book, simply visit www.cairnsartgallery.com.au/ whats-on/programs-events/ kids-art-classes
Brisbane Heat v Sydney Thunder
When: 6.15pm, Saturday, January 12
Where: Cazalys Stadium Watch the Brisbane Heat in the rebel Women’s Big Bash League these school holidays. For the first time, WBBL cricket is coming to Far North Queensland when the Heat hosts the Sydney Thunder. See Australian WT20 champions Beth Mooney, Delissa Kimmince and Jess Jonassen live and in action against the WBBL|01 champions. Take the whole family and get behind the Heat with affordable tickets as well as a stock of kid-friendly activities. Tickets from: www.bigbash.com.au
Perfect Picnic – Kids Cooking Classes
When: 10am, Saturday, January 12
Where: Modern Pantry, 1 Tarana Close, Caravonica Participants aged 6+ will learn to make Greek lamb pita pockets, mini spinach and feta tarts and a coconut and lime cake. Bookings essential. To book, simply visit www.modernpantry.com.au
Australia Day brekkie
When: From 7am, Saturday, January 26
Where: Cairns Esplanade and Trinity Beach There are two events held for Australia Day every year. At the Cairns Esplanade next to the Lagoon there will be a free bacon and egg breakfast, backyard sports such as cricket, soccer, basketball, AFL and rugby league, live broadcast, prizes and giveaways. At Trinity Beach festivities will be held at Vasey Esplanade and include live entertainment, market stalls, a free sausage sizzle, jumping castle and beach activities.
Cairns On A Fork – Australia Day
When: Noon-8pm, Saturday, January 26
Where: Barlow Park Cairns Games for the kids and adults, a pie-eating contest and plenty of delicious food and drinks.
Australia Day at Cazalys
When: 10am, Saturday, January 26
Where: Cazalys Cairns A big day of Australia-Day fun with a visit from Zoo to You offering an interactive experience with some of Australia’s cutest and scariest wildlife, animal face painting, a jumping castle and other fun activities for children from 10am-12.30pm. There will be live music during the day, a barbecue buffet lunch and more.