Five free school holiday events for kids in Victoria

NOT sure what to do with the kids during the school holidays? Fear not, Mikey Cahill has found five free events to keep your children entertained.

Kids can make bespoke couture items for free at the NGV’s latest free children’s exhibition, Atelier: Viktor&Rolf for Kids.

NGV FASHION FOR KIDS

Attention fashionable kids! This is an immersive fashion “atelier” where young visitors will craft their own fashion creations in the NGV’s latest free children’s exhibition Atelier: Viktor&Rolf for Kids.

Kids can get an insight into the Dutch designers creative process and draw inspiration from their elaborate and avant-garde designs, creating bespoke accessories to take home with them. “Bespoke” is the key word here, they can be anything they want. Children will use strands of raffia and white crepe paper in hands-on activities inspired by Viktor & Rolf’s design codes which include bows, collars and elaborate ruffles.

Once they’ve put their new creations on, kids will stage their own fashion shoots in three black-and-white themed dioramas. You look fabulous, darleeeng.

NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, city. Until Feb 17. Daily, 10am-5pm. Free. ngv.vic.gov.au

SUMMER NIGHT MARKETS

Every Wednesday you can outsource the entertainment of your kids by cruising around the Queen Victoria Markets. There’s plenty of live music, Latino, folk and gypsy offerings as well as kooky buskers and roving performers to keep sceptical school kids happy.

Now in its 19th year, the food offerings are also better than they’ve ever been with Drums Café, Churros Ole, Butterlake Pancakes, Toasta and Co and new bars serving sangria for the grown-ups and mocktails for the little ones (if you ask nicely).

There’s free food tastings as you roam around and look out for the free entertainment that is stall owners spruiking their wares.

QVM, Corner Victoria and Elizabeth Streets, city. Wed, 5-10pm. Free. qvm.com.au

Queen Vic Market has free food samples every Wednesday at Summer Night Markets.

SUMMER BY THE SEA TOURS

Get to know your coastline. This is a great opportunity for you to discover Victoria’s marine and coastal environments. Discover the secrets of rock pools, beaches, estuaries and mudflats while learning about the diverse habitats and species of Victoria’s coast. Wear safe shoes, you may need to traipse across rocks to really experience this adventure.

Enjoy fossil safaris, walking tours, coastal crafts, kite-making and playing detective both on the beach and in the bush. For the more adventurous, test your navigational skills in the Enviro Course Challenges or try snorkelling, canoeing, stand up paddle-boarding and much more. This summer, more than 200 activities will be held along the Victorian coastline, from the far South West right through to East Gippsland.

Starts Jan 2-26. Free. facebook.com/summerbythesea

Kids Summer By the Sea activities from far South West right through to East Gippsland in Jan.

HEIDE MUSEUM KIDS ACTIVITIES

Can you solve the sculpture mystery? Kids can take a detective trail and enter a mystery world where they need to find a mystery word. This fun activity sheet is for kids and parents or guardians to do together.

Start outside the main reception area, follow the directions and use the clues to find out the answers. Is the moo cow a hint or a red herring?

Suitable for children and parents of all ages. Example: one sculpture is titled Circus by the Sea. Can you find the shapes that look like waves?

Heide Museum of Modern Art, 7 Templestowe Rd, Bulleen. Tue-Sun, 10am-5pm. heide.com.au

Heide Museum of Modern Art has detective challenges for kids.

FED SQUARE CHRISTMAS EVE CONCERT

Regardless of your gender, you can be the Belles of the ball. Come on down to Fed Square this Christmas Eve for a special family concert featuring The Jingle Belles, a sassy, funtimes trio delivering everyone’s favourite festive tunes with a modern twist and plenty of glamour. You can even dress up for it if you’re in the mood to stand out. Fiona Scott-Norman, a broadcaster, DJ and comedian, will MC the evening and spin some classic Christmas vinyl that will have you singing and dancing all night long and send you Christmas crackers. Make it a night to remember and stay on after the concert to watch Carols by Candlelight on the Big Screen and sing so loud they can hear you over at Sidney Myer Music Bowl.

Main Stage, Fed Square. Dec 24, 5.30-7.30pm (then carols live on the Big Screen). fedsquare.com/events/christmas-eve-at-fed-square