July school holidays 2025

Schedule of events

Find out more about what’s on offer during the July School holidays. All activities are hosted by Council. These activities are family-friendly and designed to cater to all.   

Monday 7 – Friday 11 July 

Winterfest films   

• Where: Cardinia Cultural Centre, 40 Lakeside Blvd, Pakenham 
• When: Monday 7- Friday 11 July, movies begin at 1pm 
• Cost: $7 per ticket  
• More information: We’ve got a great line up of family friendly movies showing throughout the week. Movies include, The Incredibles, The Lego Movie, George of the Jungle, Shrek and The Emperor’s New Groove. Find out more and book tickets here

Tiny Art  

• Where: My Place Youth Centre, 5 - 7 Main St Pakenham   
• When: 1:30-3:30pm 
• Cost: Free 
• More information: This activity can get messy, please wear old clothes. Aprons and gloves will be provided for this activity. Water and snacks will be provided. You can also submit your Tiny Artwork into the Pakenham Library’s Tiny Art Expo for a chance to win a prize. Artwork will be on display at Pakenham Library Cnr John St &, Henry St, from 21/07/2025 to 18/08/2025 and winners will be announced on 25/08/2025. All Artwork and prizes will need to be collected by 26/09/2025. Find out more and register your attendance here

BMX Jam   

• Where: Upper Beaconsfield BMX track. 
• When: Friday 11 July, 12pm-2pm 
• Cost: Free  
• More information: Join us for a free BMX jam with YMCA at the Upper Beaconsfield BMX track. Whether you’re just starting out or a BMX pro, this session will have something fun for everyone, show off your tricks to win some awesome prizes on the day. There will be loan bikes available for both timeslots. However, we strongly encourage you to bring your own bike, helmet, enclosed shoes, sunscreen and water bottle. Registrations for this activity are encouraged. To secure your spot visit https://app.nabooki.com/booking/step1?token=6100c2343b7992.94176668 

Winterfest Workshops 

• Where: Cardinia Cultural Centre, 40 Lakeside Blvd, Pakenham
• When: Monday 7 - Thursday 17 July
• Cost: Free 
• More information: Enjoy a wide range of free kid and family friendly workshops! Find out more and book tickets here 

Monday 14 – Friday 18 July

Winterfest films  

• Where: Cardinia Cultural Centre, 40 Lakeside Blvd, Pakenham
• When: Monday 14 - Thursday 17 July, movies begin at 1pm
• Cost: $7 per ticket 
• More information: We’ve got a great line up of family friendly movies showing throughout the week. Movies include, James and the Giant Peach, The Iron Giant, Kung Fu Panda and Finding Nemo. Find out more and book tickets here

Wars on the Dart Side of the Moon Youth Event 

• Where: St Marks Hall, 1 Church Street Emerald 
• When: Wednesday 16 July 11am - 3pm 
• Cost: Free 
• More information: The day will be filled with Virtual Reality, Video Games, Nerf Battles, and Giant Games. Bring a sense of fun, sensible shoes and warm clothing. Lunch will be provided. This event is being organised by Emerald - Change Makers, (a group of young people who organise events for other young people) and proudly support by Cardinia Youth Services. 
  To book into this event please register at www.echo.org.au  
  For more information or enquiries email:  info@echo.org.au 

More activities to enjoy

Youth Autumn Teenage School Holiday Program 2025 

The Cardinia Shire Council Youth Services team host a range of school holiday activities open to young people aged 12 to 17 years. Most activities are low cost or free. 

Transport to and from some activities from selected locations may be available. Please contact My Place Youth Centre for further information. Bookings for all activities are essential.  

Find out more about the Winter Teenage School Holiday Program and book an activity

Cardinia Cultural Centre (CCC) 

Winterfest is back and better than ever! The CCC will be hosting a range of family friendly entertainment throughout the July school holidays including: 

• 5 & 27 July: Slow Art Collective: Takenoko Place 
• 12 July: Polite Mammals 
• 14 July: Winterfest Workshop: Journey of the Bogong Moth 
• 19 & 20 July: Hansel and Gretel 

Please contact the CCC Box Office team for bookings and more information. 

Find out more

Parks, Playgrounds and Reserves 

Cardinia is home to a variety of parks, playgrounds and reserves. The school holidays are a wonderful time to explore the natural wonders around us, participate in outdoor activities, and connect with friends and family. Whether you want to take a scenic walk, enjoy a picnic, or play on one of our fabulous playgrounds, there's something for everyone.  

Have you visited Officer’s new regional park? 

Located on Lansell Avenue in Officer, our new regional 10-hectare adventure and nature park is now open and provides opportunities for the local community to socialise, play, and connect. 

Officer District Park features: 

• An incredible multi-level playground with a variety of play zones and experiences including two 20m-long embankment slides. This play space caters for a wide variety of ages from the very young to adventurous adults. 
• Cardinia Shire’s first purpose-built Parkour Zone incorporates a mixture of obstacles of different heights, angles and shapes.  
• Fitness stairs and equipment, the fitness appeal of this park is also enhanced by the 1km loop track which runs around the hillside incorporating two exercise equipment stations along the way. 
• A lookout from the top of the hillside showing the amazing views over the southern part of the shire and out to Western Port. 
• A dedicated dog off leash area, where both people and pooches can enjoy social interaction and experiencing the outdoors together. 
• Public toilets  
• A wetland area 

Food trucks are also located on site and will be open throughout the school holidays.  

Find out more about parks, playground and reserves in Cardinia

Scavenger hunt signs in parks  

Scavenger hunt signs have been installed at 20 parks and reserves in Cardinia Shire. Follow the directions on the signs to enjoy hours of fun and exploring!  

Parks where the signs are located:  

• Beaconsfield: Kath Roberts Reserve, Tantallon Boulevard Detention Basin Reserve, and O'Neil Road Recreation Reserve  
• Bunyip: Koolangarra Park  
• Cockatoo: Alma Treloar Reserve  
• Emerald: Puffing Billy Place Reserve  
• Garfield: Garfield Recreation Reserve  
• Gembrook: Gembrook Leisure Park and Redwood Road Reserve  
• Koo Wee Rup: Cochrane Park  
• Lang Lang: Dick Jones Park  
• Nar Nar Goon: Nar Nar Goon Recreation Reserve  
• Officer: Harmony Place Park and Kaduna Park playground  
• Pakenham: Ron Andrews Park, Deep Creek Reserve, PB Ronald Reserve, Lakeside Park (known as Dragon Park), and Don Jackson Reserve  
• Upper Beaconsfield: Keith Ewenson Park  

Further information can be found here