Your complete guide to July school holidays Christchurch 2025. Free activities, workshops, shows and events for kids across the city. Your ultimate survival guide for the holidays
Right, parents – the holidays are here and it’s time to get strategic. We’ve rounded up loads of events happening across Christchurch and surrounds these July holidays, from sugar-fuelled chaos to surprisingly educational fun. Here’s your survival guide.
Note: We’ll be updating this article as we see new and exciting events for kids happening in July, however, please note that events sell out quickly and may no longer be available since publication.
Read more: Top Indoor Activities for Kids in Christchurch This Winter: 12 Places to Beat the Cold
What’s on these July school holidays in Christchurch 2025:
Saturday 28 June
Fudge Spectacular Kids design and create their own fudge masterpieces at the Arts Centre. It’s messy, it’s sweet, and they get to eat their creations. Basically every child’s dream.
When: 28 June to 11 July
Where: The Arts Centre, 2 Worcester Boulevard
How much: $17.50
More details here.
The Three Bears Classic Goldilocks tale with a modern twist. Perfect for little ones who love a bit of mischief.
When: Saturday 28 June
Where: The Malthouse, 71 Colombo Street, Beckenham
How much: $10
More details here.
Recycled Keyring Workshop Learn about plastic recycling while making useful keyrings. Educational and practical – winning combo.
When: Saturday 28 June, 10.30am-11.30am
Where: Te Puna Auaha, 7 Norwich Quay, Lyttelton
How much: $10
More details here.
Children Lion Dance Workshop Make a lion head, learn to dance like a lion, take the head home. Your living room will never be the same.
When: Saturday 28 June, 3pm-5pm
Where: Canterbury Chinese Hall, 22 St Asaph Street
How much: $10
More details here.
Trial of the Teen Titans Archaeological treasure hunt for tweens at UC Teece Museum. Ancient myths meet modern competition.
When: Saturday 28 June & Saturday 5 July, 11am-4pm
Where: UC Teece Museum, 3 Hereford Street
How much: Free
More details here.
Winter Wonderland Trail Follow Alice through the Botanic Gardens. Free family fun with a prize draw if you find Alice’s message.
When: 28 June to 13 July
Where: Christchurch Botanic Gardens, Rolleston Avenue
How much: Free
More details here.
Sunday 29 June
Dinosaurs and Fossils Canterbury Museum brings real and replica fossils to Rolleston Library. Handle dinosaur teeth, stegosaurus plates, and yes, fossilised poo. Plus make your own dino-themed badge.
When: Sunday 29 June, 11am-1pm
Where: Te Ara Ātea Rolleston Library
How much: Free
More details here.
Monday 30 June
One Day School | Circo Arts Drop-off circus arts programme focusing on strength, flexibility and creativity. Translation: your kids learn cool stuff while you get a full day to yourself.
When: Monday 30 June & Tuesday 8 July, 9.30am-3pm
Where: Altiora Performing Arts, 25 Hereford Street
How much: $65-$85
More details here.
Stack.Build.Play at LEGO Week Free LEGO building zone with complimentary LEGO packs. Complete a colouring sheet for an extra take-home pack.
When: 30 June – 4 July, 10am-2pm
Where: Westfield Riccarton, Level 2 outside Decjuba
How much: Free
More details here.
Melanie Poppins Magic Show Free magic show at the library with proper tricks and illusions. Can’t argue with free entertainment.
When: Monday 30 June, 11am-11.45am (Kaiapoi) & 2pm-2.45pm (Rangiora)
Where: Kaiapoi Library, 176 Williams Street / Rangiora Library, 141 Percival Street
How much: Free
More details here.
Tuesday 1 July
Messy Mates – Week 1 Slime making and sensory tray creation. Expect chaos, embrace the mess.
When: Week 1 of holidays
Where: The Hub, Hornby
How much: Slime making – $25; Sensory tray making – $30. Book here.
More details here.
The SpongeBob Musical Broadway-style production about saving Bikini Bottom. Surprisingly good according to critics, and runs daily through to 13 July.
When: 1-13 July, multiple sessions daily
Where: The Court Theatre, 129 Gloucester Street
How much: Various prices
More details here.
Dinosaurs and Fossils Canterbury Museum fossil handling session at Leeston Library. Real dinosaur teeth and expert knowledge included.
When: Tuesday 1 July, 11am-1pm
Where: Leeston Library
How much: Free
More details here.
King and Queen Party Crown crafting, sceptre making, and treasure hunting. Royal treatment for little ones.
When: Tuesday 1 July, midday-2.15pm
Where: Imprint Studio, 78 Nortons Road, Avonhead
How much: $16
More details here.
Kids in the Kitchen: Pasta Party Kids aged 8+ make fresh tortellini from scratch, cook sauce, and eat their creations. Proper Italian nonna-style cooking.
When: Multiple dates 1-11 July, 11am-1pm
Where: Riverside Market, 96 Oxford Terrace
How much: $75
More details here.
Mini Masters with House of Bricks One-hour LEGO workshops covering mosaic art, monsters, and car racing. Adults must participate too.
When: 1-3 July
Where: Various locations
How much: Various prices
More details here.
Little Dancing Feet Perfect for tiny dancers who can’t sit still. Preschoolers get to wiggle with scarves, teddies, and ribbons while secretly working on coordination and movement skills.
When: Tuesday 1 July, 11am-11.30am (Glentunnel) & Tuesday 8 July, 10.30am-11am (Darfield)
Where: Glentunnel Community Centre, 2653 Homebush Road / Darfield Recreation Centre
How much: $5.20 per child, parents free. Bookings required.
More details here.
Zumba Kids All the fun of Zumba without the middle-aged competitive mums. Kid-friendly routines mixed with games and cultural exploration make fitness feel like playtime.
When: Tuesday 1 July, 11.45am-12.30pm (Glentunnel) & Tuesday 8 July, 11.15am-12pm (Darfield)
Where: Glentunnel Community Centre / Darfield Recreation Centre
How much: $7.40 per child. Bookings required.
More details here.
Cosy Storytimes Blankets and books at New Brighton Library. Old-school story time for 7-13 year olds.
When: Tuesday 1 July, 4pm-5pm
Where: New Brighton Library, 213 Marine Parade
How much: Free
More details here.
Wednesday 1 – Friday 3 July
Petting Zoo at The Palms Arion Farm brings adorable farm animals for kids to pet and feed. Rabbits, chicks, sheep, guinea pigs, and piglets – basically a small person’s paradise. Book your 30-minute session because everyone will want a turn with the baby animals.
When: 1-3 July, 9am-5pm (30-minute sessions)
Where: The Palms, inside the old Life Pharmacy
How much: $10 per child, adults free (1 caregiver per child). Book here.
More details here.
Wednesday 2 July
Dinosaurs and Fossils Canterbury Museum visits Kaiapoi and Rangiora libraries. Double the dino fun, double the fossil handling.
When: Wednesday 2 July, 10.30am-12pm (Kaiapoi) & 1.30pm-3pm (Rangiora)
Where: Kaiapoi Library / Rangiora Library
How much: Free
More details here.
Wednesday 2-Friday 4 July
Alice in Wonderland Ballet One-hour ballet production with vibrant costumes and post-show photos with the cast.
When: 2-4 July, shows at 10.30am and 2pm daily
Where: 2/81 Magdala Place, Middleton
How much: $10
More details here.
Wednesday 2 – Thursday 11 July
Brain Play – Christchurch School Holiday Sessions
Brain Play offers hands-on, creative tech workshops for kids across Christchurch. Their school holiday sessions focus on coding, robotics, animation, and STEM activities, with some dedicated workshops designed to support neurodivergent learners.
Christchurch Locations & Dates:
• The Place – Neurodivergent STEM: 2 July
• Avonhead School – Coding: 4 July
• Avonhead School – Animation & 3D Design: 7 July
• Avonhead School – Robotics: 8 July
• The Place – Neurodivergent STEM: 9 July
• Buddy Zone – Neurodivergent Coding: 10 July
• Buddy Zone – Neurodivergent Animation: 11 July
These sessions offer a fun, supportive space for tamariki to explore tech in a way that suits their learning style.
More info and bookings at brainplay.co.nz.
Thursday 3 July
Hip Hop for Beginners Street dance skills in a family-friendly environment. Kids learn proper techniques and moves, then put it all together in a routine they’ll definitely want to perform for everyone at home.
When: Thursday 3 July, 1pm-2pm (ages 6-8) & 2.15pm-3.15pm (ages 9-12)
Where: Darfield Recreation and Community Centre
How much: $7.40 per child
More details here.
Saturday 5 July
New Brighton Carnival Weekend of rides, bouncy castles, food trucks and live entertainment. Free entry means you only pay for the sugar rush.
When: 5-6 July, 11am-8pm
Where: New Brighton Pier
How much: Free entry
More details here.
Winter Fireworks Spectacular Fireworks display set to ‘Fire and Ice’ hits including Ice Ice Baby and Light My Fire. Food vendors from 5.30pm, park and ride from Eastgate Mall.
When: Saturday 5 July, 5.30pm-8pm (fireworks at 7.30pm)
Where: New Brighton Pier
How much: Free
More details here.
Sunday 6 July
Princesses in the Park Royal activities across Ferrymead Heritage Park including printmaking with Rapunzel, storytime with Belle, dancing with Cinderella, and cookie-making with Moana. Plus tram rides and face painting.
When: Sunday 6 July, 10am
Where: Ferrymead Heritage Park
How much: Various prices
More details here.
Monday 7-Friday 11 July
Build a Bear Workshop The full Build-A-Bear experience with heart ceremonies and birth certificates. Five sessions daily but expect them to sell out.
When: 7-11 July, five sessions daily
Where: The Crossing Airbridge, 166 Cashel Street
How much: $10
More details here.
Brick Building at The Hub Expert LEGO builder Rachel de Vries hosts free brick building sessions. Big bricks for little ones, jungle bricks for explorers. Parental supervision required.
When: 7-11 July, 10am-2pm daily
Where: The Hub
How much: Free
More details here.
Dinosaurs and Fossils Final Canterbury Museum library visit at Lincoln. Last chance to handle that fossilised poo!
When: Monday 7 July, 11am-1pm
Where: Lincoln Library
How much: Free
More details here.
Messy Mates – Week 2 More sensory play and creative chaos. Under 5s morning session, over 5s afternoon.
When: Week 2 of holidays, 9am-11.30am (under 5s), 1pm-3.30pm (over 5s)
Where: Various locations
How much: $10 for 2.5 hours of play. Book here.
More details here.
Tuesday 8 July
Peppa Pig’s Fun Day Out Live Peppa Pig is back for her first New Zealand tour since 2018, and if you’ve got little ones who are obsessed, this is the big outing they’ve been waiting for. Expect songs, dancing, zoo visits, beach adventures, and plenty of muddy puddle chaos — all designed specifically for tiny attention spans. Think live theatre without the shushing, where squealing and bouncing in seats is actually encouraged.
Fair warning though — the last tour sold out completely, so if you’re even thinking about it, best to grab tickets now.
When: Tuesday 8 July, 10am, 1pm or 4pm
Where: Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch
How much: From $42
Tickets: peppapiglive.co.nz
More details here.
Melanie Poppins Shows Free magic shows with a petting zoo theme, tailored for older kids. Perfect follow-up entertainment after the animal cuddles.
When: 8 & 10 July, 1pm-1.45pm
Where: The Palms
How much: Free
More details here.
Friday 12 July
Mid Winter Christmas Festive Christmas celebration with twinkling lights, seasonal treats, mulled wine, and St Nicholas himself. Christmas sleigh photo ops included.
When: 12-13 July, 10am-6pm
Where: Riverside Market
How much: Free activities, food and drinks from vendors
More details here.
Tuesday 15 July
Free Twirl and Play Free dance class for preschoolers with face painting, morning tea, and playgroup afterwards. Sign up for the term and go in the draw for a $50 Woolworths voucher.
When: Tuesday 15 July, 10.30am-12pm
Where: Bromley Community Centre
How much: Free
More details here.
Daily Throughout Holidays
Ice Skating Winter Festival Daily skating sessions with disco lights, music requests, face painting, and helpers on ice. Polar bear skate aids available for beginners.
When: 28 June-14 July, 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm daily
Where: Alpine Ice, 495 Brougham Street
How much: $11-$19
More details here.
The Reality Check
There’s genuinely loads happening these holidays, from free outdoor adventures to full-day drop-off programmes. Book ahead for the popular stuff because nothing’s worse than disappointed faces when events sell out. And remember – surviving school holidays isn’t about keeping kids busy every second, it’s about finding the right mix of activities that work for your family (and your sanity).
