GEELONG WONDER CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL RETURNS WITH A PROGRAM THAT’S BURSTING WITH LIVE SHOWS, EVENTS AND FREE SCHOOL HOLIDAY FAMILY FUN!
Creativity is set to flow through Geelong’s Little Malop Street this month as the Geelong Wonder Children’s Festival returns from 12 – 25 September with its biggest festival yet.
Founded and produced by Geelong Arts Centre, this year’s program serves up serious school holiday fun for the entire family, with unmissable live shows featuring storybook favourites and spellbinding magic acts, immersive experiences, roving performers, exhibitions and more!
On stage, Geelong Arts Centre will present performances of leading family productions including Spot – Live on Stage, Duck Pond, Velveteen Rabbit, Proudfoot & Friends and Mario the Maker Magician.
Incredible immersive experiences will take over Geelong Arts Centre spaces, including RAIN – an intimate performance installation with live cello designed especially for babies. The Indirect Object’s Morphology will fill The Open House with a growing interactive sculpture of light that morphs as you play.
The Wonder Schools Showcase returns for its 77th year, continuing to shine a spotlight on the region’s young performers in a celebration of creativity in schools.
Families can dive into a world of creativity, imagination and discovery with a vibrant mix of activities across Geelong’s arts precinct, including magical story time sessions at Geelong Library, hands-on workshops and inspiring exhibitions presented by Geelong Gallery, an immersive art experience covering all things toilet related at the Museum of Modern (f)Art, and the much-anticipate kid take-over of The Piano Bar Geelong.
New in 2025 is the Big Wonder Weekend and Wonder Walk on 20 – 21 September, a festival of free family events and activities in the heart of the Geelong CBD. Roving performers, treasure hunts, tasty treats and face painting will take over Geelong Arts Centre, the Geelong Cultural Precinct and Little Malop Street precinct between 10am – 4pm daily.
Now in its third year, Geelong Wonder Children’s Festival is on its way to becoming the largest children’s festival in regional Victoria, with an expected attendance of more than 12,000 people this year.
Geelong Wonder Children’s Festival is founded and produced by Geelong Arts Centre. Proudly supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria, and City of Greater Geelong.
Explore the program of unmissable events at geelongartscentre.org.au
Quote attributable to Minister for Creative Industries, Colin Brooks
“The Geelong Wonder Children's Festival is a great example of the creativity, imagination and community spirit that makes Geelong Arts Centre a cultural powerhouse.
“We are proud to support this festival as it returns for its 77th year inspiring young minds, bringing families together and offering a great program of fun, kid-friendly events for the school holidays.”
Quote attributable to Member for Geelong, Chris Couzens MP
“The Geelong Wonder Children’s Festival brings our community together in the most joyful way – through creativity, imagination and play. It’s fantastic to see local families enjoying world-class performances, free events and hands-on experiences right here in the heart of our city and the state of the art, Geelong Arts Centre.
Quote attributable to CEO and Creative Director, Geelong Arts Centre Rhys Holden
“Geelong Wonder Children’s Festival was founded and created by Geelong Arts Centre to nurture children's boundless curiosity, to spark the joy and awe that comes from taking part in creative experiences in all their unexpected and magical forms.”
“With free events, street festivities, and a curated program of some of the country’s leading productions for young people, we can’t wait for families to experience all there is to offer across this year’s extraordinary festival.”
Quote attributable to Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM, City of Greater Geelong
“Geelong continues to be one of Australia’s fastest growing regional areas, driven by young families looking for the desirable lifestyle our city offers.”
“We are excited to support the Geelong Wonder Children’s Festival, and I’m excited to share in the unveiling of the Big Wonder Weekend, which will see the festivities extend right through the Little Malop Street Precinct, offering families an extraordinary program of free events, ticketed shows and school holiday fun in the heart of our CBD.”
GEELONG WONDER CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL 2025 PROGRAM
The 2025 Geelong Wonder Children’s Festival features large program of free events for all ages.
For more information about performance times, as well as ticket prices for stage shows, visit geelongartscentre.org.au
Who’s Who Portrait Exhibition
Presented by Geelong Gallery
30 August – 9 November, Geelong Gallery
This annual exhibition celebrates young artists, their regional identities and personal stories and achievements through portraiture.
All ages
Duck Pond
Yaron Lifschitz & the Circa Ensemble
12 – 13 September, The Play House, Geelong Arts Centre
The world’s most romantic ballet, Swan Lake is reimagined as a circus spectacular.
All ages
Wonder Schools Showcase
Presented by Geelong Arts Centre
15 – 17 September, The Play House, Geelong Arts Centre
Watch our region’s young performers shine on stage as part of this week-long celebration of creativity in schools.
All ages
Proudfoot and Friends
Lucas Proudfoot and Cluster Arts
16 September, The Story House, Geelong Arts Centre
A toe-tapping musical comedy with digital puppeteering and animated projections.
Ages 5+
RAIN
A Threshold Experience
16 – 17 September, The Open House, Geelong Arts Centre
RAIN is an intimate performance installation with live cello, created specifically for babes in arms, crawlers and their carers.
Ages 0 – 1 years
Velveteen Rabbit Story Time
Presented by Geelong Library
19 September, Geelong Library
Enjoy a Story Time book reading of the 100-year-old children’s story by the team from Born in A Taxi, before seeing the thoughtfully and hilariously reimagined stage show.
All ages
Spot – Live on Stage
CDP Kids & Salspot
20 – 21 September, The Play House, Geelong Arts Centre
Spot is off on an adventure! Eric Hill’s beloved puppy comes to life on stage in a show that’s fun for the whole family, with puppetry, songs and puzzles.
Ages 1 – 7 years
Mario the Maker Magician
NCM and Mario Marchese
20 September, The Story House, Geelong Arts Centre
Robots, magic and slapstick …. Oh my!
Ages 5+
Design and Discover School Holiday Workshop Program
Presented by Geelong Library, Geelong Library
22 September – 3 October
Celebrate the Archibald Prize exhibition by drawing a pet portrait, tell a story through collage or make a fantasy map!
All ages
The Resilience Project – 3 Happy Tricks with Martin Heppell
Presented by Live Nation
24 September, The Play House, Geelong Arts Centre
The much-loved and incredibly fun kids show embedding simple, practical and fun mental health strategies to support children and their adults to build positive habits.
Ages 5 – 12 years
BIG WONDER WEEKEND 20 – 21 SEPTEMBER FREE EVENTS
Piano Bar Kids
Presented by The Piano Bar
20 – 21 September, The Piano Bar Geelong
Shandelle and Andy from the Piano Bar hand the requests over to the kids – and everyone gets to sing, dance and enjoy!
All ages
Morphology by The Indirect Object
20 – 25 September, The Open House, Geelong Arts Centre
Create your own world amongst a rainbow of interactive neo glowing sculptures that morph as you play.
All ages
Museum of Modern (f)Art
Presented by Barwon Water
20 & 24 September, Barwon Water
Dive headfirst into all things sewer, fatberg, and toilet related at this immersive art experience for kids!
All ages
Draw Your Own Portrait
Presented by Geelong Gallery
20 – 21 September, White Foyer, Geelong Arts Centre
Inspired by the Archibald Prize 2025, create your own portrait of someone who inspires you.
All ages
Roving Performers
Presented by Geelong Arts Centre
20 – 21 September, Geelong Arts Centre foyers and Little Malop Street
Look out for roving performers who will flow through Geelong Arts Centre foyers, spilling into Little Malop Street creating chaos and delight!
All ages