Welcome to the Secret List: the ultimate list of fun and unusual things to do with your kids in Perth this month.
April has to be one of the best months: the weather has cooled, the Easter Bunny is visiting and there are two weeks of school holidays. Holidays and chocolate? Consider yourself warned.
Roald Dahl's Witches will be performed by the Barking Gecko Theatre Company, image courtesy website
Everyone's favourite bald-headed ladies (and I use the term loosely) are being brought to life at a special production these holidays of Roald Dahl's The Witches. Presented by The Barking Gecko Theatre Company, this hilarious show will have you laughing and cheering – especially since it will be performed as a one-man show. Hope you're not afraid of mice!
When: Tuesday 31st March to Sunday 12th April, 11am, 2pm, 6.30pm
Where: Subiaco Arts Centre
Cost: tickets $25.50
Click for more info:
Easter at Rockingham Rocks!Have a festive start to the holidays with the Rockingham family Easter Carnival with more rides and events than you can poke a bunny at including market stalls, side show alley, face painting, free kids craft, rides and stalls, a petting zoo, live entertainment and much much more. I hear it is going to be so cool, the Easter Bunny himself will be visiting.
When: Friday 3rd April to Sunday 5th April, times vary
Where: Village Green - Corner of Patterson Rd & Flinders Lane, Rockingham
Cost: free entry
Click for more info.
Head inside the big top
Circus Joseph Ashton and his family have been entertaining Perth families for years, and are one of the few circus to still use animals as part of their show (which is why certain councils won't let them perform in their area). It's an old-school circus with tumbling and high wire, clowns and performing horses. Feel the woodchips under your feet and smell the popcorn. A great introduction to circuses for the kids.
When: Friday 3rd April to Sunday 18th April
Where: Dixon Road Reserve, Rockingham
Cost: children $15/$20, adults $20/$30
Click for more info.
The beautiful Moomins, image courtesy website
When you are sick of arguing with the kids about how much screen time they should have, why not remind them that before TV and computers, we used to experience art and theatre in a much more up close and personal way.
Breathing life into a childhood favourite, this beautiful production by puppeteer Michael Barlow, showcases a touching story about the Moomintrolls, created by Finnish author and illustrator Tove Jansson. Running at 45 minutes, and with numerous shows throughout the school holidays, this witty and whimsical show is perfect for children of all ages.
When: Saturday 4th April to Saturday 18th April, 10am and 1pm (except Sundays and public holidays)
Where: Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, 1 Short St Fremantle
Cost: tickets $20-$24
Click for more info.
Everything is Awesome (Lego workshops)
If you have some Master Builders at your place, then why not enrol them in some Junior Engineering Workshops (under 7s) or Engineering or Robotics Workshops (7 ) at the Brick House these holidays.
With half day workshops throughout the holidays, the themes and activities change daily. There will be permanent Minecraft, City and Friends zones set up plus earthquake tables, racing ramps and speed building competitions.
When: Tuesday 7th April to Thursday 18th April, 9-12 or1-4pm
Where: The Brick House, 113 High Rd, Willeton
Cost: $30 per half day, $70 for a full day
Click for more info.
Big Kids Carnival
This isn't a carnival for big kids (though they're welcome) but it is a BIG carnival for kids. And it will be popular so buy your tickets online now. With unlimited free rides and entertainment as soon as you step foot inside, it's a kids paradise (parents bring earplugs and some paracetamol).
As well as a huge line-up of show rides and bouncy castles there will be a petting zoo, roving entertainers, comedy shows, face painting and free fairy floss.
When: Friday 10th April to Saturday 11th April,
Where: Wanneroo Showgrounds, Ariti Ave, Wanneroo
Cost: adults (14 ) $10, kids $25
Click for more info.
The Great Duck Race as part of the Mandurah Eastern Festival, image courtesy website
If you are heading south over the Easter weekend then stop by Mandurah on Easter Saturday for a family fun day hosted by three local Rotary Clubs with stalls, rides, magic show, petting zoo, displays and more but also the famous yellow rubber duckie race where 10,000 toys are released into the Mandurah Estuary. You can
sponsor a duck for $5 and be in the chance to win some great prizes.
When: Saturday 5th April, 10am-4pm (duck race around 3pm)
Where: Mandurah Eastern and Western foreshore
Cost: free
Click for more info.
Kids love learning at Scitech
Why is it that kids are happy to learn about science as soon as school is over? No matter, take advantage of their thirst for knowledge and send them along to the variety of school holiday programs run by our favourite science geeks at Scitech.
With programs such as robotics, magnets, catapults and more, there will be something for everyone these holidays. There are a number of programs appropriate for children aged between 4 and 14 years.
When: starts Wednesday 8th April and continues during school holidays
Where: Scitech, West Perth
Cost: programs start at $10 for members and many are booking out so hurry
Click for more info.
Take your sandgropers to the beach
Grab the kids, dunk them in a tub of sunscreen and take them along to the free Coogee Beach Festival. It's just like any day at the beach but this time there will be free entertainment, stalls, competitions and rides. Bring a picnic and plan ahead (it's very popular). This year there will be a watermelon eating competition, a dash for cash, and did I mention the FREE rides?
When: Sunday 12th April, 9am-2pm
Where: Coogee Beach Reserve, Powell Rd, Coogee
Cost: Free
Click for more info.
Is that your stomach rumbling, or a food truck?
Stomachs! Prepare to be amazed. Featuring an eye-watering 30 trucks this year, the Perth Food Truck Rumble will take place at the Northbridge Cultural Centre to serve up a feast including pizza, churros, icecream, Mexican, vegetarian and vegan, the Merrywell, Japanese and more. This year there will be a pop-up bar from Cocktail Gastronomy. Bring your appetite.
When: Saturday 12th April, 11am to 8pm
Where: Perth Cultural Centre, Northbridge
Cost: food prices will vary
Click for more info.
Dino-tastic
Back in Perth for six shows only across three days the Walking with Dinosaurs spectacular is a must-see for anyone with a love for the Jurassic. Or the Cretaceous. With over 20 enormous, life sized dinosaurs the show has been seen by over 7 million people worldwide and continues to amaze.
When: 17th April to 19th April
Where: Perth Arena
Cost: $46 to $100
Click for more info.
We Will Remember Them
If the 5.50am start of the ANZAC Day dawn service is too early for you, then spend some time with the kids today baking a batch of
Anzac biscuits and telling them about the brave men and women who fought for Australia in the wars. With any luck, we won't need to send our kids off to fight like so many generations before us.
For the week prior to Anzac Day, there will also be sunset services every evening from 5pm between April 20th and 24th at the War Memorial in Kings Park. Lest we forget.
When: Saturday 25th April, 5.50am
Where: War Memorial, Kings Park
Cost: Free
Click
here and
here for more info.
Let the kids get their hands dirty at the Garden Festival, image courtesy website
In its new home for 2015, the Perth Garden Festival is great for families who love the great outdoors. Not only is the event pet friendly, but there will be a Children's Education Playground with regular learning and activities for the little green thumbs.
When: Thursday 30th April (and finishing Sunday 3rd May), 9.30am-4pm
Where: McCallum Park, Vic Park
Cost: $20 adults, kids 6-16 $5
Click for more info.
