What’s on in Melbourne in April to keep school holiday boredom at bay

Bug out with your child – ideally if they’re aged between five and 12 – at this immersive event that celebrates Victorian bugs. Through fun and engaging supervised activities, children will be encouraged to create a one-of-a-kind bug diorama replete with tiny tunnels, leafy hideouts and concealed habitats. To add to the fun, real bugs will be on display.

Comedy Club for Kids
$16–$25
Melbourne Museum, April 5-20

Melbourne comes abuzz with the comedy festival, but it’s not just the adults who can enjoy a laugh. Entertaining parents and children alike is the Comedy Club for Kids, which has been inducing giggles, snorts and guffaws for over two decades. Featuring in this year’s lineup are Melbourne-based comedic duo Jon & Jero, who put paid to scary notions of crowd work by creating an open space of play, curiosity and imagination, and Mr Snotbottom, who will take children through the sticky, icky, wonderful world of mucus. Suitable for children aged six to 12.

Hooves, Horns and Wings: Unicorns and Other Horsey Things
$16
Hellenic Museum, April 5-12

Argonaut adventurers between four and 10 will have a blast discovering the many horse-like creatures of Greek mythology. Kicking off with a 30-minute tour around the Hellenic Museum where children are regaled with beguiling stories of mythical horses and introduced to objects more than 2000 years old, the activity ends with an interactive activity where young adventurers get the opportunity to create their own flipbook drawing on the very same creatures they’ve just learned about. As a bonus, tickets include entry to Michael Zavros’ interactive family exhibition Gods and Monsters, where children can learn about Greek mythology through animation and create their own digital ‘hero’ identity.

Draw a Furry Friend
Adults $16, children $8
The Ian Potter Centre, April 7-8

Inspired by the NGV exhibition Cats & Dogs, which has been on since November, step into Fed Square for this school holiday drawing activity inspired by the furry creatures on display. From cattle dogs to lap dogs, divine felines to the black cats of superstition, find out whether you’re a cat or dog person by donning a set of ears and drawing a portrait of your favourite animal between the two. Activities are designed for children aged three years and above, but younger children can attend with the assistance of an adult.

Nature Play Melbourne
Free
Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, April 8-9

If screentime is an issue, there’s no better time to acquaint your little ones with nature than during the autumnal months of deciduous trees shedding their leaves. Celebrate Nature Play Week by participating in free nature-inspired experiences on Oak Lawn and in The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden – learning facilitators and volunteers will guide children through the falling leaves and seeds, the shifting colours and the magic of the gardens as the seasons morph from one to another.

Little Food Festival
Free
Federation Square, April 9-10

Adults have the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, children have the Little Food Festival. But rather than showcasing the pageantry of fine dining or spotlighting fresh seasonal produce on a plate, this free festival travels further in each direction – taking children through each stage of the food system from growing, moving and buying food to cooking, eating and recycling. The two days of hands-on activities include the planting of seedlings, immersion in the world of bush foods, hopping on a smoothie bike, and the construction of mini mushroom farms. Partnering with organisations like Monash University, CSIRO and CERES, Little Food Festival is empowering the next generation to care for, protect and champion sustainable food.

Titanic: A Voyage Through Time
From $23.50
206 Bourke Street, April 10-30

Far safer and less ill-fated than the 2023 implosion of the submersible that was dispatched to the depths of the ocean for a viewing of Titanic wreckage, this VR experience promises an immersive experience aboard the doomed 1912 vessel without any of the accompanying danger. Walk the decks; hear the personal stories of the passengers, crew and visionaries behind the groundbreaking voyage in its day; and explore the wreckage from the safety of 206 Bourke Street. Attendees must be at least eight years old with a minimum height of 1.3m.

Turkish Pazar Festival
Free
Queen Victoria Market, April 12–13

Queen Victoria Market is set to be transformed into a traditional Turkish street market, celebrating the rich traditions and culinary heritage of the Turkish-Australian community. The free, family-friendly festival will feature numerous food and drink stalls – including Turkish coffee prepared over hot sand – children’s activities, music and dance, and cultural displays such as traditional Turkish calligraphy and ebru (paper marbling).

Out of the Woods Escape Room
Free, bookings essential
Southbank Library, various times April 14

If you’ve enjoyed an escape room experience and ever wondered if there’s an equivalent for children, the City of Melbourne’s Out of the Woods Escape Room is for you. Suitable for participants aged between seven and 12, children are encouraged to solve puzzles and crack codes to forge their way out.

Kusama for Kids: The Obliteration Room
Free
National Gallery of Victoria, until April 21

The weird, wonderful and wacky world of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s polka-dotted pumpkins, ornate flower structures and immersive infinity rooms have mesmerised audiences the world over. Kusama for Kids invites children into the Obliteration Room, a large-scale interactive installation for children and families, where they’re encouraged to ‘obliterate’ the rooms by adding bright, colourful dots to the white furniture, objects and surfaces. Get down low or perch aloft someone’s shoulders to reach the soaring heights of blank space yet to be obliterated.

The Future & Other Fictions
Adults $22.50, children $10, free for children under four
ACMI, until April 27

ACMI’s ethereal Future & Other Fictions exhibition premiered in November 2024, but don’t miss it in its last few weeks. Step into the minds of 19 creative visionaries from around the globe, through more than 180 works, and experience how future worlds are dreamed up and created on screen – whether it’s the detailed costumes from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever; the intricate sets, props and concept art from video game Cyberpunk 2077 and films Blade Runner 2049 and The Creator; or Icelandic icon Björk’s otherworldly dress in her 2017 music video for The Gate. The exhibition is suitable for all ages, with conversation prompts available for the more complex themes.

Run the Tan
From $45 to $75
April 27

Run the Tan in service of mental health in this flagship event for celebrities, elite athletes and families alike. The iconic 3.8-kilometre running track surrounding the Royal Botanic Gardens comes alive during this charity running festival, with proceeds going to places like Run for Mental Health, Lifeline and Black Dog Institute.

Monopoly Dreams
Adults $39, children $29
April 1-31

Sick of playing an interminably long game of Monopoly cooped up in your house? The immersive Monopoly Dreams experience within Melbourne Central’s lower ground brings the board game to life. Walk through the streets of Monopoly City, take a chance at interactive games, explore Water Works and the Electric Company, and make a grab for cash at the Bank.