From shadow puppets to comic book fairs: kids’ events across Melbourne's east in July
Youngsters can dig up plants, buy pop culture memorabilia or watch world music performances.
Matthew Sims
June 23, 2026
Here are some of the kid-friendly events to check out across Melbourne’s eastern suburbs in July.
Did we forget any? Let us know by reaching out via [email protected].
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Family Fiesta
Running across four days during the school holidays at Monash University’s Clayton campus, Family Fiesta includes performances from Romani music trio Vardos and Gambian musician Amadou Suso, who plays a West African harp called the kora.
When: Wednesday July 1 to Saturday July 4
Where: Monash University Performing Arts Centres, 48 Exhibition Walk, Clayton
Cost: Events up to $20
Luke Blaze – Abracadabra
Magician Luke Blaze’s new show Abracadabra combines illusions and audience interaction.
When: Thursday July 2, 11am-noon and 1.30-2.30pm
Where: Karralyka Centre, 22A Mines Road, Ringwood East
Cost: $34.90-$49.90
Draw, Explore and Entangle
Designed for children aged six to 14, this workshop allows children to explore, draw and paint their own creatures, inspired by the works of Melbourne artist Alicia Frankovich.
When: Thursday July 2, 11am-1pm
Where: TarraWarra Museum of Art, 313 Healesville-Yarra Glen Road, Healesville
Cost: $10
Spike the Echidna
Using shadow play, puppeteer Jenny Ellis tells the story of an echidna that hatches far away from home and becomes friends with a young girl.
When: Friday July 3, 11-11.40am and 2-2.40pm
Where: Knox Community Arts Centre, corner of Mountain Highway and Scoresby Road, Bayswater
Cost: $22.00 adult, $20 concession/child
The Royal Winter Ball
Performances include a ballroom dance and sing-along musical numbers.
Attendees are encouraged to dress up in ball attire, including a gown, cape or crown.
When: Saturday July 4, 10.30 am-noon
Where: Box Hill Town Hall, 1022 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill
Cost: $55
Kuranga Native Nursery’s Bush Buddies program
Monday’s session involves a tour through the nursery to learn about edible plants (and those to avoid), with attendees making a pot out of biodegradable newspaper.
Participants make their own clay ornaments on Tuesday, while Thursday’s session sees youngsters dig up plants to look at them under a microscope.
When: Monday July 6, Tuesday July 7 and Thursday July 9, 10-11am
Where: Kuranga Native Nursery, 118 York Road, Mount Evelyn
Cost: $40 per event
Melbourne Comic and Toy Fair
Collectors will be selling a range of pop culture memorabilia, including Pokémon cards, old video games, LEGO sets and action figures.
Or check out the art and editions from comic book artists and writers.
When: Saturday July 18 and Sunday July 19, 9am-5pm
Where: Event Central at Caribbean Park, 1280 Ferntree Gully Road, Scoresby
Cost: $18.69 for general admission, kids 15 and under free
Dragon Boat Festival
The Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional Chinese celebration often involving boat races and eating sticky rice dumplings called zongzi.
This Box Hill event will include egg waffles and other themed treats alongside performances, games and local Hong Kong vendors and producers.
When: Saturday June 6, 10.30am-8pm
Where: Box Hill Town Hall, 1022 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill
Cost: Free
Waverley Model Railway Club Exhibition
Young train enthusiasts can try out their driving skills on some model trains or check out the diverse displays of modern and historic pieces.
When: Saturday June 6 and Sunday June 7, 10am-5pm; Monday June 8, 10am-4pm
Where: Brandon Park Community Centre, 649 Ferntree Gully Road, Glen Waverley
Cost: $15 adults, $6 children (5-16)
The Witch Market
The Witch Market will have a range of wares across the spiritual and magical spectrum, including crystals, gemstones, talismans, tarot decks, herbs and witchcraft tools.
Or if you’re up for a peek into your future, you can also receive a psychic reading.
When: Saturday June 6 and Sunday June 7
Where: Hawthorn Arts Centre, 360 Burwood Road, Hawthorn
Cost: Free
International Tabletop Day
Celebrating board, card and role-playing games, Ringwood tabletop game players of all levels can take part in competitions or receive tutorials in a new game or two.
When: Saturday June 6, 10.30am-4.30pm
Where: Realm Library, Ringwood Town Square, 179 Maroondah Hwy, Ringwood
Cost: Free
The Alphabet of Awesome Science
Presenters Lexi Con and Noel Edge teach young and curious minds more about the world of words and science in this hour-long performance.
When: Friday June 19, 10-11am and 1-2pm (Nunawading) and Tuesday June 30, 11am-12 noon and 2-3pm (Ringwood East)
Where: The Round, 379-399 Whitehorse Road, Nunawading and Karralyka Centre, 22A Mines Road, Ringwood East
Cost: $28
More Info Here – Nunawading and Ringwood East
Sky Country Tours
Gomeroi woman and astrophysicist Krystal De Napoli hosts a stargazing tour focused on lessons we have taken from how First Peoples read the skies, the significance of “Sky Country” to Indigenous culture and how reducing light pollution can sustain normal native wildlife behaviour.
When: June 4-6, 11-13, 18 and 20, 5.30-7.30pm
Where: Healesville Sanctuary, Badger Creek Road, Healesville
Cost: $110 for adults, $55 for children
Melbourne Magic Festival
Hosted by the Australian Institute of Magic, the Melbourne Magic Festival features a range of shows from international and local performers, as well as workshops to train the next generation of illusionists.
When: Multiple dates from Saturday June 27 to Saturday July 11
Where: Multiple locations across Melbourne
Glenroy Festival
This year’s Glenroy Festival will feature a full schedule of live performances from up-and-coming bands and artists, as well as arts and crafts workshops, an inflatable mushroom forest, community stalls and food trucks.
When: Sunday May 3, 11am-3pm
Where: Glenroy Community Hub and Bridget Shortell Reserve, 50 Wheatsheaf Road, Glenroy
Cost: Free
Kalorama Chestnut Festival
For more than 40 years, the Kalorama Chestnut Festival has seen families from across the Dandenong Ranges pick chestnuts to bring along to roast and eat.
About 60 stalls will include information displays from community groups, as well as local traders offering produce, food options, coffee, homemade jewellery, clothing, handmade toys and arts and crafts gifts.
Funds raised will contribute to the ongoing management of Mount Dandenong Preschool and Mount Dandenong Primary School.
When: Sunday May 3, 10am-4pm
Where: Kalorama Memorial Reserve, 1190-1196 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Kalorama
Cost: Free
Healesville Festival
Rufous Whistler and Joshua Batten will be among the performers.
This two-day event will include music acts, guitar-making workshops, group singing classes, and spans throughout the main part of town.
Singer-songwriters Tessa Devine and Rufous Whistler will be the headline act at The Memo from 6.30 to 10.30pm on Saturday night.
On Sunday, free family entertainment will be available at Queens Park for Mother’s Day.
When: Saturday May 9, 10am-10.30pm and Sunday May 10, 10am-5pm
Where: Various locations (Saturday) and Queens Park, 36 Don Road, Healesville (Sunday)
Cost: Free except for headline show – $38
Mother’s Day Classic
Image Credit: Botanic Gardens of Sydney
Kids, parents and loved ones will lace up on Mother’s Day at running and walking events across the country as part of the 29th annual Mother’s Day Classic.
Local events will be held at Lillydale Lake – including a 5.1-kilometre course – and Lysterfield Lake – a 6.2-kilometre course.
Funds raised will support the National Breast Cancer Foundation and Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation.
When: Sunday May 10, 8-11am
Where: Lillydale Lake, 435 Swansea Road, Lilydale and Lysterfield Lake, Horswood Road, Lysterfield
Cost: $45 adults, $39 concession, $33 children aged 3-12
Play School: Come and Play!
Marking the 60th anniversary of one of Australia’s most iconic children’s television shows, this exhibition is centred around allowing visitors aged two to five to go behind the scenes in interactive activities where they can become the director, actor or camera operator.
When: Every day from 10am-5pm
Where: ACMI, Federation Square, Flinders Street, Melbourne
Cost: Free, bookings essential
Museum of Play and Art
Kids of all ages are welcome here, with experiences and interactive activities available across a range of comfort levels, including trampolines and a flying fox.
For the more artistic or tactile children, there is a Volkswagen Beetle painting experience or a water play area.
When: 9.30am-4pm, Monday to Thursday and 9am-5pm, Friday to Sunday
When: Level 1/372 Whitehorse Road, Nunawading
Cost: $25 children, $18 adults