MEDIA RELEASE 9 DECEMBER 2025
Summer school holiday celebrations will burst to life in January with families invited to take part in almost 100 activities taking place in Parramatta from magic and science shows to augmented-reality battles, art workshops, circus fun, family fitness and a summer long read-a-thon.
The program will offer residents the chance to partake in activities across Council’s libraries, Parramatta Aquatic Centre, PHIVE, Wentworth Point Community Centre and Library and sportsgrounds including Riverside Live at PHIVE’s Garden of Sound, part performance and part playground following two quirky gardeners on their mission to restore their garden’s beauty.
City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Martin Zaiter said this year’s program captures the joy of a summer alive with creativity.
“We are offering kids and families hands-on experiences they won’t find anywhere else,” Cr Zaiter said.
“Our libraries, PHIVE, Active Parramatta, Riverside Live at PHIVE, Wentworth Point Community Centre and Library and the Parramatta Aquatic Centre have built an incredible program that celebrates creativity in all forms.
“Garden of Sound sets the tone for an unforgettable summer.
“Parramatta is ready to welcome kids and their families for a summer filled with connection and play.”
Other highlights across the City include:
- Libraries: robots, STEAM days, stories and a summer read-a-thon. Kids can learn through personalised and interactive lessons with ABii the Smart Robot Tutor, explore AI and robotics, build safe structures, and dive into STEAM Days focused on housing and design. Creatives can jump into Tales Reimagined: Classics vs Comics while book lovers take on the Summer Read-a-Thon challenge. All activities can be found here.
- Riverside Live at PHIVE: families can enjoy the Garden of Sound from 7-10 January and The Bogong’s Song from 15-17 January, brought to life through Bangarra’s dance and shadow puppetry.
- Active Parramatta: more than 40 classes will roll out these holidays including mother (or mother-figure) and daughter yoga, family tennis featuring the new POP Tennis program debuting in Parramatta and popular favourites such as LED hula hoop dance, silent disco and gymnastics.
- Parramatta Aquatic Centre (PAC): intensive swim program to boost water confidence and skills with week one running from 12–16 January 2026 and week two from 19–23 January 2026.
- PHIVE: a huge line-up of creative sessions including Junk Orchestra from 6 January, drop-off blind box character workshops from 14-15 January, K-POP Demon Hunters, craft workshops, PHIVE SHP: ENVIRO-Beats on 13 January and creative sessions and HADO Battle Arena; an augmented reality gameplay from 7 January.
- Wentworth Point Community Centre and Library (WPCCL): more K-POP events for the kids to enjoy, miniature garden sculpture making, creative self-portraits, music camp and puppeteering and puppet making workshops between 13-22 January.
Garden of Sound is proudly supported by Create NSW, Creative Australia, Riverside Theatres, Sydney Festival and The Pavilion Performing Arts Centre.
Find more details about Council’s summer activities via the City of Parramatta website.
Find more details about Riverside Live at PHIVE’s summer program here.
