As the year comes to a close, the Northern Territory is packed with exciting activities to keep the whole family entertained during the Christmas and New Year break.
With the kids home from school, it’s the perfect time to get out and enjoy all the community events happening across the region. Whether you’re looking for something laid-back and sensory-friendly or craving a more adventurous experience, there’s something for everyone. The end-of-year break is a great opportunity to connect with loved ones and soak up the festive atmosphere.
To help you make the most of it, we’ve compiled a fantastic list of events below—so you can plan ahead and dive right into the holiday fun!
Arts & Culture
Lego Takes over the Museum
📍 MAGNT
🗓️ All School Holidays
⏰ 10am-4pm
LEGO® minifigures have taken over MAGNT! Explore the galleries, spot as many as you can, and share your discoveries using #MAGNTlegohunt. Free and fun for all ages!
Summer Reading Club
📍 Alice Springs Library
🗓️ January 6-24
⏰ Open Hours
Join the Summer Reading Club at Alice Springs Library! Read for 5 hours, track with a bookmark, and win weekly prizes, plus a major prize draw!
Animal Education
📍 Darwin City Library
🗓️ January 7
⏰ 2.30pm-3.30pm
Kids 5-12 can learn about dogs, cats, and pet safety with the Animal Education Team, featuring fun surprises and training classes for young dog owners!
Geektacular 2025
📍 Casuarina Library
🗓️ January 18
⏰ 2pm-6pm
Geektacular 2025 is a free event for 15-25-year-olds, featuring cosplay, tabletop games, art exhibitions, karaoke, and more fun activities to explore geek culture!
Christmas Themed
Cas Christmas Train
📍 Casuarina Square
🗓️ December 13-22
⏰ 10am-2pm
Hop on the Cas Christmas Train for a free festive ride through Casuarina Square’s holiday wonderland, filled with fun and cheer for the whole family.
Santa at the Waterfront
📍 Darwin Waterfront
🗓️ December 14,15,19,20,21 & 22
⏰ 5pm-8pm
Santa is visiting the Waterfront this year. Meet him on the Peninsula Lawns, share your wish list, and enjoy festive fun for all ages!
Meet Santa & His Friends
📍 Gateway Shopping Centre
🗓️ December 14-15
⏰ 11am-1pm
Meet Santa and his friends at Gateway, spreading Christmas cheer to everyone. Join the fun and make magical memories with Santa’s jolly crew!
Santa Sleigh Ride VR Experience
📍 Palmerston Shopping Centre
🗓️ December 14-24
⏰ 9am-5.30pm
Come on down to Palmerston Shopping Centre for Amazing XR's VR sleigh rides – a big hit at $7 per person!
Low Sensory Christmas Wonderland
📍 Goyder Square
🗓️ December 15
⏰ 4.30pm-8.30pm
Celebrate the festive season at our Low Sensory Christmas Wonderland, with thoughtful adjustments like lower lighting and softer music to create a more inclusive experience.
Christmas Craft Week
📍 Palmerston Library
🗓️ December 16-20
⏰ 12pm
Celebrate Christmas Craft Week at the library with activities for all ages, including Christmas tree decorations, sand art, photo frames, and holiday movies.
Christmas Craft Corner
📍 Casuarina Square
🗓️ December 16-22
⏰ 10am-1pm
Celebrate the festive season at Casuarina Square’s Christmas Craft Corner. Enjoy plaster art, cookie decorating, and bauble crafting.
Palmerston Christmas Wonderland
📍 Goyder Square
🗓️ December 16-23
⏰ 5.30pm-9.30pm
Celebrate Christmas Wonderland with 8 nights of festive fun! New attractions, live entertainment, Santa’s Grotto, food trucks, and daily craft activities await.
Kids Christmas Art Workshops
📍 The Artful Room
🗓️ December 17, 21 & 23
⏰ 9.30am
Join a kids’ Christmas art workshop at The Artful Room, where your child will paint a crocodile and green frog in Christmas hats using watercolours. Please wear old clothes as it can get messy.
Kids Christmas Party
📍 Darwin Trailer Boat Club
🗓️ December 22
⏰ 10am
Celebrate the season with festive food, fun activities, and a special gift from Santa. RSVP required for kids under 10.
Family Fun
Liquid Light
📍 Darwin Waterfront
🗓️ December -January 5
⏰ 7.30pm, 8pm & 8.30pm
Transform your Christmas lights experience into a spectacular night with Liquid Light. Enjoy laser projections, water fountains, flames, and animations to an energetic soundtrack, free for all to enjoy.
Kids New Years Eve Disco
📍 Palmerston Golf & Country Club
🗓️ December 31
⏰ 5.30pm
Bring the kids to the Golf Club for a New Year’s Eve Disco with DJ Kev, face painting, snacks, and great prizes!
Club Corro-aoke
📍 Corrugated Iron's Performance Space
🗓️ January 17
⏰ 2pm
Ever wanted to sing your heart out in karaoke? Join Club Corro-aoke at Corrugated Iron’s Performance Space for a free workshop where you’ll learn vocal techniques, choreography, and more! Snacks provided.
Movie Time
Christmas Movie Screening - How the Grinch Stole Christmas
📍 Darwin City Library
🗓️ December 19
⏰ 10am-11.30am
Celebrate the festive season with a screening of ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ at Darwin City Library. Suitable for all ages, the film is Closed Captioned (CC).
Movie Screening - Garfield
📍 Casuarina Library
🗓️ January 6
⏰ 10am-11.45am
Watch the movie ‘Garfield’ at Casuarina Library. After a reunion with his long-lost father, Garfield joins a high-stakes heist. Suitable for all ages.
Movie Screening - Harold and the Purple Crayon
📍 Darwin City Library
🗓️ January 16
⏰ 10am-11.30am
Watch the movie ‘Harold and the Purple Crayon’ at Darwin City Library. Join Harold as he creates a new world to be himself. Suitable for all ages.
Movie Screening - Despicable Me 4
📍 Karama Library
🗓️ January 21
⏰ 10am-11.30am
Watch ‘Despicable Me 4’ at Karama Library. Gru welcomes a new member to the family, Gru Jr., leading to chaos when a criminal mastermind seeks revenge. Suitable for all ages.
Stay Active
SWELL 1st Birthday Pool Party
📍 Swell Palmerston
🗓️ December 17
⏰ 11am-1pm
Celebrate SWELL's 1st Birthday! Local entertainment, BBQ, Santa’s visit, and more. Activities include roving entertainment, birthday cupcakes, and photo ops. Admission is free!
Super Strong YP's
📍 Get Physical Gym & Squash Alice Springs
🗓️ December 17-18
⏰ 4pm-4.45pm
Super Strong YP's is a FREE program for young people 12+ offering fitness, boxing, squash, and weights at Get Physical Gym & Squash in Alice Springs.
Take it to the Streets
📍 Marrara Indoor Stadium
🗓️ December 18,19 & January 6,7 & 14
⏰ 4pm-8pm
Take it to the Streets with MADE Concepts at Marrara Indoor Stadium! Enjoy epic FIBA 3x3, blaze pods challenges, and e-games fun.
Tay Tay Pool Party
📍 Darwin Waterfront Wave Lagoon
🗓️ January 9
⏰ 5pm-7pm
Experience a Taylor Swift themed party at the Wave Lagoon with non-stop music, decorations, make-up station, pool inflatables, and craft areas.
Urban Youth Vibe
📍 Marrara Indoor Stadium
🗓️ January 13
⏰ 4pm-8pm
Experience the Urban Youth Vibe with a 3x3 showdown at Marrara Indoor Stadium. High-energy action, skills, and good vibes await
Come & Try Day
📍 NT Cricket
🗓️ January 20
⏰ 9am-11am
Get involved in cricket at the Come and Try Cricket Day! Perfect for beginners aged 5-12. No experience needed—just bring your energy and excitement!
Free-Ze Skating
📍 Darwin Ice Skating
🗓️ January 22
⏰ 5.30pm-7pm
For one night only, experience FREE-ze Skate at Darwin’s only ice-skating rink! Ages 12-20. Registration is essential as spaces are limited. BYO socks and warm clothes. Hot chocolate and popcorn on the night!
Katherine 3x3 Hangout
📍 Katherine YMCA
🗓️ January 22
⏰ 10am-2pm
Katherine 3x3 Hangout, hosted by MADE Concepts, will feature FIBA 3x3 basketball, e-games, Blaze Pods challenges, live music, and food over two days. This event is FREE and designed for high-energy action and good vibes.
Jump Into Circus
📍 Corrugated Iron's Performance Space
🗓️ January 22
⏰ 10am-12pm
Jump into Circus offers an action-packed workshop at Corrugated Iron’s Performance Space, focusing on balancing, juggling, and acrobatics. Suitable for ages 7-12. Book early—spaces fill fast!
All Abilities Pool Party
📍 Darwin Waterfront Wave Lagoon
🗓️ January 23
⏰ 8am-10am
A special early opening of the Wave Lagoon for kids of all abilities featuring a sensory play zone, quiet space, and varied seating options. Standard Wave Lagoon entry fees apply.