Winter school holidays in Bendigo: Family activities roundup for July 2026

The winter school holidays are here, and Bendigo families looking for cheap or free things to do have a solid lineup of options stretching through late July. The city’s major venues and local community groups have organised a program that mixes old favourites with a few new events.

This year’s roundup lands at a time when many households are watching their budgets. With the cost-of-living squeeze still biting, free or low-cost activities are top of mind for parents who want to keep children entertained without blowing the weekly grocery shop. The City of Greater Bendigo’s holiday program, for instance, is almost entirely free or under $10 per child, according to council’s published calendar for July 2026.

Where to go and what to do

The Bendigo Art Gallery on View Street is running a Family Art Lab session every Tuesday and Thursday through the break. Kids aged five to 12 can create winter-themed artworks using recycled materials. Bookings are required but the session itself is free, and gallery staff told The Daily Bendigo the program has been consistently full since it started in early July.

Across town, the Bendigo Library on Hargreaves Street has its Winter Storytime series every Wednesday morning at 10:30 a.m. and a Lego club on Friday afternoons. Both are free, though the Lego club caps numbers at 30 children. The library also runs a reading challenge-kids who finish five books by July 31 get a small prize pack donated by local bookshop Robinsons.

The Bendigo Tramways is offering a family pass for $30 (two adults and up to three children) for unlimited rides on the vintage tram line from Central Deborah Gold Mine to the Joss House. The tram runs daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through the holidays. A single adult ticket normally costs $16, so the family deal saves about 40 percent for a group of four and more if there are three kids.

For active families, the Bendigo Sports Centre at 91 MacKenzie Street West has drop-in sessions for basketball and cricket on Monday and Wednesday mornings. The cost is $5 per child, and parents can join for free. The centre’s manager confirmed the program runs until the last week of July.

Planning your week

Weekend warriors have a few special events to pencil in. The Golden Dragon Museum on Bridge Street is hosting a Dragon Family Day on Saturday, July 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids, with dragon dance demonstrations and craft tables. The museum said it expects about 400 visitors based on recent school-holiday turnout.

On Sunday, July 19, the Bendigo Showgrounds on Holmes Road will host the Central Victorian Family Fun Fair from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Organisers are advertising free entry, with rides and food stalls priced individually. A spokesperson for the organising committee said last year’s fair drew roughly 2,000 people and they’ve added extra parking this time.

For families who want to get outdoors without spending money, the Lake Weeroona playground is always an option. The council upgraded the equipment last year, and the lakeside walking track gives parents a chance to stretch their legs. It’s also a popular spot for picnics, with free electric barbecues near the rotunda.

Looking ahead, most of these activities wrap up by the end of July, so families should check council and venue websites for specific dates and to confirm any last-minute cancellations. The school holidays close on Friday, July 31, which means there are still two full weekends to fit in a few more outings before the classroom bell rings again.