FAMILY FIESTA
FOREST

Wednesday 1 July – Saturday 4 July

Family Fiesta heads to the Forest in 2026!

Family Fiesta is back at MPAC these July school holidays, inviting children aged 0–12 and their families to step into the forest and discover a world of wonder.

Across four days, the MPAC precinct transforms into a lively ecosystem of theatre, dance, music, art and hands‑on discovery. Journey beneath the soil in immersive theatre, encounter fungi in curious creative play, dance through dreamlike worlds, make music, explore science, and meet the creatures and stories that bring forests to life. With a mix of free drop‑in activities and affordable ticketed shows, Family Fiesta is a joyful celebration of imagination, learning and connection for the whole family.

Check out the FAQs and select a date to plan your visit:

Wednesday
1 July
Thursday
2 July

Friday
3 July
Saturday
4 July

 

Wednesday 1 July

Dream Swamp

Dance/Puppetry | Ages 4-12 | $20
Exhilarating dance and life-size puppetry transport children to a universe of magic and adventure.

Leonard the Lyrebird

Music | Ages 3-8 | $20
A musical storybook adventure featuring cello, clarinet and piano.

Beneath Our Feet

Theatre | Ages 5-10 | $20
Shrink down and journey into the world of soil with this new immersive theatre show.

Plant Power Discovery

Workshop | Ages 3-10 | Free
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria leads plant hunting and tea-bag making.

UnderStory

Art Installation | Ages 3-8 | Free
A forest floor unfolds in the foyer in this new play art installation.

Fungi Town

Explore | Ages 3-12 | Free
Come and explore a magical caravan of fungi.

Precious Plastic

Workshop | Ages 5-12 | Free
Create a forest keepsake from waste plastic with Monash Engineering.

Scienceworks in the Forest

Workshop | Ages 3-12 | Free
Forest experiments and science fun with our friends from Scienceworks.

Swing Valse

Music | Ages 3-8 | Free
Step into a sun-drenched European afternoon with Swing Valse, where charming melodies and rich harmonies bring French and Italian classics to life.

Thursday 2 July

Dream Swamp

Dance/Puppetry | Ages 4-12 | $20
Exhilarating dance and life-size puppetry transport children to a universe of magic and adventure.

Leonard the Lyrebird

Music | Ages 3-8 | $20
A musical storybook adventure featuring cello, clarinet and piano.

Beneath Our Feet

Theatre | Ages 5-10 | $20
Shrink down and journey into the world of soil with this new immersive theatre show.

Plant Power Discovery

Workshop | Ages 3-10 | Free
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria leads plant hunting and tea-bag making.

UnderStory

Art Installation | Ages 3-8 | Free
A forest floor unfolds in the foyer in this new play art installation.

Fungi Town

Explore | Ages 3-12 | Free
Come and explore a magical caravan of fungi.

Precious Plastic

Workshop | Ages 5-12 | Free
Create a forest keepsake from waste plastic with Monash Engineering.

Biik Bundjil

Culture | Ages 3-8 | Free
Boonwurrung dance, spirit and culture.

Scienceworks in the Forest

Workshop | Ages 3-12 | Free
Forest experiments and science fun with our friends from Scienceworks.

Vardos

Music | Ages 3-8 | Free
Get ready for a high-energy musical adventure with Vardos – a wildly captivating trio bringing fiery folk and Romani music to life!

Friday 3 July

Dream Swamp

Dance/Puppetry | Ages 4-12 | $20
Exhilarating dance and life-size puppetry transport children to a universe of magic and adventure.

Leonard The Lyrebird

Music | Ages 3-8 | $20
A musical storybook adventure featuring cello, clarinet and piano.

Beneath Our Feet

Theatre | Ages 5-10 | $20
Shrink down and journey into the world of soil with this new immersive theatre show.

Plant Power Discovery

Workshop | Ages 3-10 | Free
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria leads plant hunting and tea-bag making.

UnderStory

Art Installation | Ages 3-8 | Free
A forest floor unfolds in the foyer in this new play art installation.

Fungi Town

Explore | Ages 3-12 | Free
Come and explore a magical caravan of fungi.

Precious Plastic

Workshop | Ages 5-12 | Free
Create a forest keepsake from waste plastic with Monash Engineering.

Biik Bundjil

Culture | Ages 3-8 | Free
Boonwurrung dance, spirit and culture.

Scienceworks in the Forest

Workshop | Ages 3-12 | Free
Forest experiments and science fun with our friends from Scienceworks.

Amadou Suso

Music | Ages 3-8 | Free
Experience the magic of West Africa with Amadou Suso, a master of the kora – a stunning 22-string harp with a sound unlike anything you’ve heard before.

Saturday 4 July

Peter and the Wolf

Music | Ages 3-12 | $25
Prokofiev’s classic music for children, full of fun and fearsome forest encounters.

Beneath Our Feet

Theatre | Ages 5-10 | $20
Shrink down and journey into the world of soil with this new immersive theatre show.

Plant Power Discovery

Workshop | Ages 3-10 | Free
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria leads plant hunting and tea-bag making.

UnderStory

Art Installation | Ages 3-8 | Free
A forest floor unfolds in the foyer in this new play art installation.

Fungi Town

Explore | Ages 3-12 | Free
Come and explore a magical caravan of fungi.

Precious Plastic

Workshop | Ages 5-12 | Free
Create a forest keepsake from waste plastic with Monash Engineering.

Biik Bundjil

Culture | Ages 3-8 | Free
Boonwurrung dance, spirit and culture.

Scienceworks in the Forest

Workshop | Ages 3-12 | Free
Forest experiments and science fun with our friends from Scienceworks.

Sonya Veronica & Diego Villalta

Music | Ages 3-8 | Free
Sonya Veronica and Diego Villalta invite you into an intimate and captivating musical world shaped by culture, memory and rhythm.

Family Fiesta

The Ian Potter Centre for Performing Arts
48 Exhibition Walk, Clayton VIC 3800

FAQs

Got a question that’s not answered here? Get in touch.

Can I buy Family Fiesta tickets on the day?
Yes, but we might sell out. We strongly recommend you purchase in advance for any shows you especially don’t want to miss.

Select a date to plan your visit:

Wednesday
1 July
Thursday
2 July

Friday
3 July
Saturday
4 July

Are there things to do in-between shows?
Absolutely!  There are lots of free activations in the foyer and outdoors during Family Fiesta, as well as places to rest and relax.  Free live music and hands-on activities to keep busy while here, including BIIK BUNDJIL with Boonwurrung stories and dance, play art with UNDERSTORY, where you can make a fluffy pom‑pom wattle flower, dress up in a mushroom hat and explore the forest floor, and POWER PLANT DISCOVERY, where you can make a native plant tea-bag to take home and go on a plant scavenger hunt.

Is there parking?
Yes! There’s lots of parking on campus – and public transport options too. Visit Plan Your Visit for all the details.

Is there food?
Yes, the Fiesta Mini Café in The Count’s has a kids’ menu, along with live music at lunchtimes, mini seating set-up, colouring activities and free ‘forest bark’ babyccinos. More food options are available across the campus too.

The Count’s will be open from 11am-1.30pm.  A coffee van will also be available from 9am-1pm.