Free craft workshops where children make snowmen, snowflakes, slime, and snow globes will take over Darling Harbour’s Convention Forecourt on the first weekend of the winter school holidays.
The drop-in sessions on Saturday 4 July and Sunday 5 July 2026 give families a budget-friendly creative activity at no cost and without bookings, part of a wider Arctic Activity Zone that includes a scavenger hunt, a Dance Den, and an ice rink.
Between 11am and 3pm, kids can rotate through stations at 14 Darling Drive, near Planar Restaurant, building snowmen from craft supplies, cutting snowflake designs, mixing winter-themed slime, and assembling their own snow globes. All finished creations go home with the children.
The workshops are the flagship events of the Darling Harbour Winter School Holidays program, which runs from 4 to 19 July. While the craft sessions are exclusive to that first weekend, the festival extends across the precinct with free ongoing entertainment and kid-friendly deals.
Unlike paid craft workshops that charge per child, the Arctic Activity Zone sessions include all materials and the takeaway items, so families can enjoy a full creative session without opening a wallet. The winter theme also provides an indoor counterpoint to Sydney’s usual summer-centric school holiday activities.
For a full day out, pair the crafts with the outdoor ice rink or nearby attractions such as SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, where entry is paid but proximity makes it a natural add-on.
Parents should note that while the craft workshops are the headline draw that weekend, the broader festival continues until 19 July with a scavenger hunt that rewards completed trails, free Dance Den sessions, and a kids-go-free offer at the Chinese Garden of Friendship throughout the holidays. No booking is needed for any of the free activities.
The Arctic Activity Zone sits at the heart of a winter precinct that Darling Harbour’s operators have designed to lure families during the cooler months. The full program can be found at darlingharbour.com.
Quick Facts
Darling Harbour
A major waterfront entertainment and tourist precinct in Sydney featuring attractions, dining, events and family activities. It serves as a central hub for visitors and locals year-round.