School Holiday Activities | July 2026
July 6 - July 19
We have some great activities running throughout the school holidays for kids of all ages. Check them out below, or visit the Ashburton District Council What’s On page to see all of the school holiday events across our facilities!
Workshop | Create a Worm Farm
06 July | 10.30am – 12pm | Free
Are you ready to feed the soil for an abundant start to te mātahi o te tau?
Get your hands dirty and connect with nature at this special worm-themed workshop! EcoEducate will be teaching us all about worms, including how they help the environment, what they eat, and how we can look after our squirmy friends. With all this expert knowledge, we will then be making our very own worm farm from scratch.
Workshop | Explore the Night Sky
07 July | 11am – 12pm | Free
Discover all the ways you can explore the night sky!
At this hands-on workshop, the Ashburton Astronomy Group will demonstrate ways we can observe objects, planets, and stars. Learn how to become an expert astronomer so you can view the Matariki whetū in July!
Workshop | Words with a Witch
09 July & 16 July | 11am – 12pm | Free
The Word Witch is dusting off her broomstick, and planning to fly into Rokowhiria.
Come in to the gallery on at 11am and you may just catch her! She will be reading some fun poems aloud, and then helping you make your own for our poetry competition.
Workshop | Badges & Brooches
13 July | 10.30am – 12pm| Free
Renew, reuse, recycle!
Take inspiration from the jewellery in the museum and create your own recycled badge or brooch! Thanks to EcoEducate and their abundance of amazing recycled materials, we are upcycling some old treasures! Join us for this special workshop to create your badge or brooch, and then rock your new sustainable fashion accessory all winter.
Star E-Scape
07 July – 19 July | 10AM-4PM | Free | Drop in
These school holidays, come and contemplate the whetū of Aotearoa from the warmth and comfort of our sensory cave.
Twinkling lights, gentle sound, and a cosy den-like setting invite you to immerse yourself in the meaning and promise of the Matariki New Year.
Newsroom
13 July – 19 July | 10AM-4PM | Free | Drop in
Get Caught in the Moment in our newsroom. Take a trip back in time with items from our handling collection. Check out the really old cameras, phones and typewriters.
Miniature Masterpiece
13 July – 19 July | 10AM-4PM | $3 | Drop in
Sometimes the smallest artworks have the biggest impact!
Take inspiration from the wall of miniature artworks in the Ashburton Society of Arts exhibition, and then create your own mini painted masterpiece using our canvases and easels.
This activity costs $3.
Build a Bug Hotel
7 July – 19 July | 10AM-4PM | Free | Drop in
The rising of the Matariki cluster is a good time to treat our local critters to a getaway in the Bug Hotel!
Bug Hotels are a great way to bring insects such as native bees, bugs and other interesting creatures into your garden so that you can watch them thrive in their natural habitat. In this activity, we will be making our own Bug Hotels out of recycled materials!