Make the most of the Christmas holidays with these brilliant ideas

Get into the Christmas spirit

The Norwood, Payneham & St Peters libraries have a robust program of free and low-cost events for kids of all kinds.

The little ones can design their own ornaments on Christmas Crafternoon or make an edible souvenir at Christmas Cookie Decorating, and there will be a special Family Christmas Movie with free popcorn on Christmas Eve.

If you want to take the fun home, special Christmas craft packs will also be available for pick up from December 15 until they run out.

The action-packed schedule of events continues in January with a two-hour gaming festival at Level UP! Game Day, The Big Chill Teen Wellbeing Day featuring VR meditation, mini gold and eco-art workshops and Inventor Kids STEM Workshops that include mesmerising scientific potions and an introduction to coding.

Or take it easy and enjoy the show at the Summer Movie Festival on Thursday afternoons in January.

Learn to light up the stage

For 25 years, Theatre Bugs has been teaching young performers how to harness their confidence and creativity onstage.

Whether your kids are natural singers, dancers or actors, the enthusiastic team of teachers can help them hone their skills and express themselves in a safe, non-competitive environment.

Across December and January, the artistic hub will host a range of special School Holiday Programs tailored to kids of all ages, from half-day sessions for 3-7 year old Mini Bugs to week-long acting and film workshops that culminate in a special performance for family and friends.

Jump in the deep end

Surrounded by giant gum trees and spacious lawns, the Norwood Swimming Centre has the laid-back atmosphere of an oversized backyard pool.

And because it's open every day of the holidays except Christmas Day, it's the ideal spot to cool off on a scorching summer afternoon.

From January 12-16 and 19-23, the pool will also host Vacswim programs to help children of all ages increase their confidence in the water.

Pre-school classes introduce toddlers to the aquatic environment, while older children can spend a week improving their strokes, learning to dive and developing underwater skills.

Catch the latest movies

Summer always brings a packed slate of blockbuster new releases, and this year Hoyts Norwood has a busy calendar of movies to delight all ages.

Specially-priced Family Tickets for G and PG-rated titles mean the whole family can enjoy animated features like Zootopia 2 and A Paw Patrol Christmas.

Those looking for a little more action can spend the evening at mega-hyped blockbusters like Avatar: Fire and Ash and Wicked: For Good.

Or you can introduce the next generation to a childhood classic with a special 40^th-anniversary screening of Labyrinth.

Take a ride

Every year the Santos Tour Down Under takes the world's best cyclists through some of South Australia's most picturesque regions.

Both the Men's and Women's races include stages that begin on The Parade, and this year the Women's Tour will also include a stage from Magill to Paracombe.

In addition to the chance to cheer riders along the way, there will be a special Magill Village Family Zone next to the Stage 2 starting line on January 18.

The all-day party will include a community barbecue alongside family-friendly arts and crafts workshops, face painting and free entertainment.

Find out more and search for more events this summer, visit: Events