Seven great reasons to stay home this Summer

Blue Mountains families who decide to beat the heat, crowds and costs by staying home this Summer, will have a whole range of fun, affordable and local Summer holiday programs to choose from. 

Throughout January, Blue Mountains Cultural Centre will be running a wonderful program of artist-led, art-making workshops for kids. Local Street Artist Claire Nakazawa – whose latest mural has transformed Froma Lane in Katoomba – will be taking an abstract painting workshop for 9 to 12 year olds on 9 Jan.

Then, on 16 Jan, local exhibiting artist Judith Martinez Estrada will show 7 to 12 year olds how to transform piles of unwanted books and magazines into a treasure trove of images just waiting to be up-cycled and made into beautiful collages.

For those interested in print-making, on 23 Jan, Freedom Wilson will show kids aged 8 and over how to design and print their own t-shirts. 

The Cultural Centre will also screen family friendly films as part of its Cinema Under the Stars program in January with The Princess Bride screening on 8 Jan and Howl’s Moving Castle screening on 22 Jan. 

Blue Mountains Library is also offering a range of digital awards and great prizes, such as book vouchers from The Turning Page and Megalong Bookshops, from now until 31 Jan, as part of its Summer Reading Club for both adults and children.

The Libraries will also be hosting a number of in person and online craft and STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) workshops for primary and high school aged children  throughout January. 

And if it really heats up this Summer don’t forget to dive into one our local pools which are offering heavily discounted family friendly seasonal passes throughout the school holidays so you can visit as many times as you like. 

Mayor Mark Greenhill said: “After a year like 2020, I know that these Summer holidays will offer a welcome respite for many. I wish the entire Blue Mountains community a safe, enjoyable and prosperous festive season.”

Find out more:

Summer Reading Club, Craft & STEM Workshops – https://library.bmcc.nsw.gov.au

Family pool passes – https:/www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/LeisureCentres

Cinema Under the Stars –http://bluemountainsculturalcentre.com.au/public_programs/cinema-under-the-stars/

Art workshops for kids - http://bluemountainsculturalcentre.com.au/public_programs/artist-led-school-holiday-programs/