If you’re looking for something a little different to do with the kids, MAP mima (Multi-Arts Pavilion Lake Macquarie, mima) is a place where creativity, play and imagination take centre stage.
Run by Lake Macquarie City Council, MAP mima in Speers Point Park is more than just a gallery. It’s a vibrant, welcoming space designed for kids to explore, create and be themselves, whether that’s through hands-on art, sensory experiences, storytelling, or simply exploring the sculpture garden with a coffee stop along the way.
MAP mima has been created with families in mind. There are indoor and outdoor spaces to explore, an outdoor sculpture garden, a family-friendly café, and a relaxed atmosphere where kids don’t have to sit still or stay quiet.
Drop in for a major event, join a workshop, or just pop in to explore the exhibitions. MAP mima is bursting with colour, creativity and kid‑powered fun all year long, many of which are free or low-cost.
The upcoming annual Press Play! weekend is a favourite with families. But the excitement doesn’t stop there. Enjoy Twilight Fridays, monthly ART PLAY sessions and imaginative Digitales storytelling.
Press Play!
One of the most popular events on the MAP mima calendar is Press Play!, an inclusive, play-driven weekend designed especially for kids and their families. The annual Press Play! weekend transforms the space into a sensory wonderland, with a mobile sensory room, silent disco and three full days of inclusive, play‑driven experiences.
Friday 13 February
Kids’ Silent Disco
5pm – 8pm | Free event | Bookings essential
Kids take over MAP mima at this free and fun disco that the whole family can enjoy! From 5pm, the MAP mima cube will turn into a dance floor where kids rule! The Cube will be transformed into a vibrant disco space, with immersive projections that shift, pulse, and swirl in rhythm with the music, creating an energetic atmosphere.
Children will be provided with special wireless headphones, designed for any age with safe adjustable volume. Join in for a high energy dance party without the noise! Suitable for ages 5 – 12 years.
Saturday 14 February
Wonder Through the Senses: A Sensory Day
9am-2pm | Free event | Bookings essential
A free, family-friendly sensory day at MAP mima featuring a mobile sensory room and immersive 360-degree artworks. Head to MAP mima for Wonder Through the Senses, a sensory-focused day designed to support and celebrate children with diverse sensory needs. A mobile sensory room will be parked outside the MAP mima building, offering a welcoming and carefully designed environment for exploration, play, and calm engagement.
This event is designed for children with diverse sensory needs, with activities most suitable for children aged 3–12 years. Younger and older children are welcome, with parental or carer discretion.
Sunday 15 February
Press Play: Sensory Art
10am-11:30am | free event | Bookings essential
Come and enjoy an ART PLAY special as part of the vibrant Press Play weekend at MAP mima!
Families and individuals of all abilities are invited to explore the exhibition at MAP mima and take part in a hands-on art activity inspired by what you see. All ages and abilities welcome.
This special session focuses on creating a sensory artwork, perfect for engaging your imagination and senses.
Twilight Fridays – Your New Friday Night Tradition
Looking for something fun to do on a Friday afternoon or early evening? Twilight Fridays run every Friday from 5–8pm, with live music, kids’ discos, food trucks, and chill vibes. Bring a blanket, bring your skates, explore the gallery after hours, and kick off the weekend right. On now until 24 April 2026. Find out more.
ART PLAY – Monthly Family Art Sessions
ART PLAY sessions run monthly at MAP Mima on Sundays and are all about hands-on creativity for the whole family. No art skills required – just curiosity, imagination and a willingness to get involved together. It runs monthly on Sundays through 2026 from 10am – 11:30am. Next session: Sunday 8 March, 10 -11:30am. Find out more.
Digitales: Storytime and Art
Stories meet digital magic and creative play. Come along to the Multi-Arts Pavilion (MAP mima) for a storytime adventure like no other! Immerse yourself in a digital story projected on the big screen, then spark your creativity with a hands-on art activity.Perfect for young imaginations. Suitable for ages 2-5. Monthly Thursdays through 2026. Next session: Thursday 19 February 10am -10:45am. Bookings are essential. Find out more.
For more information about MAP mima, visit the Lake Macquarie City Council website.