Get ready to take your kids on a cultural adventure these school holidays? Head to Maitland for the Week of Riverlights, a celebration of culture, creativity, food, music and family-friendly fun.
From hands-on workshops and cultural experiences to dance, drumming, cooking, crafts and more, there’s plenty to discover across Maitland throughout the week. It’s a great opportunity for kids to try something new, get creative and experience cultures from around the world – all while enjoying a day out together.
The fun builds to the Maitland Riverlights main event on Saturday 10 October, when The Levee comes alive as a vibrant global village for a huge day of free family-friendly entertainment.
From 2pm to 9pm, The Levee in Central Maitland transforms into a vibrant global village, where families can explore over 50 cultures through interactive activities, performances and delicious eats. Whether your little ones love dancing, crafting or trying new foods, Riverlights is packed with memorable experiences. Explore the full program.
School Holiday Fun | 6 – 9 October
Tuesday 6 October
Kick off the Week of Riverlights with a day packed with creativity, culture and family fun. Kids can make their own lantern, learn Indonesian dance, try their hand at judo or get active in the pool with Aqua Vibes. There’s also plenty of magic on offer, with a family-friendly Chinese cultural magic show and a hands-on wizardry workshop.
Wednesday 7 October
There’s something for every curious kid on Wednesday! Make a lantern at Maitland Regional Art Gallery, learn the art of poi, discover First Nations stories and crafts at cultural storytime, or dive into Chinese mythology with The Tiger’s Apprentice. Budding foodies can also get hands-on making fresh pasta from scratch, while a paper embroidery workshop lets kids create their own colourful Riverlights-inspired artwork to take home.
Thursday 8 October
Keep the holiday fun going with lantern making, judo and Aqua Vibes before discovering the vibrant rhythms of West Africa in an energetic drum and dance workshop. Then, settle in for an evening of crafty cinema at East Maitland Library, featuring The Tiger’s Apprentice alongside fun Chinese-inspired craft activities.
Friday 9 October
Wrap up the Week of Riverlights with a day of creativity, culture and hands-on fun. Kids can make their own lantern, hear fascinating Bangladeshi folklore stories, get active with judo or Aqua Vibes, learn to make handmade pasta and experience the infectious energy of West African drumming and dance. Adults can also join in the fun with a special lantern-making workshop at Maitland Regional Art Gallery.
Riverlights | Saturday 10 October
Make a day of it at Maitland Riverlights, where more than 50 cultures come together through food, music, dance, art and interactive experiences.
Cultural Villages
Pick up a free Cultural Passport and let your kids collect stamps as they travel through over 20 Cultural Villages. Each village offers hands-on fun including traditional games, craft activities and language lessons. It’s like a global scavenger hunt – educational, interactive and super fun.
Family-Friendly Stages and Performances
Throughout the day, families can enjoy cultural performances, live music, dance workshops and interactive activities across multiple stages, including the World Stage, Riverlights Stage and Groove Fusion Stage
Global Cuisine Stage
Hosted by Slow Food Hunter Valley, the Global Cuisine Stage will inspire your inner chef. With a variety of cooking demonstrations featuring different flavours from around the globe with expert presenters taking the stage, you will be able to learn loads of cooking tips and tricks to take back to your own kitchen.
Riverlights Eatery
There’s also plenty to keep little foodies happy, with the Riverlights Eatery serving up flavours from around the world. There’s something for even the pickiest eaters.
Express Yourself Language Lounge
Kids can learn greetings in different languages, sing songs, and hear stories from around the world.
Riverlights Finale and Parade
As the sun goes down, the celebrations continue with the Riverlights Community Parade, followed by the much-loved lantern flotilla and a spectacular finale on the Riverlights Stage.
The night finishes with a fireworks display.
Plan Your Family Day Out
Whether you’re chasing lanterns, dancing in the street, or tasting your way around the world, Riverlights 2026 is the ultimate family day out. See you there.
Date: Saturday 10 October
Time: 2pm – 9pm
Location: The Levee, Central Maitland
Cost: Free
For full details and updates, visit the Maitland Riverlights website.
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