What’s on in Boroondara this summer

Children reach up for bubbles being blown by a young woman

From arts-inspired school-holiday antics to our much-loved Summer in the Park series, there’s plenty going on in Boroondara this summer.

For a searchable list of hundreds of events in City of Boroondara, visit our events page.

Summer in the Park 

Over February and March the picturesque parks of Boroondara will come alive with music, laughter, opera and jazz – to name just a few of the fantastic events we’ve lined up for Summer in the Park. 

This year look forward to our marquee offering of:

  • Boroondara Seniors Film Festival selection
  • Youth These Days: A Concert in the Park
  • Cinema in the Park
  • Opera in the Park
  • Theatre in the Park. 

And for a more casual, pop-up feel, we’re hosting ‘bite-sized’ classical, circus, piping, singalong, guzheng, Latin and Broadway sessions.

To find out more, visit our Summer in the Park page

Last Days of Summer

Our family-friendly Last Days of Summer program returns to Hawthorn Arts Centre on 18 January to mark the final days of the school holidays. 

Look out for I-Spy in the Town Hall Gallery, a Buzzy Bees Workshop, Butterfly Experience, hands-on art and craft with NGV Kids on Tour, and Boroondara Youth Hub activities. There’ll be live music and entertainment happening on the day too. 

Find out more at our Last Days of Summer page

School holiday fun

We have plenty of exciting, free and low-cost school holiday activities running this summer. Bookings open on Friday 15 December, and activities include:

  • public ride sessions at Kew Traffic School
  • Mario Kart at Lido Cinema
  • a tie-dye workshop at Greythorn Community Hub.

To find out more, visit our school holiday activities page or call (03) 9278 4444.

What’s on at Boroondara Arts

Steve Purcell and the Pearly Shells kick off the festive season with a Christmas Swing Party at Hawthorn Arts Centre. And Street Sounds returns to local shopping and community precincts with tango, jazz, country, klezmer Latin and Parisian sounds.

It’s celebration time at Town Hall Gallery as we mark its 20th anniversary. Explore significant artworks from the Town Hall Gallery Collection at Our Place: 20 Years of the Town Hall Gallery and in new exhibition MARKED. The Boroondara Summer Salon marks 10 years of the gallery’s community exhibitions program with a curated exhibition of local artists’ work. The Antipodes in Words and Pictures is a new community exhibition featuring artist Gosia Lapinski and poet Michal Lapinski.

Neighbourhood house classes and workshops

You can try your hand at yoga, Pilates, researching your family history, or get help to boost your digital skills. Read about these classes and many more below or find your local centre at our Community and Neighbourhood Houses page.

Get ahead with English

English classes run on Mondays,Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. New students are welcome to join anytime. 

When: Classes start Monday 5 February.

Where: Alamein Neighbourhood and Learning

Call: (03) 9885 9401

Cost: Contact centre for details

Scrabble Club

Play scrabble in a friendly,non-competitive environment.All levels welcome. 

When: Second and fourth Tuesday of the month, 2 pm to 4 pm. Starts Tuesday 23 January.

Where: Ashburton Community Centre

Call: (03) 9885 7952

Cost: $5 per session for members

Pilates for Fifties Plus

Incorporate a Pilates practice into your busy weekly schedule.

When: Wednesdays 7 pm to 8 pm. Starts Wednesday 31 January.

Where Balwyn Community Centre

Call: (03) 9836 7942

Cost: $157.50 (9 weeks)

Pilates for Everyone

Strengthen bones and muscles, improve posture and stability with this full-body exercise class for all ages.

When: Classes run most days. Starts Monday 29 January.

Where: Hawthorn Community House

Call: (03) 9819 2629

Cost: $117 ($90 with a My Aged Care referral)

Individual computer help

Improve your digital skills to get better at using your phone, Mac or PC.

When: Hour-long, one-on-one sessions available Tuesdays and Thursdays.Starts in mid-January.

Where: Bowen Street Community Centre

Call: (03) 9889 0791

Cost: $10 per session

Teen clay workshop

This 2-hour intensive takes wheel throwing, turning and cutting to the next level. Suitable for young people aged 12 to 18. Previous ceramics experience preferred

When: Wednesday 17 January, 10 am to 12 pm.

Where: Camberwell Community Centre

Call: (03) 9882 2611

Cost: $65

Strength training

Keep fit and stay strong with our exercise program to maintain muscle mass, improve balance and cardio fitness.

When: Wednesdays 8:30 to 9:30 am. Starts Wednesday 31 January.

Where: Canterbury Neighbourhood Centre

Call: (03) 9830 4214

Cost: $162 (9 weeks)

Mums n Bubs Yoga

Enjoy weekly one-hour yoga classes with postnatal yoga specialist. Stretch and strengthen, engage with bub and meet other new mums. 

When: Mondays 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Starts Monday 5 February.

Where: Craig Family Centre

Call: (03) 9885 7789

Cost: $168 (7 weeks)

Digital Essentials

Need to update your digital skills? Join our supportive class, beef up your knowledge of the latest software, online forms, the cloud and scams.

When: Monday morning and afternoon classes. Starts Monday 29 January.

Where: Kew Neighbourhood Learning Centre

Call: (03) 9853 3126

Cost: $25 per term

Family history and genealogy

Course participants will learn research techniques, archival skills and methods for tracing their ancestral roots. 

When: Thursdays 1 pm to 2 pm. Starts Thursday 1 February.

Where: Surrey Hills Neighbourhood Centre

Call: (03) 9890 2467

Cost: $200/$180 members (12 weeks)

Table tennis

Bring some friends to play table tennis in the school holidays. We have the bats and balls! 

When: Monday 8 January to Friday 26 January, 9 am to 4 pm.

Where: Trentwood at the Hub

Call: (03) 9006 6590

Cost: $5 per session