For some families, the annual winter holiday is a time for the Bosveld, the east coast or even foreign tours, but for the greater majority of parents, it is an annual brainstorming session to find ways in which children can stay busy.
From children’s theater to virtual reality, here are some activities that families can enjoy together to stay warm and busy this school holiday.
Children’s Theater Fun (Pretoria)
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
The classic fairy tale Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is produced as a musical by the OAK youth theater and takes place between 7 and 8 July at the AfriForum Theater in Pretoria. Tickets cost R150 per person.
Click here for more information.
- Wilder than the game park and Mahogany and the sea
The Pierneef Theater in Pretoria presents the children’s production on 14 July Wilder than the game park to who tells delightful stories about wild animals, including the big five, poaching and the importance of bees in nature. Magonjatjie and the sea is presented on 7 and 8 July and tells what it looks like deep under the sea and which fish live there.
Click here for more information.
- Heidi
Bring the little crew to experience this well-known and beloved story, this time with a new, modern jacket. Heidi will be presented by the Scenario College Student Fund at the Centurion Theater on 14 and 15 July. Tickets cost R100.
Click here for more information.
Affordable indoor and outdoor games (Cape Town)
The City of Cape Town’s libraries and leisure facilities are offering a wide range of affordable activities this winter holiday, from board games, art, sports tournaments and movies, to science experiments and knitting classes.
Registration for each activity is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Most activities are offered free of charge, but some require a minimal fee.
Click here to download the full programs.
Mall activities
- Ultimate Battle Zone Adventure (Johannesburg)
Ultimate Battle Zone Adventure, an interactive “playground” that makes children feel as if they are in their own real computer game, is being presented at the Bedford Center in Bedfordview, Johannesburg, until 17 July.
Children can keep themselves busy for hours with a variety of virtual reality games, Archery Tag and much more.
This unforgettable experience combines strategy, physical prowess, teamwork and pure excitement. Players can participate alone or as a team and costs to play vary according to the number and type of activities discussed.
The Ultimate Battle Zone Adventure experience is open seven days a week, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and advance reservations are not required.
Click here for more information.
- Racing track and hydrogel fun (Johannesburg)
The Eastgate shopping center also offers a range of holiday activities to help sprouts get rid of their energy.
The Gel Blaster Arena offers a safer (and somewhat slippery) alternative to paintball fun and allows kids to chase each other around with hydrogel guns. This temporary arena can also be visited on the roof of Eastgate’s Piazza until 17 July.
Movie lovers can experience big screen entertainment at the center’s Ster-Kinekor theaters with IMAX as well as Prestige theaters. Hits like Indiana Jones, Ruby Gillman Teenage Kraken, Elemental and The Flash Movie is currently on view.
South Africa’s largest indoor racing track, IndyKart, will be open six days a week (Tuesday to Sunday) during the holidays. The track is open to children from the age of nine years old or those with a minimum height of 1.4 metres.
Eastgate’s Air360 skate park promises plenty of action-packed moments outdoors. This exciting course is open to youth and adults of all ages and skill levels.
Click here for more information.
- Computer Games Tournament (Pietermaritzburg)
The Liberty Midlands shopping center in Pietermaritzburg is hosting their computer games festival again this year from 6 to 9 July between 09:00 and 19:00.
A variety of computer and mobile games are offered and more than R60 000 worth of prizes are up for grabs. Players can look forward to offers from Minecraft, Rocket League, Aim Labs and many more.
Click here for more information.
- Kick Bike Competition (Umhlanga)
Zoot n Scoot returns to Umhlanga this July at the Cornubia Shopping Center on Saturday 8 July and promises to offer great excitement for two to 10-year-olds.
Zoot n Scoot is a kick bike race that allows children to ride their bikes through the shopping center aisles, either independently or with the support of their parents.
Last year more than 100 small cyclists participated.
Entries cost R85 and include a surprise bag filled with goodies. Zoot n Scoot officially starts at 08:00 on Saturday 8 July and there are fantastic prizes up for grabs, including one for the best decorated bike.
Click here for more information.
