School Holiday Program Brings Families Together Across Ararat 

Ararat Rural City Council’s 2026 Spring School Holiday Program has wrapped up with a strong response from families, bringing children and young people together for creative activities, live entertainment and active play.

Council venues hosted a mix of free and low-cost activities throughout the holidays, welcoming local families and visitors looking for things to do during the break.

Ararat Gallery TAMA welcomed returning families, grandparents with interstate grandchildren, and travelling families who discovered its popular Activity Station. A broad range of ages joined in the activities, with teenagers also making the most of the creative opportunities.

Families praised the Gallery’s sessions and the wider Council program, highlighting the value of having activities available when the weather made outdoor plans difficult.

At Ararat Town Hall, Mission to the Moon drew a strong audience, while circus workshops at Gum San gave participants the chance to try something new. The workshops made good use of Gum San’s Great Hall, with the team keen to host more activities in the space.

Ararat Library was a welcoming hub for families, with strong attendance, particularly in the first week. Staff support helped create a positive atmosphere for children and families enjoying the holiday activities.

Ararat Fitness Centre also reported a pleasing turnout, with its school holiday programs continuing to prove popular.

Ararat Rural City Council Chief Executive Officer Phuong Au said the response showed how much families valued the program. “Our School Holiday Program gives families affordable opportunities to get out of the house, spend time together and try something new,” Ms Au said.

“It was particularly pleasing to see children and teenagers of different ages taking part, alongside local families, visiting grandchildren and people travelling through Ararat. Families told our team members how much they appreciated the activities, especially when the weather made outdoor plans difficult.

“Thank you to the staff, facilitators and venue teams who helped make the program a success, and to everyone who joined in.”