You can fill a day with kids around Parramatta and Cumberland without spending a cent. Right now Roolu lists four free events and two free football classes for the area, and this guide sticks to those and nothing else.
What is free right now
The events are a mix of festivals, markets and community singing. There is a festival for the opening of Powerhouse Parramatta, a farmers market with a Diwali twist, a Diwali celebration at Harris Park, and carols in Parramatta Park. Three are listed under Parramatta and the Diwali celebration is listed under Granville. The events below show the latest details, but times and conditions can change, so check with each organiser before you leave home. Ask whether prams, scooters and picnic rugs are welcome.
Free football for school-age kids
There are two Introduction to Football classes, one for ages 5 to 8 and one for ages 9 to 14. Both are listed in Baulkham Hills, so you will need to plan the trip from most suburbs in this area. Ask the organiser how places are booked, what to wear and whether a parent needs to stay.
Making a free day work
Free does not always mean easy. Crowds build at markets and festivals, and a tired child at a busy event is hard work. A few habits help:
- Go early, while it is calmer, and leave before the meltdown.
- Pack water, sunscreen and snacks so you are not tempted by every stall.
- Check parking and public transport before you set off, because festival days can be busy.
- Pick one main thing and let the kids set the pace for the rest.
- Have a backup, like the park or a library, in case the weather turns.
Still adding more
The free list for this area is short at the moment, and no free clubs are listed yet. We would rather tell you that than pad the page with things that cost money. Check back, because new free events and classes get added as organisers share them.
For the latest on any event or class, the organiser's own page is the place to look. The events and classes below link straight through.
