The NSW public-school summer holidays run from 18 December 2026 to 27 January 2027, inclusive. Catholic and independent schools can have different dates, so check your own school's calendar. For school holiday activities in Penrith, start with the events and clubs below, then use the tips in this guide to plan your days.
What is on in Penrith
Our listings include several events in Penrith. Examples are fire engine rides, community fishing, robotics, a Dharug story time with Penrith City Library's children's team, a Write Out West family fun day and a New Year's Eve carnival at Panthers Penrith.
We do not have confirmed dates for every event, so open each organiser's page and check that it falls inside the holidays. New Year's Eve is 31 December, which sits inside the break. We have no holiday classes listed for Penrith yet. We're still adding holiday programs near Penrith, so check back.
Clubs and regular programs
Penrith has a longer list of clubs in our directory. They include Ripples NSW (Learn to Swim), PCYC Penrith, The Y Penrith, Westside Performing Arts, Penrith Football Club and Panthers Juniors. Penrith District Netball Association is listed too.
Clubs often change their timetable over summer, and some pause for a few weeks. We do not have their holiday timetables. Ask each club whether it runs sessions between 18 December and 27 January, and which ages it takes.
Ideas for different ages
We do not have age ranges for most listings, so treat these as starting points and confirm with the organiser.
- Younger children: story time and fire engine rides sound like they may suit little ones. Ask whether a parent needs to stay.
- Primary-age children: robotics, community fishing and a swimming program may suit this group.
- Older children and teens: performing arts and sports clubs are worth an enquiry. Ask whether they take newcomers over summer.
Planning your day
- Check the date and time on the organiser's page before you set out.
- Ask whether you need to book, and whether there is a cost. We do not have prices, so we cannot say which options are free.
- Look up the travel time and parking or transport. Our listings show the suburb for each event, not how long it takes to get there.
- Pack for the weather. Anything outdoors can change at short notice.
- Keep a backup plan in case a place is full.
Details change, so use the organisers' own pages for the latest times, prices and bookings.
