Family Fiesta is Monash University Performing Arts Centres’ (MPAC) annual takeover of live, participatory art and performance for children, with more than half of events free and the rest low-cost, running from 1–4 July. This year, Family Fiesta invites families to explore the magical world of the forest – from soaring canopies to the mysterious undergrowth, right down to the fungi and microbial life beneath our feet.

Family Fiesta is a joyful meeting point between the arts and research, bringing together artists, theatre-makers, musicians, dancers and Monash University scientists to uncover the complex ecosystems that shape forest environments.

Across four days, families can experience immersive theatre, dance and live music alongside free drop‑in activities presented with partners including Scienceworks, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, scientists from Monash University’s School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, and Monash Engineering. Highlights include Dream Swamp, an award‑winning dance and puppetry work by choreographer Melanie Lane; Peter and the Wolf, performed by the Monash Classical Collective with special guest narrator Lucy Durack; and Beneath Our Feet, a new immersive theatre work developed in collaboration with Monash biogeochemists and soil scientists, inviting children into a microscopic world of soil ecosystems.

Dream Swamp, 1-3 July

Young audiences step into a shape‑shifting swamp where sound, colour and movement collide. Created by award‑winning choreographer Melanie Lane, Dream Swamp encourages children to imagine their bodies as sites of transformation, fantasy and possibility. Lane creates a dreamlike dance adventure combining movement, life-size puppetry and imagination in a magical, transformative experience for young audiences.

Beneath Our Feet, 1-4 July

In a brand-new show commissioned by MPAC, Where the Snails Go Theatre Co invites families into a playful sensory world where soil ecosystems come alive. Supported by Monash soil scientists, this immersive work reveals the extraordinary networks beneath us and inspires care for the living world.

Peter and the Wolf with special guest Lucy Durack, 4 July

Join Australian actress and singer, Lucy Durack as she brings humour and warmth to her narration of Prokofiev’s beloved Peter and the Wolf, performed by Monash Classical Collective. This lively and engaging concert is a joyful introduction to orchestral music for young audiences.

Leonard the Lyrebird, 1-3 July

A gentle storytelling concert with cello, piano and clarinet, based on Jodie McLeod’s beloved book, inviting children to meet Leonard as he discovers his voice.

​​Fungi Town, 1-4 July

Step up to artist Kathy Holowko’s bright, proud bandwagon and peek inside a forest‑floor diorama where fungi take centre stage. Discover fungi’s symbiotic friendships with plants and their super‑important job as decomposers.

Plant Power Discovery (Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria), 1-4 July

Explore and investigate with Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s learning team. Discover native plants through microscopes, bushfoods and a guided rainforest walk on campus.  Then concoct your own native plant teabag to take home for a refreshing cuppa.

Scienceworks: In The Forest, 1-4 July

Playful science experiments with the Scienceworks team and uncover how forests grow, thrive and support life from towering trees to tiny creatures.

Precious Plastic (Monash Engineering), 1-4 July

Turn plastic waste into a forest‑themed keepsake with Monash Engineering students. A hands‑on sustainability workshop where children use injection moulding to turn plastic waste into new creations.

UnderStory (Kathy Holowko), 1-4 July

A drop‑in creative play experience where children have an immersive forest‑floor play space filled with oversized plants, fungi and craft activities, created by artist Kathy Holowko.

Biik Bundjil, 2-4 July

Experience Boonwurrung culture through dance, storytelling and participation with Jaeden Williams‑Briggs in lively sessions that inspire connection to land and culture.

Family Fiesta at The Count’s 

Swing Valse, 1 July

With charming melodies and rich harmonies, Swing Valse bring French and Italian classics to life. Featuring guitar, accordion, piano and flute, this delightful ensemble creates a warm, whimsical sound perfect for audiences of all ages.

Vardos, 2 July 

Get ready for a high-energy musical adventure. Vardos bring their fiery folk and Romani music, driven by virtuosic violin, soaring accordion and double bass.

Amadou Suso, 3 July 

Experience the magic of West Africa with Amadou Suso, a master of the kora – a stunning 22-string harp. Gentle, intricate and deeply rhythmic, the kora creates music that feels both calming and uplifting.

Sonya Veronica and Diego Villalta, 4 July 

Sonya Veronica and Diego Villalta present a captivating musical world shaped by culture, memory and rhythm. Blending jazz, bossa nova and French chanson, their performances are rich with feeling, storytelling and connection.

Ruth Oakley, Head of Programming at Monash University Performing Arts Centres, said Family Fiesta reflects Monash’s commitment to sharing knowledge in accessible and inspiring ways. “Family Fiesta is about opening the doors of the university and inviting families to learn through curiosity, creativity and play. By pairing artists with Monash researchers, we’re creating experiences that spark imagination while deepening understanding of the natural world.”

The festival also features free live music throughout the day at The Count’s, alongside family-friendly food and drinks available for purchase and free babychinos, creating a relaxed space for families to pause, connect and spend time across the campus. Family Fiesta offers a welcoming mix of free drop-in activities and affordable ticketed performances, making it easy to enjoy a full day of exploration.

Family Fiesta

1 – 4 July 2026

Monash University Performing Arts Centres

The Ian Potter Centre for Performing Arts, 48 Exhibition Walk, Clayton

Tickets prices: Free – $20, available in advance and on the day

The full program and ticketing details are available now here mpac.monash.edu

MPAC

Monash University Performing Arts Centres (MPAC) is the public performing arts and cultural arm of Monash University. MPAC is a space for community, creativity and discovery, presenting live music, theatre, experiential shows and festivals.  MPAC is where Monash research excellence meets the transformative power of artistic collaboration.  MPAC seeks to connect, challenge and excite its audiences through the commissioning of unique works, along with curating a program that brings the best of local, national and international performing artists to its stages. Based at Monash University, MPAC welcomes everyone.

MPAC is home to five venues, located at the Monash University Clayton and Peninsula campuses; the Alexander Theatre, David Li Sound Gallery, The Count’s; with weekly jazz, a restaurant and bar, plus the Robert Blackwood Hall and George Jenkins Theatre.