By week two of the NSW spring school holidays, every parent hits the same wall: the trampoline park has been done, the movies have been done twice, and someone has already said the words "I'm bored" before 9am.
Here's an idea that isn't a screen: a live magic festival. The Sydney Festival of Magic & Illusion runs 8 to 11 October 2026 at the Regent Theatre in Richmond, landing on the final Thursday and Friday of the holidays and the last free weekend before Term 4.
The Dates That Matter
- NSW spring school holidays: Monday 28 September to Friday 9 October 2026
- The festival: Thursday 8 to Sunday 11 October
- Term 4 starts: Tuesday 13 October
So the Thursday and Friday shows are proper holiday outings, and Saturday and Sunday are the last hurrah before school goes back. As far as timing goes, it's hard to do better.
Why Live Magic Works on Kids (and Their Parents)
I've performed for family audiences in sixteen countries, and there's one thing screens will never replicate: watching something impossible happen in the same room as you. Kids don't politely enjoy live magic, they lose their minds. They argue about it in the car home. They retell the tricks wrong at school. That's the good stuff.
And unlike most school holiday activities, a good comedy magic show works on the adults too. You're not supervising from a bench. You're in it.
Picking the Right Show for Your Kids
Under 10s: Start with ABRA-KID-ABRA!, the festival's dedicated little-kids show.
Ages 10 and up: My show, Tricks & Stuff, is rated PG and recommended 10+. It's magic with blenders, socks and candy bars, silly rather than scary, and the 4:30pm timeslot is the sweet spot: late enough for a sleep-in and a slow morning, done by 5:30pm for dinner. I've written more on whether it's right for your kids.
Teens: They'll roll their eyes at the word magic, then be the loudest ones in the room. Mentalism shows like Tom Weil: Sixth Sense are teen kryptonite.
How to Plan the Day
- The Regent is at 145 Windsor Street, Richmond, a short walk from Richmond Station on the T5 line. The train IS part of the outing if your kids are the right age for that.
- Arrive 15 minutes early, seats are unallocated in the best way: closer is better for magic.
- The 4:30pm show ends right at dinner time, and Windsor Street has plenty of family-friendly places within a couple of minutes' walk.
- Tickets are $40, and the 4:30pm finish means you're home for dinner rather than paying for one out on top of it.
Want the full festival picture before you choose? Here's my guide to everything on at the Festival of Magic & Illusion.