Family Fun at the State Library | Adelaide

Free Family Fun at the State Library on North Terrace, Adelaide.

If you’re looking for something to keep the kids entertained for a few hours, why not visit the State Library for some creative activities inspired by their collections that the whole family can enjoy.

The State Library has numerous events and exhibitions throughout the year, from historical restaurant menus and board games, to football memorabilia and building bugs. Children and families can explore the library, enjoy reading stories and follow trails for some interesting, educational fun and discovery.

WHAT’S ON AT THE STATE LIBRARY

Pop Pull Play

• Friday 5 June 2026 to 24 January 2027
• State Library Gallery, Spence Wing, (Ground floor)
• Free, bookings not required

Step into a world where books burst to life!  Inspired by their exhibition Pop Pull Push, families are invited to get hands-on with a series of playful programs inspired by the magic of pop‑up art.

Create your own butterfly pop‑up bookmark, craft a charming animal‑themed pop‑up greeting card and then settle into their cosy reading nook to explore a delightful selection of pop‑up books.

Whether you’re snipping, folding, or simply turning the page, there’s something to spark every imagination.

Pull Pop Push Exhibition

• Friday 5 June 2026 to 24 January 2027
• State Library Gallery, Spence Wing, (Ground floor)
• Free entry

Pull Pop Push your way into a world of books that move, surprise and delight.

Pull Pop Push explores the art of movable books, from pop-ups and wheels to tunnels, sound books, flap-books and more. Drawn from the State Library’s collections, including the Children’s Literature Research Collection, these books use carefully engineered paper mechanisms to transform flat pages into lively scenes that unfold before your eyes.

The exhibition brings these ideas to life through scale, perspective and reveal. You can look behind the scenes to discover how movable books work, step through immersive, larger-than-life recreations of iconic works, and trace the evolution of paper engineering from early scientific tools to much-loved children’s books.

Created for the young, the curious and the young at heart, Pull Pop Push is a playful and visually engaging experience that celebrates imagination, creativity and the wonder of stories brought to life.

Scene Zines presented by Studio Ruby Chew

• Thursday 9 July, Friday 10 July, Wednesday 15 July & Thursday 16 July 2026
• 11:30am to 12:30pm
• Location: Crawford Room, Mortlock Wing (Level 1)
• Cost $10 per person (Bookings required)
• Workshop suitable for children aged 8 – 12 years

A tiny world can fit inside a single piece of paper! Fold, draw, layer and imagine as you create a miniature concertina book artwork that opens up to reveal a scene with hidden details, characters and stories.

Join artist Ruby Chew during the July 2026 school holidays for a playful paper engineering workshop inspired by their Pull Pop Push exhibition.

What you’ll learn:

• Create a fold-out paper artwork (zine) using simple paper engineering techniques
• Explore drawing and storytelling ideas to build imaginative worlds and scenes
• Add hidden details, characters and surprises that bring your creation to life

All materials are supplied, and every skill level is welcome. 

Character Spinners presented by Studio Ruby Chew

• Thursday 9 July, Friday 10 July, Wednesday 15 July & Thursday 16 July 2026
• 1pm to 2pm
• Location: Crawford Room, Mortlock Wing (Level 1)
• Cost $10 per person (Bookings required)
• Workshop suitable for children aged 8 – 12 years

What happens when a pirate’s head meets an alien’s body and octopus legs?

Get ready to draw, spin and invent as you create a rotating character artwork filled with unexpected combinations and cartoon chaos!  Join artist Ruby Chew during the July 2026 school holidays for a playful paper engineering workshop inspired by their Pull Pop Push exhibition.

What you’ll learn:

• Create a spinning paper artwork using simple paper engineering techniques.
• Explore cartoon drawing ideas including exaggeration, expression and character design.
• Mix and match heads, bodies and legs to invent quirky new characters.

All materials are supplied, and every skill level is welcome.

You may also like to book into Create Your Own 3D Tunnel Book.

Discover the Library with their Family Trail

Take an adventure through the library to discover the many treasures and stories to be found.

Pick up your printed Family Trail from the Welcome Desk in the glass foyer of the Spence Wing. Continue to the famous Mortlock Wing, and then on to the Treasures Wall exploring the library to finish at the Institute Building.

Build a Bug

Be inspired to build your own bug from watercolour paintings of insects by George French Angas’ South Australia Illustrated.  Download and print the free activity sheets to build a bug, then once completed there are lots of things you can do with your bugs, such as put them on a specimen card or create a bug poster or a hanging mobile or maybe a bug wall with your creations.

Family Reading Nook

Take some time out with the kids in the reading nook in the Treasures Wall. You’ll find all sorts to read including a delicious new adventure about the very hungry caterpillar’s Australian feast, super-simple recipe for budding bakers, the story of how your favourite food is made and much more.

State Library opening hours:

• Monday: 9am to 5pm
• Tuesday: 9am to 7pm
• Wednesday to Friday: 9am to 5pm
• Saturday and Sunday: 12 to 5pm
• Closed on public holidays

Discover the Mortlock Wing at the State Library

For more information and all enquiries please visit the SLSA website

What:  Family Fun at the State Library

When:    Check the event guide here for what’s on

Where:  State Library of SA | North Terrace, Adelaide

Who:   Everyone

At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.

Image Source: SLSA website

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