Trick or heat: Western Sydney families get summer-ready at Halloween picnic
Parents for Climate
Western Sydney families are invited to come together for a free Summer Picnic at Parramatta Park from 11:00am–2:00pm on Saturday 31 October, bringing practical summer preparedness, community connection and plenty of family fun into one relaxed day.
Hosted by Parents for Climate, the Summer Picnic has been designed around conversations with Western Sydney parents about what families need locally over the summer months. With an El Niño super charged by climate change bringing the potential for hotter, drier conditions and increased extreme weather, the event will connect families with practical information, local organisations and activities designed to help households prepare for summer heat and extreme weather events.
EVENT DETAILS
What: Summer Picnic – free family community event
When: Saturday 31 October 2026, 11:00am–2:00pm
Where: Daramu Shelter, Parramatta Park
Cost: Free
“Families across Western Sydney are already thinking about how we keep our children, homes and communities safe during increasingly hot summers. We wanted to create something that brings useful information directly to families, while also giving people an opportunity to meet their neighbours, connect with local organisations and have a genuinely fun day together,” said Parents for Climate Western Sydney Community Organiser, Sarah O’Carrigan.
The family-friendly afternoon will feature a Welcome to Country, First Nations weaving circle, practical heat resilience demonstrations, community and emergency preparedness organisations, guest speakers, music and a range of fun hands-on activities for all ages plus a FREE community BBQ.
Plenty for kids to explore
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Halloween scavenger hunt
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Climate and nature colouring station
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First Nations weaving & wellbeing circle
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Face painting
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Fire truck and emergency services activities
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Interactive summer and emergency preparedness activities
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Kids craft and creative activities
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Outdoor games and picnic activities
Sarah O’Carrigan said the event was designed to make conversations about summer preparedness practical, positive and accessible for families.
“Families across Western Sydney are already thinking about how we keep our children, homes and communities safe during increasingly hot summers. We wanted to create something that brings useful information directly to families, while also giving people an opportunity to meet their neighbours, connect with local organisations and have a genuinely fun day together.
“The Summer Picnic is about bringing families and community organisations together to build stronger, more connected and resilient communities. We’re thrilled to be joined by organisations working across community resilience, emergency preparedness, health, sustainability and local support, including Australian Red Cross, Sweltering Cities and Doctors for the Environment Australia. Families will be able to connect directly with these organisations, learn practical ways to prepare for hotter summers and extreme weather, and discover the support and resources available in their local community.”
For further comment or clarifications, contact Parents for Climate Western Sydney Community Organiser Sarah O’Carriganon 0422 052 080 or [email protected]
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Notes for editors
Media opportunities: Interviews with organisers and participating organisations, First Nations activities, children’s preparedness activities, demonstrations, family activities and community photography.
About Parents for Climate:
Parents for Climate represents over 26,000 parents, grandparents and carers from Australia. We are Australia’s leading organisation for people who care about a safe future for kids and advocating for a safe climate. Our supporters come from across the political spectrum, all Australian electorates, and from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds. We seek non-partisan responses to climate change and its impacts.
We advocate for Australian governments and businesses to take urgent action to cut Australia’s carbon emissions to net zero as quickly as possible. We encourage Australia to demonstrate leadership on the world stage through positive and proactive domestic action and calling for other nations to take the necessary steps to protect our children’s futures. For more information, visit www.parentsforclimate.org
Contact details:
Parents for Climate Western Sydney Community Organiser Sarah O’Carriganon 0422 052 080 or [email protected]