Telethon Family Festival 2024: Perth CBD fundraising event to highlight the charities that help kids across WA

Kids will be able to put their balance to the ultimate test with surfboards on bosu balls at this year’s Telethon Family Festival.

The festival is set to take over Perth’s CBD for the fifth year running — with more free, family-friendly fun than ever.

A key part of the festival is highlighting the hard work of more than 100 Telethon beneficiaries at the APM Charity Zone. Visitors will be able to collect stamps along the way for a chance to win a range of prizes.

One of those beneficiaries, Ocean Heroes, will set up surfboards on bosu balls to give kids a chance to test out their balance skills.

Ocean Heroes has been giving children living with autism the opportunity to embrace their inner surfer since 2016 and now kids visiting the APM Charity Zone will get the same chance.

Ocean Heroes event program coordinator Xander de Haan said it would also allow families to learn how the organisation works to boost kids’ confidence through its surfing program.

“Telethon do amazing things in the community, so for us to be associated with Telethon it means a lot to us and the families we serve as well,” he said.

“The Telethon funds essentially funded our regional program so we were able to provide our free program to families as far north as Broome all the way through the coast and as far south as Esperance.

“Telethon really helped us serve those regional communities that don’t really have too many resources and we were just really lucky to fill that gap with our program.”

Other highlights at the APM Charity Zone include dodgeball at White Zebra, becoming a mini scientist with The Kids Research Institute Australia, and shooting goals against a Paramatildas goalkeeper with Football Futures Foundation.

The festival will take over RAC Arena, Telethon Avenue, Wellington Street, and Yagan Square, with free carnival rides at the Lotterywest Kids Carnival.

Nestled on the grassed area opposite RAC Arena, the carnival will also be chock-a-block with showbag stalls and sideshow games.

Yagan Square will transport children to fairytales with the Cinderella silent disco, Alice in Wonderland potion-making, a Peter Pan treasure hunt, and a real-life mermaid swimming in a tank.

Mascots from across Perth will also be a part of a dance competition in Yagan Square at 12.45pm.

Families can experience the thrill of inclusive sports including tennis for the first time with All Abilities.

Sporting and TV personalities are also set to join in the fun for an All Stars versus Whizz Kids wheelchair basketball game.

Forrest Place will be a family-friendly hub filled with free activities for the whole family including mini golf, bouncy castles, a glitter bar and roving entertainers.

For those that want some time to relax, the Lotterywest Chillout Zone at the corner of Wellington Street and Telethon Avenue will play host to face painting, cuddly animals, inflatables, and free popcorn.

The Telethon Family Festival is on Sunday October 20 from 10am to 4pm, with free public transport available on the day.

For all the details, visit telethon7.com/festival.