When Spider-Man, Elsa and Andy Lee Walk Into a Party…

There are sleepovers… and then there’s The Challenge Slumber Party.

Held at Pullman Melbourne on the Park, this year’s spectacular event brought together 320 kids aged 7 to 14 for a night where trust, friendship, and pure magic collided under one roof. From the moment the doors opened, the hotel was transformed into a buzzing jungle of colour, laughter, and wide-eyed wonder.

The team at the Pullman went above and beyond, making everything seamless while keeping bellies full with incredible food, endless drinks, and enough lollies to fuel the fun well into the early hours, not once, not twice, but three times throughout the night and morning!

Everywhere you looked, something unforgettable was happening. Darth Vader and his Stormtroopers marched past Spider-Man and Elsa, while giggles echoed from arcade games, hair and nail stations, Build-A-Bear workshops, face painting corners, and donut-fuelled snack bars. It wasn’t just fun; it was a full-blown celebration of courage, connection, and childhood in its most vibrant form.

What truly took the night to the next level? The stream of special guests who didn’t just stop by, they showed up with heart.

Andy Lee brought his A-game to the ping pong table and walked away with a few hundred new best friends. Paralympian Liam Twomey, a proud Challenge member himself, ruled the air hockey rink, cheering, coaching, and high-fiving like a champion. Sporting stars from Carlton FC, Hawthorn FC and Essendon FC’s AFL and AFLW joined teams at the party, proving that even footy legends love a good dance floor conga line and a wild arcade challenge.

Each room pulsed with energy all night long, and the dusk-to-dawn movie room was a standout hit. Even as midnight rolled in, the excitement never faded. Pillows were fluffed (and occasionally thrown), and sleepy smiles told the story of a night that would live on in memories for years to come.

At Challenge, it’s never just about throwing a party; it’s about creating a space where kids can be kids, wrapped in laughter, support, and the joy of simply belonging.

None of it would have been possible without the 65 extraordinary volunteers and the generous support of so many incredible organisations.

And at 7:00 AM the next morning, it was an absolute privilege to hand over 320 tired, happy, sugar-fuelled young people safe and sound back to their parents, after what was truly the night of their lives.