Autumn has finally started behaving like autumn, which is a relief for those of us who were beginning to suspect March had simply given up on the concept of seasons. The air is a little softer, the evenings are easier to dress for, and the week ahead has a pleasing number of reasons to leave the house without requiring excessive stamina or interpretive planning. There is good theatre, sharp comedy, a proper jazz pick, some thoughtful culture, a few market options, and enough food-and-wine temptation to make staying home feel unnecessarily virtuous.

Bernard Fanning Tea & Sympathy 20th Anniversary Tour

A Civic Theatre show always feels like a dependable night out, and Bernard Fanning in that room is an especially easy yes. Expect recognisable songs, a crowd that has been waiting for this one, and the sort of Tuesday evening that feels far more polished than a Tuesday has any natural right to.

•When: Tuesday, 17 March, 7:00pm

•Where: Civic Theatre, Newcastle

•Price: From $79

•More info: Bernard Fanning Tea & Sympathy 20th Anniversary Tour

2. Jean Kittson Live – Judgy Judgy

This is exactly the kind of broader-search find worth having in the list. Jean Kittson remains one of the sharpest and most reliably funny names in the country, and a Newcastle Fringe slot at The Gal gives it the right amount of intimacy.

•When: Wednesday, 18 March, 8:00pm

•Where: The Gal, Newcastle

•Price: $45

•More info: Jean Kittson Live – Judgy Judgy

3. Occasional Combustible Disaster

This local play still earns its place. It is thoughtful, funny and grounded in recognisable regional textures, which makes it feel closer to home than the average night at the theatre.

•When: Friday, 20 March, 7:00pm

•Where: Playhouse, Civic Theatre, Newcastle

•Price: From $39

•More info: Occasional Combustible Disaster

4. Lee Jones Quintet LIVE

A good jazz listing is exactly the sort of thing a broader sweep should uncover. This one is a smart pick for readers who like live music with actual musicianship attached, and it is a welcome change from the usual generic gig-guide trawl.

•When: Tuesday, 17 March, 8:00pm–10:00pm

•Where: The Grand Hotel, Newcastle

•Price: $25

•More info: Lee Jones Quintet LIVE

5. Uke & Choir...but not as you know it...

Newcastle Fringe is often at its best when it gives you something slightly unexpected, and this looks like one of those. A playful music pick with a bit of personality is rarely a bad idea for a Wednesday night.

•When: Wednesday, 18 March, 7:00pm

•Where: The Gal, Newcastle

•Price: $35

•More info: Uke & Choir...but not as you know it...

6. Danny Bhoy – Dear World...

If you prefer your comedy with polish, timing and a minimum of chaos, Danny Bhoy is a very safe pair of hands. This is a strong midweek pick for anyone who would like a proper laugh without ending up in a room full of twenty-somethings yelling through the support act.

•When: Wednesday, 18 March, 8:00pm

•Where: Civic Theatre, Newcastle

•Price: From $59

•More info: Danny Bhoy – Dear World...

7. The Brilliance of Brunel

A heritage-and-ideas talk may not be the loudest event in town, but it is often one of the most satisfying. This one suits curious readers who enjoy leaving the house for something that gives them a story to retell over dinner later.

•When: Monday, 16 March, 6:30pm

•Where: Hunter Theatre, Broadmeadow

•Price: $15–$35

•More info: The Brilliance of Brunel

8. The Progress of the Storm

For readers who like Fringe when it gets a little stranger and more theatrical, this is a strong left-of-centre inclusion. It has the feel of a show you will either be very pleased you took a chance on, or spend the drive home talking about anyway.

•When: Wednesday, 18 March, 6:30pm

•Where: The Royal Exchange, Newcastle

•Price: $30

•More info: The Progress of the Storm

9. Aboriginal Art & Culture Workshop

This remains one of the stronger hands-on picks for the week. It offers a thoughtful way to spend a Saturday morning and feels richer than the standard workshop formula.

•When: Saturday, 21 March, 9:00am–12:00pm

•Where: Shortland

•Price: $65

•More info: Aboriginal Art & Culture Workshop

10. Artist Book Structure: Complex Pop Up Concertina

For anyone who likes paper arts, printmaking or quietly absorbing creative work, this is still a very good option. It is detailed, tactile and likely to attract exactly the right sort of concentrated Saturday mood.

•When: Saturday, 21 March, 9:00am–1:00pm

•Where: Newcastle Printmakers Workshop, Adamstown

•Price: $130–$150

•More info: Artist Book Structure: Complex Pop Up Concertina

11. Sourdough Bread Making Workshop

A classic example of the sort of lifestyle event that does well with this audience. It is practical, enjoyable, and just specific enough to feel like you are doing something interesting rather than merely filling time.

•When: Saturday, 21 March, 10:00am–1:00pm

•Where: The Conscious Kitchen, Newcastle

•Price: $150

•More info: Sourdough Bread Making Workshop

12. Wine Club Night – Wines Below the Equator

If you have been waiting for a cue to book something a touch more grown-up, this is it. A guided wine night at The Newcastle Club feels polished without being stuffy, and Friday is the right evening for it.

•When: Friday, 20 March, 6:30pm

•Where: The Newcastle Club, Newcastle

•Price: $150

•More info: Wine Club Night – Wines Below the Equator

13. Vine to the Glass Festival at McLeish Estate

A Pokolbin day with wine, food and music is still a solid late-March proposition. This one feels relaxed enough to be enjoyable and structured enough to justify making a proper day of it.

•When: Saturday, 21 March, 11:00am–5:00pm

•Where: McLeish Estate, Pokolbin

•Price: See booking page

•More info: Vine to the Glass Festival at McLeish Estate

14. Handmade in the Hunter Markets

This is a stronger market pick than some of the more routine city options because it turns the whole outing into a wine-country day. Handmade stalls, a vineyard setting and Sunday pacing is a very decent combination.

•When: Sunday, 22 March, 9:00am–3:00pm

•Where: Kevin Sobels Wines, Pokolbin

•Price: FREE entry

•More info: Handmade in the Hunter Markets

15. Nanna Tea’s Community Fun(d)raiser

This is one of the nicest discoveries from the broader pass. It has genuine local character, a community-minded feel, and the kind of social warmth that often makes for a better day out than the flashier options.

•When: Saturday, 21 March, 10:00am–2:00pm

•Where: Wallsend Diggers, Wallsend

•Price: $25

•More info: Nanna Tea’s Community Fun(d)raiser

16. Twilight Fridays at MAP mima

This is exactly the sort of free cultural-social outing that deserves more airtime. A gallery setting, a Friday evening window, and a little Lake Macquarie air is a very civilised way to start the weekend.

•When: Friday, 20 March, 5:00pm–8:00pm

•Where: Museum of Art and Culture, yapang, Booragul

•Price: FREE

•More info: Twilight Fridays at MAP mima

17. Newcastle City Farmers Market

A classic for a reason. It may not be the most surprising event in town, but it remains a dependable Sunday morning outing if your ideal start involves produce, coffee and a bit of harmless basket optimism.

•When: Sunday, 22 March, 7:00am–1:00pm

•Where: Newcastle Showground, Broadmeadow

•Price: FREE entry

•More info: Newcastle City Farmers Market

18. Life Drawing at Singleton Arts + Cultural Centre

There is something pleasantly old-world about finishing the week with life drawing in a regional arts space. Whether you are accomplished or completely rusty, it is a low-fuss creative night that makes the drive feel worthwhile.

•When: Friday, 20 March, 6:00pm–8:00pm

•Where: Singleton Arts + Cultural Centre, Singleton

•Price: See booking page

•More info: Life Drawing at Singleton Arts + Cultural Centre

19. A New Horizon

A Sunday gallery inclusion belongs in this list, and this is the cleanest one. It is a good excuse to slow down, see something worthwhile, and let the afternoon be slightly more cultured than usual.

•When: Sunday, 22 March, 2:00pm

•Where: Newcastle Art Gallery

•Price: FREE

•More info: A New Horizon

20. The Farmer’s Wife Distillery Trivia Night

A slightly more offbeat regional inclusion is exactly what a broader list should make room for. This one adds a social, country-leaning option for anyone happy to head beyond the city for something with a bit of character.

•When: Friday, 20 March, 6:00pm

•Where: The Farmer’s Wife Distillery, Allworth

•Price: $20

•More info: The Farmer’s Wife Distillery Trivia Night

An early-evening wander that ends at MAP mima

Sometimes the hidden gem is not a secret venue so much as a better rhythm for the evening. Head to Lake Macquarie a little before sunset, take the long way around the water, and finish at MAP mima while the light is still doing flattering things to everything. It makes the whole outing feel far more expansive than a standard gallery visit, and there is something very satisfying about ending the week in a room full of art instead of under supermarket lighting. The insider move is to treat it as a slow start to dinner somewhere nearby, not a separate mission requiring military logistics.

📍 Museum of Art and Culture, yapang, Booragul · Best paired with a slow Friday evening

Once Upon A One More Time

Hunter Drama’s Britney-powered fairy-tale musical looks exactly like the sort of show that groups of friends will decide to book all at once. If you like locking in a proper theatre outing before the better seats go, this is worth doing now.

•When: 9–19 April 2026

•Where: Playhouse, Civic Theatre Newcastle

•Price: See booking page

•More info: Once Upon A One More Time

2026 Newcastle Writers Festival

The program is already out and the best sessions rarely wait patiently for procrastinators. If you like a weekend built around smart conversation, good company and a bit of literary browsing, book now rather than later.

•When: 27–29 March 2026

•Where: Newcastle venues including City Hall

•Price: See booking page

•More info: 2026 Newcastle Writers Festival

Lights Up. Scripts Down. One Act Play Festival returns in 2026!

This is a nice cultural book-ahead option from the broader sweep: local theatre, short-form storytelling and a community-minded setting. It is a good one for readers who enjoy seeing local talent before it becomes everyone else’s recommendation.

•When: Saturday, 28 March 2026, 2:00pm

•Where: Warners Bay Theatre, baramayiba

•Price: See event page

•More info: Lights Up. Scripts Down. One Act Play Festival returns in 2026!

That's your week, Go the Knights!. See you out there. 🙌

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