Welcome to this week's edition of The Newy List!

Spring evenings are getting a fuller diary this week, with Diwali at Foreshore Park, Anthony Callea at the Civic and a Sunday wander through Maitland’s markets. There is also a murder-mystery dinner in Pokolbin, which is a fairly elaborate way of avoiding the washing-up. Read on for the full list and see what earns a spot in your week.

Celebrate Diwali at Foreshore Park with food stalls, cultural performances, music and family activities. The program also lists a drone show and fireworks.

A wind ensemble and rock group perform Pink Floyd’s Atom Heart Mother Suite and Jon Lord’s Concerto for Rock Group and Orchestra. Fernleigh Orchestral and Arts Network brings the two works together at the Conservatorium.

Wild Things Run perform close-harmony versions of songs associated with the Eagles, America, James Taylor, Carole King, Jackson Browne and Joni Mitchell. It is a night of 1970s West Coast music, without the long-haul flight.

Little Birdy singer Katy Steele brings an intimate, stripped-back duo show of voice, piano and guitar to Warners Bay. Joe Mungovan supports.

Anthony Callea performs with an acoustic band, drawing from his multi-platinum catalogue alongside personal stories and songs from across his career. The Sunday matinee leaves room for dinner afterwards.

For something a little louder and closer to home, Newcastle indie rock band Cheeky Leash bring their album tour to Kahibah. Charlie Farmer and The Tryouts join the bill for this over-18s show.

Newcastle Art Gallery stays open late for trumpeter and composer Tom Avgenicos with jazz quartet Delay 45. Sketch Club and Trevor Dickinson’s book launch and signing are also on the program.

A.A.Murakami’s multisensory installation sends mist-filled bubbles blooming and falling from tree-like sculptures. This is the artists’ first presentation in Australia.

Written by Kieran Carroll and performed by Paul Armstrong, this theatre portrait traces Australian tennis champion John Newcombe’s life and career. The performance runs for about 80 minutes with no interval.

A handy outing with the grandchildren: the Cube fills with immersive projections and family-friendly tracks for children aged five to 12 with an accompanying adult. Frustard will be onsite in Speers Point Park from 5pm.

Settle in for a food-truck dinner at Whitewater Adventure Park, with a DJ, costumes, face painting and trick-or-treating for the children. It is a relaxed Friday option for the whole family.

Papalote marks its first birthday with roaming canapés from Papalote, Flotilla and Humbug, a drink on arrival, live mariachi, DJs and entertainment. Face painting is also available, with limited capacity.

Sparkling on arrival, roaming canapés, a main course and dessert accompany an interactive murder mystery at Esca Restaurant. Dinner comes with a little detective work.

Dixon Park’s coastal market brings Hunter makers, designers and food vendors together for a Saturday browse. Handmade goods, live music and something to eat give you a good excuse to stay a little longer, while face painting helps if the grandchildren come along. Bring a bag for the purchase you weren’t planning to make.

When: Saturday 31 October, 9am to 2pm

Where: Dixon Park, Ocean Street, Merewether

FREE entry; purchases extra

Market details

Join a family-, pram- and dog-friendly 3km foreshore walk from Empire Park to Merewether SLSC and back. The accessible paved route raises funds to keep YWCA Hunter’s post-breast-cancer ENCORE program free.

Catch the G-rated A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, followed by a Trick or Treat Treasure Hunt, at either library branch. Bookings are essential through Port Stephens Libraries.

Peter FitzSimons discusses George Mallory, Edmund Hillary and their quest to be first to conquer Everest, based on his book The Race to the Top of the World. This evening talk opens Lake Macquarie’s History Illuminated program.

A quiet, practical appointment for anyone who has been meaning to ask a few questions about their bone health. The organiser offers a bone-health and body-composition assessment, personalised advice and a discussion with an exercise physiologist. This is a one-to-one preventative-health session, not a workout; reserve a spot through the booking page.

When: Tuesday 27 October, 1pm to 2.30pm session window ·

Where: Kieser Newcastle, Civic West Parking, level C7, 291 King Street, Newcastle ·

FREE

Session details and booking

This beach-themed cheer and dance competition brings teams from Newcastle, Maitland and further afield to Broadmeadow. Take a seat and watch the stunts and routines, with no knowledge of the scoring system required to appreciate the teamwork. It’s a spectator outing for a friend or family group, with single-day tickets if a whole weekend feels ambitious.

When: Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November, venue-listed event start 7.30am · Where: Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Brown Road, Broadmeadow ·

Adult day ticket $35 plus $1.40 fee; child or concession $30 plus $1.20 fee

Competition details and spectator tickets

For those who enjoy a local yarn that never makes it onto the usual weekend list, Emily and Tom from Oh My Folklore are sharing stories of buried treasure, ghostly encounters and forgotten legends. The adults-focused session has dark themes, but no gore, swearing or overly descriptive language.

A heads-up for late November: Kim Wilde is bringing her Closer Tour to the Civic, with hits including “Kids In America” and “You Keep Me Hangin’ On”. If that is your kind of night out, it is worth sorting tickets and a dinner booking ahead of time.

Recommendation:

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That's your week, who do you have in the Rugby league world cup? See you out there. 🙌

The Newy List