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

Newcastle woke up with that tender kind of Monday energy that only comes after a Knights Grand Final run. The spring light is doing its best work on the harbour, the jacarandas are arriving, and half the city is probably still deciding whether a red-and-blue jersey counts as office wear. Give the team their welcome home, the Fan Day is first on the list, then the week fans out into candlelit strings, river lanterns and a few slow Hunter afternoons. There is plenty here for school-holiday visitors and locals who promise themselves they will get out more once the weather settles.

The nib Newcastle Knights are back at McDonald Jones Stadium to celebrate a season that took the city on a proper ride. Gates open before the team takes the stage for interviews and a lap of honour, so it is an easy, all-ages way to give the red and blue a welcome home.

When: Monday, 5 October, gates 11:30 AM; event 1:00 PM; team on stage 1:30 PM ·

Where: McDonald Jones Stadium, 294 Turton Road, Broadmeadow ·

Ticket price, free; tickets available

The Levee turns into a global village for Maitland’s annual celebration of food, music, dance and culture. Come for the cultural villages and global cuisine, then stay for the community parade, SambaFrog and the lantern flotilla finale on the river.

•When: Saturday 10 October, 2:00pm–9:00pm; river finale from 8:00pm

•Where: The Levee Shared Zone, Central Maitland

•Price: Free Plan your Riverlights visit

The Station fills with cakes, lollies, food trucks, market stalls, live music, demonstrations and the kind of decision-making that becomes unexpectedly difficult near a tray of slices. It is all-ages and dog-friendly.

•When: Sunday 11 October, from 9:00am

•Where: The Station, Newcastle

•Price: Adult $6.15; under 18s free; $10 at the gate

•More info: Get Festival of Sweets & Treats tickets

British concert pianist Paul Lewis takes on Mozart’s Piano Sonatas K.330 and K.457, placing them alongside Poulenc and Debussy in a two-hour Musica Viva recital. A proper City Hall evening for people who like their midweek plans seated and sonically precise.

•When: Wednesday 7 October, 7:30pm

•Where: Newcastle City Hall, 290 King Street, Newcastle

•Price: From $65; under 40 $49; students and under 18s $20

•More info: Book Paul Lewis: Mozart+

Former INXS frontman JD Fortune brings a Best of INXS set to NEX, with Need You Tonight, Never Tear Us Apart, Mystify, Don’t Change and more in the mix. This is an 18+ show.

•When: Wednesday 7 October, 8:00pm

•Where: NEX Wests City, Newcastle West

•Price: Check booking page

•More info: Get JD Fortune tickets

Australian Idol 2026 winner Kesha Nevé and Kalani Artis bring country-pop and indie-folk originals, Idol favourites and a full band to Shoal Bay. It is another 18+ option, for those who prefer their Friday night with a little more volume.

•When: Friday 9 October, 7:00pm–11:00pm

•Where: Shoal Bay Country Club, 35–45 Shoal Bay Road, Shoal Bay

•Price: General admission $50 plus $5.52 booking fee

•More info:

Book Kesha Nevé and Kalani Artis

The Very Popular Theatre Company brings Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Kristoff and Sven to the Civic stage, with the familiar songs and the extra theatrical bits that make a local production feel like an occasion. Recommended for ages 5+.

•When: Saturday 10 October, 7:00pm; Sunday 11 October, 1:00pm and 6:00pm

•Where: Civic Theatre, 375 Hunter Street, Newcastle

•Price: Weekend tickets from $89; four-ticket bundle from $54 per person

•More info:

Book Disney’s FROZEN

Speers Point Park hosts a free family evening of live music, children’s activities and a sundown screening of How to Train Your Dragon from 2025. Bring the household along for the full park-side program.

When: Saturday, 10 October, 5:30 PM–10:30 PM

Where: Speers Point Park, Park Road, Speers Point · FREE

https://www.visitlakemac.com.au/ATDW/Events/Newcastle-Permanents-Cinema-Under-the-Stars-Lake-Macquarie-63a3e234be29008648a55177

After more than a decade away from solo performance, Denise Scott returns with a one-hour show of observational comedy and reflections on resilience, sanity and the unlikely places laughter can turn up. Recommended for ages 15+; contains coarse language and adult themes.

•When: Saturday 10 October, 5:00pm

•Where: Newcastle City Hall, 290 King Street, Newcastle

•Price: Standard $59.90; concession and groups of six or more $54.90

•More info:

Book Denise Scott — Tickety Boo

This survey exhibition traces the work of long-time Pokolbin artist and Crowtrap Studio co-founder Chris Fussell, from portraiture and line drawings to oil, acrylic and sculpture. A quiet, worthwhile detour if you are travelling through the Valley.

•When: Monday 5–Friday 9 October, 9:00am–4:30pm; Saturday 10 October, 10:00am–1:30pm

•Where: PACC | Performance Arts Culture Cessnock, 198–202 Vincent Street, Cessnock

•Price: Free

•More info:

See Chris Fussell — The Art of Noticing

Start the long weekend at Fort Scratchley, where seven guns fire at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. Modified tunnel tours, military and heritage displays, exhibition rooms, coffee and hot food round out the free Newcastle East day, with children under 14 admitted free to the tunnel tours.

When: Monday, 5 October, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM

Where: Fort Scratchley, 1/3 Nobbys Road, Newcastle East · FREE

https://fortscratchley.org.au/event/october-long-weekend-gun-firing-open-day/

Local produce, candles, jewellery, woodwork, original art, coffee, street food and acoustic music gather among the vines at this weekly Sunday market. Dogs are welcome too, because the region’s social calendar is not just for humans.

•When: Sunday 11 October, 8:00am–2:00pm

•Where: 691 Hermitage Road, Pokolbin

•Price: Free

•More info:

Plan a Pokolbin Market visit

Take a relaxed, guided walk through Morpeth’s heritage streets, hear a few local stories, then finish with chef-selected tapas and local wine at Boydell’s. It is a small-group outing, with a maximum of 12 people.

•When: Sunday 11 October, 10:00am–12:00pm

•Where: Meet outside Morpeth Deli & Fine Food Store, 160 Swan Street, Morpeth

•Price: $100 per person

•More info:

Book A Taste of Morpeth

The final day of Stomp’s spring sale is a good excuse to call into Lovedale, stock the cellar and quietly congratulate yourself on planning ahead. The winery is offering selected spring wines at cellar-door and online sale prices.

•When: Monday 5 October; time not listed

•Where: Stomp! Wines, 504 Wilderness Road, Lovedale

•Price: 6-pack $105; 12-pack $15 per bottle

•More info:

See the Stomp! Wines Spring Sale

The second-Saturday market returns to the foreshore with homewares, fashion, plants, pet supplies and street food, plus lake views that remain rather more serene than the average shopping-centre car park. The listing does not publish usable daytime hours, so check with the organiser before travelling.

•When: Saturday 10 October; time not listed

•Where: Warners Bay Foreshore, The Esplanade, Warners Bay

•Price: Free

•More info:

See Warners Bay Markets details

The next generation of surfers takes to Redhead Beach for the World Surf League Pro Junior and Let’s Surf Junior Classic. It is free to watch, family-friendly and an easy way to spend a few hours by the water without having to pretend you own a board.

•When: Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October, 8:00am–4:00pm

•Where: Redhead Beach, 1C Beach Road, Redhead

•Price: Free

•More info:

See the Let’s Surf Lake Macquarie programme

Walk 4 Hope is a pram- and wheelchair-friendly community fundraiser supporting people affected by Huntington’s disease. The approximately four-kilometre course is designed to be completed at your own pace.

•When: Sunday 11 October, 9:30am–1:00pm

•Where: Speers Point Park, Park Road, Speers Point

•Price: Check booking page

•More info:

Register for Walk 4 Hope Newcastle

Newcastle Pro Wrestling marks 15 years with a heavyweight title match, a tag-team bout and a pre-show meet-and-greet option. It is family-friendly, with mild simulated violence and no swearing.

•When: Friday 9 October, 8:00pm

•Where: Newcastle City Hall, 290 King Street, Newcastle

•Price: B Reserve $25; A Reserve $40; Premium $55

•More info:

Book Newcastle Pro Wrestling

For three quiet days near Dungog, this small creative retreat pairs guided nature journalling and drawing with bush walks, Tai Chi, catered meals and time away from the churn. It is limited to 22 people, which is exactly why it deserves a spot here.

•When: Friday 9–Sunday 11 October

•Where: Fosterton Retreat, 208 Moylans Road, Fosterton

•Price: $600 plus accommodation

•More info:

Learn about the Drawn to Nature retreat

A small heads-up for later this month: Ireland’s leading folk group brings its Rocky Road Tour to City Hall with special guest Ciaran O’Sullivan. There are VIP and reserve options, so book early if an evening of Irish folk is already sounding like the answer.

•When: Saturday 24 October, 8:00pm

•Where: Newcastle City Hall, 290 King Street, Newcastle

•Price: C Reserve $99.90; B Reserve $129.90; A Reserve $149.90; VIP $249.90

•More info:

Book The High Kings

Recommendation:

If The Newy List is what's on this week, Marram.com.au is the slower companion to it, a Sunday letter about the people and places that make this stretch of coast what it is.

Know someone who'd love this? Forward it on, they can subscribe free at thenewylist.com

Have a local event or business you think we should feature? Just hit reply, we read every message.

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

The Newy List