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

The school holidays finish strongly with family theatre and winter fun, while the grown-ups have a deep bench of comedy, live music, exhibitions, wine-country dinners and a harbour cruise or two. Sunday is particularly busy, with an artisan market, an NRLW home game, the Winery Run and Port Stephens’ wonderfully literal Human Whale.

Snow Time in the Garden

Hunter Valley Gardens turns part of Pokolbin into a winter playground with ice skating, snow play, rides and family activities running daily through the school holidays.

•When: Monday 13 – Sunday 19 July, gardens 9am–5pm; Snow Time activities 9:30am–4:30pm

•Where: Hunter Valley Gardens, Pokolbin

•Price: See ticket options

•More info: Snow Time event page

Newcastle Comedy Festival Gala

A festival-sized sampler brings a line-up of comedians to the Civic for one Saturday-night show. It runs for about one hour and 45 minutes including interval and is strictly for ages 15 and over.

•When: Saturday 18 July, 7:30pm

•Where: Civic Theatre, Newcastle

•Price: $55–$99, plus fees

•More info: Civic Theatre event page

The Fairy’s Kiss - Leila Josefowicz & John Novacek

Violinist Leila Josefowicz and pianist John Novacek perform Debussy, Szymanowski, Charlotte Bray and Stravinsky, including the Australian premiere of Bray’s Mriya.

•When: Friday 17 July, 7:30pm

•Where: Newcastle City Hall, Newcastle

•Price: Final tickets $49; under 18s $20

•More info: Civic Theatre event page

Tania Nichamin - Back from Nashville

Country singer-songwriter Tania Nichamin returns with a seven-piece band and special guest Kane Vincent. Show-only tickets are available, along with a dinner-and-show option.

•When: Saturday 18 July, doors and dining from 6pm; show 8:30–10:30pm

•Where: Flamingos Live, Lambton

•Price: Show only from $45; dinner and show from $89, plus booking fee

•More info: Flamingos Live show page

The Men in Black Tribute Show Cruise

A four-hour harbour cruise pairs the music of Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison with Newcastle’s waterfront. This one is an 18-plus afternoon aboard MV Calmer.

•When: Sunday 19 July, 12–4pm

•Where: MV Calmer, Queens Wharf Ferry Terminal, Newcastle

•Price: From $38.25, booking fees included

•More info: Direct ticket page

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Maitland Repertory Theatre stages the C.S. Lewis favourite in a compact local production, with four performances during the week and a running time of about one hour and 45 minutes.

•When: Wednesday 15 July, 2pm; Thursday 16 July, 2pm; Friday 17 July, 7:30pm; Saturday 18 July, 2pm

•Where: Maitland Repertory Theatre, Maitland

•Price: $22

•More info: Official production page

Wendy Sharpe: Into the Dark

The Lock-Up opens a major new exhibition by Wendy Sharpe on Friday evening, followed by an artist conversation on Saturday morning. The exhibition itself continues through September.

•When: Opening Friday 17 July, 6–8pm; artist conversation Saturday 18 July, 11am

•Where: The Lock-Up, Newcastle

•Price: Free exhibition; see event page for opening and talk bookings

•More info: The Lock-Up exhibition page

Young Dobell 2026

This annual Lake Macquarie exhibition gathers portrait and landscape work by young artists from across the region. Sunday is the final day to see the 2026 show.

•When: Until Sunday 19 July, closing at 3pm

•Where: MAC yapang, Booragul

•Price: Free

•More info: Lake Macquarie Arts event page

Blake Pavey - A Bit Scared

Blake Pavey brings his latest stand-up show to Merewether for a compact Friday-evening set. The performance is recommended for ages 16 and over; under-18s must attend with a parent or legal guardian.

•When: Friday 17 July, 6:30–7:40pm

•Where: Souths Merewether, Merewether

•Price: See ticket options

•More info: Eventbrite booking page

A Taste of Greece Dinner Cruise

A shared-table, three-course Greek dinner heads out on Newcastle Harbour with live bouzouki entertainment. Check-in opens half an hour before the boat departs.

•When: Friday 17 July, check-in 6:30pm; cruise 7–9:30pm

•Where: MV Calmer, Queens Wharf Ferry Terminal, Newcastle

•Price: $79 per person aged 12+, plus booking fees

•More info: Eventbrite booking page

Christmas in July at voco Kirkton Park

Locavore Restaurant serves a Christmas buffet on Friday and Saturday evenings, with the old sandstone estate doing much of the seasonal heavy lifting.

•When: Friday 17 and Saturday 18 July, from 5:30pm

•Where: Locavore Restaurant, voco Kirkton Park, Pokolbin

•Price: Adults $129; teens $65; children $35

•More info: Wine Country event page

Friday Night Wine & Chill

Saddler’s Creek keeps the cellar door open into the evening with wine, food and live music. It is a relaxed start to the weekend, with bookings recommended and same-day bookings handled by phone.

•When: Friday 17 July, 4:30–8pm; cellar door until 8:30pm

•Where: Saddler’s Creek Wines, Pokolbin

•Price: Food and drinks at menu prices

•More info: Wine Country event page

The Sunday Muster Artisan Markets

Local makers, designers and food stalls gather in the grounds of Mortels, with live music, café dining and off-street parking. It is outdoors and weather permitting; leave the dog at home.

•When: Sunday 19 July, 9am–2pm

•Where: Mortels Sheepskin Factory, Thornton

•Price: Free entry

•More info: My Maitland event page

Newcastle Knights v Dragons — NRLW Round 3

The Knights’ women play their first listed Sunday home fixture of the season against the Dragons, with a Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership match on before the NRLW game.

•When: Sunday 19 July, gates 3:30pm; NRLW kick-off 6:15pm

•Where: McDonald Jones Stadium, Broadmeadow

•Price: See ticket options

•More info: Official stadium event page

The Human Whale 2026

Port Stephens locals and visitors will form the outline of a 100-metre humpback on Fingal Beach, with a drone capturing the result. Stalls, face painting and a surf-club sausage sizzle run alongside the formation.

•When: Sunday 19 July, 10am–2pm; formation begins 11:30am

•Where: Fingal Beach Surf Club and beachfront, Fingal Bay

•Price: Free

•More info: Official festival activity page

Hunter Valley Winery Run

Runners and walkers can choose from a marathon, half marathon, 10.5-kilometre run, five-kilometre Winery Wander or two-kilometre Kids Marathon among the vineyards.

•When: Sunday 19 July, start times vary by distance

•Where: Hunter Valley wine country

•Price: See registration options

•More info: H Events organiser page

Call & Response

Brough House is hosting this thoughtful exhibition of works shaped by artistic exchange and conversation. It is free, quietly tucked into central Maitland and open across the weekend, precisely the sort of local show that is easy to miss until someone tells you.

•When: Friday 17 – Sunday 19 July, 10am–3pm

•Where: Brough House, Maitland

•Price: Free

•More info: My Maitland event page

Slow Sketch Sunday

The Tipsy Sketching Club slows the usual life-drawing format down with extended poses, time for considered work and natural breaks for a drink and a chat. Materials can be supplied, and beginners are welcome.

•When: Sunday 19 July, afternoon session

•Where: Meantime on Beaumont, Hamilton

•Price: $35

•More info: Visit Newcastle event page

The Living End - I Only Trust Rock N Roll Tour

A heads-up for Saturday 1 August: The Living End are bringing their new album and the back catalogue to NEX for an 18-plus standing show. General admission is already on sale, so this is one to book before leaving it to the week-of scramble.

•When: Saturday 1 August, 7pm

•Where: NEX Wests City, Newcastle West

•Price: $89.90, booking fees included

•More info: Oztix booking page

Hunter Valley Highland Games

Saturday 22 August 2026

Saltire Estate, Lovedale

Get your kilt out for a massive day of Scottish culture in the vineyards. Expect pipe bands, Highland dancing, strongman events, and plenty of haggis.

Book here

Recommendation:

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That's your week, Onward for next week Knights 11-6. See you out there. 🙌

The Newy List