Newcastle China Festival Sunday.The inaugural Newcastle China Festival will descend on Hamilton’s Beaumont Street. Expect Chinese-themed food stalls, language workshops, calligraphy, Tai Chi, chopstick competitions, dumpling making and face-painting. 10am to 4pm. Free.

Hunter Record Fair Saturday. If there’s an elusive record you need for your collection or you like to have a casual browse, check out the Hunter Record Fair at Mayfield Bowling Club and Dangar Park in Ingall Street, Mayfield. A large range of records, CDs, DVDs and other bargains will be complemented by Mexican food truck El Poco Loco, tea and coffee, and drinks from the bowling club. 9am to 4pm. Entry $3.

Wife-carrying championships Saturday. As part of the Singleton Show, a woman clambers on to a man’s back while he runs through an obstacle course that includes sand, water and fences. Competitor entry open until noon on Saturday. Singleton Showgrounds. Free.

Singleton Show Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, watch the rodeo, campdraft, dog trials, cattle judging, woodchop, cooking displays, photography or demolition derby from 6am to 11pm. On Sunday, the popular horse trials are from 7am to 1pm. Singleton Showgrounds, Bathurst Street.

Living Smart Festival Saturday. Meet chefs, learn about growing your own food, speak to experts and look at eco displays as the kids are entertained by activities and live entertainment. 8am to 2pm. Speers Point Park. Free.

RFS Open Day Saturday. Clarence Town Rural Fire Service are putting on fire demonstrations, tours of their trucks and a BBQ as part of their open day, from 9am to 2pm. 25 Grey Street, Clarence Town. Free.

Conversations at the Cathedral Sunday. Associate Professor Elizabeth Farrelly, a Sydney Morning Herald columnist, will discuss what our ‘‘Cathedral City’’ means in a post-postmodern world. 6.45pm to 8.30pm. Christ Church Cathedral, Newcastle.

Doyalson Raw Challenge Saturday and Sunday. Negotiate a six-kilometre obstacle course with more than 30 obstacles including tyres, a catapult and the cliff hanger. Fancy dress encouraged. Saturday from 8.30am to 1.30pm, Sunday from 9.15 am to 11.30am. Tickets $100 adults, $50 kids, from rawchallenge.com.au.

Piano Concerto Sunday. The Australian Haydn Ensemble presents two guests: Neil Peres Da Costa will perform Beethoven’s second Piano Concerto with Marc Destrube, also playing Mozart’s String Quintet in G Minor and Mozart’s Symphony Ensemble. 40 Watt Street, Newcastle, from 3pm. Tickets $35 Adult. Bookings australianhaydn.com.au. 

Kids Carnival Day, Mattara Festival, Saturday. Nobbys Beach Reserve. Live entertainment, rides and markets. www.mattarafestival.org.au/kids-carnival-day

AFL Grand Final at the Grain Store Cheer the red and the white from the comfort of the Grain Store, who will show the Swans vs Hawks showdown on the big screen from 11am. Corner Scott and Telford streets, Newcastle.

Subway Summer Surf Series Saturday and Sunday. Around 100 junior surfers will compete at Newcastle Beach for a place to train at the renowned Hurley Surfing Australia High Performance Centre at Casuarina. Male and female under-16 and under-18 categories. 9am-3pm.

Vietnam Veterans Sunday, 7am to 1pm. Wickham Park, Islington.

Swansea Markets Saturday, 7.30am to 1pm. Quinn Park, corner of  Belmont and Galgabba streets. 

Maitland Harvest Saturday, 8am to 11am. Maitland Showground.

Hamilton Clocktower Saturday, 8am to 2pm. Beaumont Street, Hamilton.

Handmade In The Hunter Saturday, 9am to 3pm. Kevin Sobels Wines, Broke Road, Pokolbin.

Lake Macquarie Farmers  Saturday, 8am to 2pm. Speers Point Park.

Newcastle Farmers Sunday, 8am to 1pm. Newcastle Showground, Broadmeadow.

Art Systems Wickham Brian Roberts: Selections from a Journey, to September 28.

Back to Back Galleries TEXT: A Range of Interpretations, to September 28.

Cooks Hill Galleries 40th Anniversary exhibition; 27 new works by career artists to October 6.

Cstudios Body of Work: Ellen Howell, Emilie Tseronis, until September 27.

Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery A Very Fine River: Convict Stories from the Hunter, to October 19. The Antipodean Steampunk Show, to October 19. CLICK: Schools in Focus, to November 30.

Lovett Gallery, Newcastle Library Telling Tales: Hunter History, Simple Stories and Perfect Pictures, to September 30.

Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre Hanna Kay: Trajectory; Tony Phillips:Veil II; Mark Mohell: Kerbside; Max Watters Collection: Study, to November 2.

Newcastle Art Space Newcastle Emerging Artist Prize, until September 28. Parry Street, Hamilton East.

University Gallery PODzome: In the Middle of Things; and Wrapture by Cherie Johnson; to September 27.

Jack And The Beanstalk Musical version by William Ford.  Young People’s Theatre, Hamilton. This Saturday and Saturday, October 4, at 11am and 2pm; then Saturday shows at 2pm and 7pm from October 11 to November 15. 4961 4895.

 5 Sawyers Saturday, DJ Timmy Coffey. Sunday, DJ Tone.

 Anna Bay Tavern Saturday, The Gunswingers

 Argyle House Saturday, The Bronx, Fine China

 Bar 121Saturday, Dai Pritchard Band.

 Beachcomber Hotel Sunday, Shawn Lidster.

 Belmont 16 Footers Saturday, The Rumour. Sunday, Franky & Johnny.

 Belmont Hotel Saturday, The V Dubs. 

 Belmore Hotel Saturday, Dan Runchel & Friends.

 Beresfield Bowling Club Saturday, Cruisers.

 The Bradford Saturday, Defaced.

 The Brewery Sunday, Brendan Murphy.

 Cambridge Hotel Saturday, MixtUp.

 Cardiff RSL Club Saturday, Tres Hombres.

 Catho Pub Sunday, The V Dubs.

 Central Hotel, Stroud Saturday, James Naldo.

 Cessnock Leagues Club Saturday, Solid Gold Party Night With Dave Cochrane.

 Civic Theatre Newcastle Saturday, The Voice Kids: The Concert.

 Clarendon Hotel Saturday, Troy Kemp.

 Crown And Anchor Hotel Sunday, Jason Bone.

 Customs House Saturday, Perry Carter. Sunday, Matt McLaren.

 D’Albora Marina Saturday, Kylie Jane. Sunday, Troy.

 The Depot On Beaumont Saturday, Matt Purcell.

 Duke Of Wellington Saturday, The Nick Raschke Duo.

 East Cessnock Bowling Club Saturday, Dr Love.

 East Maitland Bowling Club Saturday, The Smarts. Sunday, Karen O’Shea.

 Entrance Leagues Club Saturday, Cover 2 Cover.

 Exchange Hotel  Saturday, Grand Theft Audio.

 Finnegans Hotel Saturday, D-Love, Resident DJs.

 Gateshead Tavern Sunday, Vanderaa - Duo.

 George Tavern Saturday, 4 Letter Word.

 Grand Junction Hotel Saturday, Allensworth. Sunday, The Green Mohair Suits.

 Grain Store Saturday, Scotty Gelzinnis with Harry Gelzinnis. Sunday, JJ King.

 Gunyah Hotel  Saturday, Howie And Alex. Sunday, Incognito.

 Hamilton Station Hotel  Saturday, Live It Up Karaoke, Disparo, Playgrounds Of Hate, Cult Killers, Deathframes. Sunday, Jen Buxton.

 Harrigan’s Pokolbin Saturday, Matt Mclaren.

 Hexham Bowling Club Saturday, Pete Sneddon.

 Honeysuckle Hotel Saturday, Kylie Jane.

 Hotel Delany Saturday, Flying Mare.

 Iron Horse Inn Saturday, Saving June.

 King Street Hotel Saturday, Marlo.

 Kurri Kurri Workers Club Saturday, Maryanne Rex.

 Lake Macquarie Tavern  Saturday, Karaoke.

 Lake Macquarie Yacht Club Sunday, Gian.

 Lambton Park Hotel Saturday, Good Grief.

 Lass O’Gowrie Friday, Ngariki & the Dastardly Bastards, The Green Mohair Suits, Brian Campeau. Saturday, Motherlode, The Hurricanes, The Way Out.

 Lizotte’s Newcastle Saturday, Steely Dan & The Best Of The West Coast, The Kites.

 Lochinvar Hotel Saturday, Lianna Rose Duo.

 Long Jetty Hotel Saturday, Lennie Live. Sunday, Open Mic Day With Casho.

 Mark Hotel Saturday, Paul Robert Burton. Sunday, Hornet.

 Mary Ellen Saturday, Incognito.

 Mattara Hotel Saturday, Showtime Disco & Karaoke.

 Mavericks On The Bay Saturday, Darren. Sunday, Mick Jones.

 Merewether Surfhouse Sunday, Kylie Jane.

 Metropolitan Hotel, Maitland Saturday, The Perpetrators. Sunday, Yellow Feather Dogg.

 Nag’s Head Hotel Saturday, Overload.

 Nelson Bay Diggers Saturday, Good Company. Sunday, Jake Folbigg.

 Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club Sunday, Red Sweat Solo.

 Newcastle Panthers Saturday, Play School Live In Concert.

 Northern Star Hotel Saturday, John Larder.

 Ocean View Hotel Dudley Saturday, Driver Eight. Sunday, Pap N That.

 Old Pub Woy Woy Saturday, Four To The Floor.

 Oriental Hotel, Mudgee  Saturday, Kirsty Larkin.

 Paxton Hotel Saturday, Full Throttle.

 Pearl Beach Cafe Saturday, Jake Folbigg.

 Pedens At Cessnock Saturday, Loose Bazooka.

 Pippis At The Point Saturday, Janey’s Alibi. Sunday, Howard Shearman.

 The Pourhouse, Maitland Saturday, Scott Janes.

 Premier Hotel Saturday, Twinsanity. Sunday, DV8.

 Prince Of Wales  Saturday, Jason Bone. Sunday, Jerome.

 Regal Kurri Hotel Saturday, The Ratbags.

 Royal Crown Hotel Dudley Saturday, You’re The Star Karaoke.

 Royal Exchange, Newcastle  Saturday, The Wild Party.

 Royal Federal Hotel Saturday, Black Bird Blue.

 Royal Hotel, Denman Saturday, Rock Oz

 Royal Hotel, Singleton Sunday,  James Naldo.

 Royal Inn Waratah Saturday, Pistol Pete.

 Rutherford Hotel Saturday, Mardmax.

 Searock At Shoalbay Saturday, Tiali. Sunday, Cover 2 Cover, Nick Raschke Duo.

 Settlers Arms, West Gosford Saturday, Darren Rolling Keys.

 Seven Seas Hotel Carrington Saturday, Yellow Feather Dogg.

 Shoal Bay Resort Saturday, Damnation: The Bon Scott Tribute, Vaughn Matthews.

 Souths, Merewether Saturday, Zac & Ben. Sunday, The Beer Nuts Duo, Open Mic Night.

 Stag And Hunter Hotel Friday, Dylan Hartas & The Blues Martyrs. Saturday, Hank Green.

 Toronto District Workers Club Saturday, Cupcakes And Cocktails.

 Toronto Hotel Sunday, Kristy J.

 Vues On The Bay Saturday, Zane Penn Duo.

 Wallsend Diggers Saturday, Sundays Record Duo.

 Wangi District Workers Club Saturday, Karen O’shea.

 Warners At The Bay Saturday, Funkapedia.

 Warners Bay Hotel Saturday, Misbehave. Sunday,  Peter Stefanson.

 Wests Cardiff Saturday, UpBeat.

 Weston Workers Club Saturday, On The Prowl, DJ Brian Bean.

 Wickham Park Hotel Saturday, Dave Rumbler & The Matadors, Pat Capocci. Sunday, Thomas Blake, Keith Hall, Pat Dow Band.

 Windsor Castle Hotel Saturday, Daniel Arvidson.

ADVANCED SCREENING

Gone Girl (M) On his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick (Ben Affleck) reports his wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) missing. Soon, after pressure from police and the media, Nick is not as innocent as he first appeared. (Hoyts Charlestown, Greater Union Glendale)

The Equalizer (MA15+) McCall (Denzel Washington) finds his desire for justice reawakened after he meets Teri (Chloe Grace Moretz), a  girl under the control of violent Russian gangsters.

A Most Wanted Man (M)The late Philip Seymour Hoffman is the head of an anti-terrorism team in Hamburg. Also stars Rachel McAdams and Willem Dafoe. (Avoca Beach)

The Boxtrolls (PG) Beneath the charming cobblestone streets of Cheesebridge dwell the Boxtrolls, monsters who crawl out of the sewers at night and steal what the townspeople hold most dear.

Boyhood (M) This drama, filmed over 11 years, follows fictional Mason Evans Junior as he, and the actor portraying him Ellar Coltrane, grow up. (Tower, Avoca Beach)

Calvary (M) Black comedy set in Ireland west coast about a good priest (Brendan Gleeson) who is told by a parishioner during confession he will be killed in week’s time to atone for the sins of bad priests. Co-stars Chris O’Dowd and Dylan Moran. (Regal)

Frozen (G) Fearless optimist Anna teams up with Kristoff in a race to find Anna’s sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom in eternal winter. Special school holiday encore.

The Giver (M) In a seemingly perfect community without war, pain or suffering, a young boy is chosen to learn from an elderly man about the "real" world. Meryl Streep, Katie Holmes, Alexander Skarsgard, Taylor Swift.

Guardians Of The Galaxy (M) In the far reaches of space, an American pilot named Peter Quill finds himself the object of a manhunt after stealing an orb coveted by the villainous Ronan. Stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel.

The House Of Magic (G) A cheeky and loveable cat, Thunder, sneaks into a mysterious mansion owned by retired magician.

The Hundred Foot Journey (PG) A story about an Indian family who move to France and open an eatery across the street from a Michelin-starred French restaurant run by Madame Mallory (Helen Mirren).

If I Stay (M) After a carefree family drive changes everything in an instant, Mia (Chloe Grace Moretz) is caught between life and death for one revealing day.

The Inbetweeners 2 (M) After their schoolies holiday in Crete turned into a disastrous comedy of errors, Britain’s favourite teens Jay, Neil, Simon and Will reunite for another holiday in Australia.

Into The Storm (M) As a small town in Oklahoma faces a massive tornado, residents capture the storm on phones and video cameras.

Jersey Boys (M) Four young men from the wrong side of the tracks come together to form the iconic pop group The Four Seasons. Great songs that influenced a generation are seamlessly woven into the action. (Lake)

The Lunchbox (PG) A mistaken delivery in Mumbai’s famously efficient lunchbox delivery system connects a young housewife to an older man in the dusk of his life as they build a fantasy world together through notes in the lunchbox. (Regal)

Magic In The Moonlight (PG) A sceptical Englishman (Colin Firth) tries to unmask a possible swindler in this Woody Allen romantic comedy, also starring Emma Stone and Jacki Weaver. (Tower, Avoca Beach)

The Man From Cox’s River (PG) This documentary explores the fate of brumbies in the Burragorang Valley, a forbidding section of Blue Mountains National Park. Ranger Chris Banffy has to remove the animals, classed as feral by the NSW government, without shooting them from helicopters. (Lake)

Manhattan Short Film Festival An instantaneous celebration of short film that occurs simultaneously across the globe. (Avoca Beach)

The Maze Runner (M) A group of young boys trapped in a maze join forces to escape and unravel the riddle of who brought them there and why.

Planes: Fire And Rescue (G) When world-famous air racer Dusty learns that his engine is damaged and he may never race again, he must shift gears and is launched into the world of aerial firefighting.

Predestination (MA15+) A time-travelling lawman (Ethan Hawke) pursues a criminal who has always evaded him. (Tower)

Sin City: A Dame To Kill For (MA15+) Some of Hollywood’s biggest stars bring Sin City back to the big screen. Joseph Gordon Levitt plays Johnny, a mysterious gambler set on taking down his sworn enemy in a high stakes game of life and death. With Jessica Alba, Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, and Lady Gaga.

Step Up: All In (PG) Dancers from previous Step Up instalments reunite in Las Vegas in one final face-off to battle for victory.

Still Life (M) Council worker John is laid off from his job finding the next of kin for the recently deceased. His final assignment leads to a blossoming friendship. (Avoca Beach)

Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Perfect Pets (G) After the ’pupmobile’ breaks down on the way to a doggie adoption day, each shortcake must take care of a puppy. (Hoyts Charlestown)

Tarzan (PG) In this animated movie starring Kellan Lutz (Twilight), Tarzan and Jane Porter fight an evil CEO who took over the company of Tarzan’s parents after they died in a plane crash. (Scott’s Raymond Terrace, Majestic Singleton)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (M) Four martial-arts trained mutant turtles emerge from the sewers to fight crime in New York City.

Two Gentlemen Of Verona Shakespeare’s classic is brought to life onstage: Valentine and Proteus are best friends until they fall in love with the same girl. (Avoca Beach)

What We Do In The Shadows (M) Vladislav (Jemaine Clement) is a vampire just trying to get by in modern society in this comedy from the creators of Flight of the Conchords. (Avoca)

Wish I Was Here (M) A struggling actor (Zach Braff) tries to find his identity and purpose in his life when he home schools his kids. Also stars Kate Hudson. (Tower)

The winners of the family passes to Flip Out trampoline playground are Bec Kennedy of Dudley, Lisa Walters of Marks Point and Matthew Tobin of Eleebana.

The winners of the JJJ Hous Party Volume Three CDs are Lisa Thompson of New Lambton and Gael Sanderson of Soldiers Point.