Book Launch Sunday. See the launch of Digby's Moon Mission and meet the author, Renee Price, at Hopscotch market, Broadmeadow PCYC. Book reading times 9.15am and 11.15am, with kids' activities and books for sale from 9am to 2pm.
Run Newcastle Sunday. Raise money for the Adolescent Ward at John Hunter Children's Hospital by doing a 6km or 12km run or walk from 7.30am. Meet at Wharf Street, in The Foreshore Reserve, Newcastle. Late registration begins 6am. Kids from $18, Adults from $38.
Gala Concert Sunday. Listen to live music from Pacific Palm Court Orchestra, Easy Voices Chorus and Bella Voce in this Sunday Interlude 10th Anniversary special. Adamstown Uniting Church. 2pm. Tickets $20 Adult, $15 concession, $10 child.
Movember Trivia Saturday. Raise money for the Movember foundation, which shines a light on men's health, with trivia, games, raffles and prizes. Nibbles provided. Entry $5 per person. Family Hotel, Maitland. 7pm to 9pm.
Meet the Poets Saturday. Join local poets Jean Kent, Greg McLaren, Magdalena Ball and Louise Berry to share their observation of life in Lake Macquarie and the Hunter. Belmont Library. Book a place: 4945 4329. 10.30am to 12.30pm.
Santa Arrives Saturday. See the elusive Santa Claus at Belmont Jetty before he takes off to the North Pole to get cracking for Christmas. Santa will arrive by boat at 10am to be met by the McEwan Pipe and Drum band, who will march and playing Christmas Carols. 10am to 10.30am. Brooks Parade, Belmont.
RSPCA Pet Pics Saturday and Sunday. The RSPCA invites all creatures great and small to have their photo taken with Santa at the Hunter RSPCA, Burlington Place, Rutherford. Photos from $7 raise money for the organisation in the Hunter. 9am to 4pm. Book on 4939 1555.
Mayfield Twilight Fair Saturday. Mayfield Church of Christ present a jumping castle, fire brigade demonstration, play zone, circus fun, arts and crafts, plant stalls and barbecue as part of their Twilight Fair. Gregson Avenue, Mayfield West. 4pm to 8pm. Free.
Boolaroo Gourmet Pancake Day Saturday. Help raise money for the Boolaroo Food Program by buying delicious gourmet pancakes cooked by the Speers Point Boolaroo RSL Sub branch and Mac's IGA Boolaroo. 9am to 2pm. IGA carpark, Main Road, Boolaroo.
Community Christmas Concert Saturday. Hear your favourite carols performed on organ and sing along with the Avondale Memorial Chorale. 7pm to 9.30pm. Avondale Memorial Church, Freemans Drive, Cooranbong. Free.
Seagrass walk Sunday. Take part in a guided walk with a local coastal group, leaving from Dobell Park boat launch, Wangi. All participants must wear enclosed footwear and a hat. 10am to 11.30am. Free. Bookings essential: Janet White, 0487 501 782.
The Man From Mukinupin Saturday. Dorothy Hewett's perceptive musical comedy look at life in an outback WA town in the years around World War 1. The Regional Institute of Performing Arts, at the Civic Playhouse, Newcastle. 7.30pm. 4929 1977.
Sherlock Holmes And The Case Of The Jersey Lily Saturday. The famous detective, at writer Oscar Wilde's request, takes on the case of a blackmailed actress in this comedy-thriller. Newcastle Theatre Company, at the NTC Theatre, Lambton. 8pm (final show). 4952 4958.
Jets Game Sunday. Cheer on the Newcastle Jets as they take on the Central Coast Mariners at Hunter Stadium. 5pm.
Roller Derby Saturday. Christmas-themed clash featuring skaters from Maitland, the Coast and Newcastle. 5pm to 8.30pm. Newcastle Showground Exhibition Centre.
Art Systems Wickham Susana Enriquez: From Red To Mexican Pink, to November 30.
Back to Back Galleries Family Trees: Nicola Bolton, Ros Elkin and Eleanor Jane Robinson, to November 30.
Clay and Glaze, Mayfield Serendipity Exhibition: sale of studio artists, pottery, painting, linoprints and drawing. George Street, Mayfield, to November 30.
Cooks Hill Galleries Susan Weaver: Elements, to December 1. Newcastle: A curated Exhibition, to December 1.
Cstudios Common ground: Artworks of the Flinders Ranges and Arkaroola, to November 30.
Forsight Gallery, Cooks Hill Exhibition of Jill Orr's coloured paintings, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 4pm, to December 13.
Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery Your Collection: Today's Paper, to November 30. Stars of the Tokyo Stage, to November 30. CLICK: Schools in Focus, to November 30.
Lovett Gallery, Newcastle Library Anne Frank: A History For Today, to November 29.
Maitland Regional Gallery Ian Westacott: Inside/Outside - A Survey; Coal And Community: People And Place; 1233 ABC Portrait Prize; Madeleine Winch: States of Being; Barbara Hanrahan: Linocuts from the collection; Vicki Varvaressos: the story so far.
Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre Muswellbrook Local Art Awards: acrylics, oil on canvas, watercolours, printmaking, to December 18.
Newcastle Art Gallery Kilgour Prize, $50,000 prize for figurative and portrait painting, 19 finalists and winner on show, to January 25; Beards, Mos & Bros: a celebration of the hirsute in art, to January 25. Like Us, Patricia Piccinini, to February 22.
Newcastle Art Space Let The Chips Fall Where They May, The Strutt Sister, Surface Tension: Toni Amidy, to November 30.
The Rooftop, Newcastle University of Newcastle Masters of Architecture Graduation Exhibition, to November 29.
Timeless Textiles Judy Hooworth: Detour via the Silk Road, to December 12.
University Gallery Rae Richards: Past Imperfect - Future Conditional, to December 13.
Adamstown Lions Sunday, 7am to noon. Corner of Glebe and Brunker roads, Adamstown.
Branxton Lions Saturday, 9am to 1pm. Branxton Community Hall, Bowen Street.
Hopscotch Sunday, 9am to 2pm. Broadmeadow PCYC.
Maitland Harvest Saturday, 8am to 11am. Maitland Showground.
Newcastle Farmers Sunday, 8am to 1pm. Newcastle Showground. Also Wednesday, 2.30pm to 9pm.
Vietnam Veterans Sunday, 7am to 1pm. Wickham Park, Islington.
5 Sawyers Saturday, DJ Sean Andrews. Sunday, DJ Jonathan.
Absolute Thai Saturday, Dean Kyrwood Duo.
Anna Bay Tavern Saturday, Purple Hearts.
Bar 121 Saturday, Dai Pritchard Band.
Bar Petite Saturday, HP Duo. Sunday, DJ Nicolas.
Beachcomber Hotel Sunday, Casho.
Beauford Hotel Saturday, Jim Overend.
Belmont 16 Footers Saturday, Tom Burlinson's Simply Sinatra Show, Talk Of The Town. Sunday, Franky & Johnny.
The Bradford Saturday, Reg Sinclair. Sunday, Troy Kemp.
The Brewery Saturday, Lauren Arms. Sunday, Brendan Murphy.
Bulahdelah Bowling Club Saturday, Damnation: The Bon Scott Tribute.
Cambridge Hotel Saturday, Ben Travis, Kisschasy. Sunday, Merauder, Against, Crowned Kings, Taken By Force, Staunch.
Catho Pub Sunday, Glam Slam.
Colliery Inn Saturday, Pete Sneddon. Sunday, Music From 4 To 7.
Cricketers Arms Saturday, Arley Black.
Criterion Hotel Carrington Sunday, Ty.
Crown And Anchor Hotel Sunday, Mark Wells.
Customs House Hotel Saturday, Perry Carter. Sunday, Brooke Harvey.
D'Albora Marina Saturday, Brooke Harvey. Sunday, Mick Jones.
The Depot On Beaumont Saturday, Beth Gleeson.
Dora Creek Workers Club Sunday, Jack Daniels.
Duke Of Wellington Saturday Greg Bryce & The Bad Bad Things. Sunday, Guitar Masters with Steve Cowley and special guest.
The Grain Store Saturday, Scotty Gelzinnis with Harry Gelzinnis. Sunday, JJ King.
Grand Junction Hotel Saturday, Joeys Coop. Sunday, Toni Swain Band.
Gunyah Hotel Saturday, The Remedy Trio. Sunday, Damien.
Hamilton Station Hotel Saturday, Live It Up Karaoke. Sunday, Heath Anthony, Jen Buxton.
Hotel Delany Saturday, Janey's Alibi.
Iron Horse Inn Saturday, PUNKFiSH.
Jewells Tavern Saturday, Outerphase, Full Throttle. Sunday, Frets With Benefits.
The Junction Hotel Saturday, DJ Fuel & Antone. Sunday, Sunday Republic.
Kent Hotel Saturday, Jimmy Craz Band. Sunday, Logans Heroes.
Lass O'Gowrie Saturday, Stone Sun, Great Toad, Halfway Homebouy. Sunday, Munibung Blues Band.
Lizotte's Newcastle Saturday, Beccy Cole and Libby O'Donovan.
Merewether Surfhouse Sunday, Jerome.
Metropolitan Hotel, Maitland Saturday, Yellow Feather Dogs. Sunday, Unloaded Featuring Jez Ashman.
Northern Star Hotel Saturday, Reynolds & Co Music School, Thomas Blake.
Oriental Hotel Saturday, Graeme Mills.
Pearl Beach Cafe Saturday, James Osborn.
Pedens At Cessnock Saturday, Viagro.
Percy Hotel, Singleton Saturday, Mardmax.
Pippis At The Point Saturday, KDL, Bec Willis.
The Pourhouse Saturday, Vaughn Matthews.
Premier Hotel Saturday, Troy. Sunday, The Leadbellies.
Prince Of Wales Saturday, Kim. Sunday, Bearded Gents.
Queens Wharf Hotel Saturday, Horenco.
Royal Hotel Singleton Sunday, The Piranha Brothers.
Seven Seas Hotel Carrington Saturday, Thread.
Shoal Bay Resort Saturday, Kazzi Waters, Rock Oz.
The Small Ballroom Sunday, Dream On Dreamer.
Sunnyside Tavern Saturday, Zane Penn.
Swansea RSL Club Saturday, Red Alert.
Sydney Junction Hotel Saturday, The Hepburns, DJ Sean Michael. Sunday, Pete Hibbert.
Warners At The Bay Saturday, Funkapedia.
Warners Bay Hotel Saturday, Shivoo. Sunday, Darren Rolling Keys.
Wests Leagues Club New Lambton Saturday, Stuart Hamilton, Silverhair.
Weston Workers Club Saturday, DJ Brian Bean, Tezza And The Twistops.
Wickham Park Hotel Saturday, Baby Legs Duo, The Years. Sunday, Angry Anderson, Dai Pritchard Band, Voodoo Express, Lianna Rose Duo.
Windsor Castle Hotel Saturday, The Nick Raschke Duo. Sunday, Love That Hat.
MOVIES
OPENING
Fat Pizza Vs Housos (MA15+) Cult classic Fat Pizza collides with the Logie winning comedy Housos - after rent prices rise, the Fat Pizza crew must move their kitchen to the notorious housing commission suburb of Sunnyvale.
Men, Women And Children (M) Follows the story of a group of high school teenagers and their parents as they attempt to navigate the many ways the internet has changed their relationships, their communication, their self-image and their love lives.
Nightcrawler (MA15+) Lou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a crime journalist in Los Angeles who film crashes, fires, murder and other mayhem. He enters the cut-throat world of nightcrawling, where each police siren wail equals a possible windfall. (Tower)
The One I Love (M) On the brink of separation, Ethan (Mark Duplass) and Sophie (Mad Men's Elisabeth Moss) escape for a weekend getaway. What begins as a romantic and fun retreat soon becomes surreal when an unexpected discovery forces the two to examine themselves. (Avoca Beach)
Serena (CTC) In Depression-era North Carolina, the future of George Pemberton's timber empire becomes complicated when it is learned that his wife, Serena, cannot bear children. Stars Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper. (Tower, Event Glendale)
NOW SHOWING
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. (Hoyts)
The Dark Horse (M) A man searches for the courage to lead, despite his own adversities, and finds purpose and hope in passing on his gift to the children in his community (Avoca, Glendale).
Frankenstein National Theatre Live's production of the iconic horror tale, where Dr Frankenstein constructs a monster from spare body parts. Stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller. (Avoca Beach)
Fury (MA15+) In April 1945, a battle-hardened army sergeant (Brad Pitt) commands a Sherman tank and a five-man crew on a deadly mission behind enemy lines.
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.
The Good Lie (M) Sudanese refugees given the chance to resettle in America arrive in Kansas, where their encounter with an employment agency counsellor forever changes all of their lives. Stars Reese Witherspoon. (Avoca Beach)
The House Of Magic (G) A cheeky and loveable cat, Thunder, sneaks into a mysterious mansion owned by a retired magician. (Hoyts)
The Hundred Foot Journey (PG) An Indian family move to France and open an eatery across the street from a Michelin-starred French restaurant run by Madame Mallory (Helen Mirren). (Lake; Regal)
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (M) After escaping the last Hunger Games, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) wakes up in the mysterious District 13 with Gale (Liam Hemsworth) as the rebellion against the Capitol intensifies.
Interstellar (M) A group of explorers make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage. Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Chastain, Anne Hathaway, Michael Caine.
The Judge (M) Big-city lawyer Hank (Robert Downey Jr) returns to his childhood home where his father, the town's judge (Robert Duvall) is suspected of murder. Hank sets out to discover the truth and, along the way, reconnects with his estranged family. (Regal)
Let's Be Cops (MA15+) When two struggling pals dress as police officers for a costume party, they become neighbourhood sensations. Then they get caught in a real-life web of mobsters and dirty detectives.
Love, Rosie (M) Rosie and Alex have been best friends since they were 5, so they couldn't possibly be right for one another . . . or could they? Based on a best-selling book by Cecelia Ahern. (Hoyts)
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.
Minds In The Water (PG) In this documentary, professional surfer Dave Rastovich and his friends (including singer Ash Grunwald) set out to protect dolphins, whales and the oceans they all share. (Avoca Beach)
My Old Lady (M) When an American man (Kevin Kline) inherits an apartment in Paris, it comes with an unexpected resident (Maggie Smith).
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. (Hoyts; Glendale)
Pride (M) A Welsh mining community struggling to make ends meet during the 1984 miners' strike finds a group of unlikely allies in gay and lesbian activists. (Avoca; Regal)
Tilt Film Festival See action films including On Any Sunday (Saturday and Sunday). (Tower Newcastle)
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)
TAKE NOTE
Support Target and Uniting Care's annual Christmas gift appeal by leaving a donation of an unwrapped gift in the 'giving box' outside any Target store in the Hunter.
WINNERS
The winners of the Hunter Valley Gardens Christmas Lights Show and Mercure Resort Hunter Valley Gardens lodging packages are Emma Watkins of Mayfield and Rachael Wearne of Pelican.
