SATURDAY
Australian Formula Powerboat Grand Prix 9am, Newcastle Harbour. The action on the water will be fast and fierce in round one of the Australian Formula Powerboat Championship. There’s plenty of vantage points to watch the formula 1 classes through to the junior boats.
Flicks On The Green: Muriel’s Wedding 6pm, 2884 Wollombi Road, Wollombi. Re-live the quirky and heart-warming Australian cult classic Muriel's Wedding on the big screen.
National Youth League football 4.30pm, No.2 Sportsground, Newcastle. Newcastle Jets Youth team face Western Sydney Wanderers.
Newcastle Blues & Roots Festival 10am to 12am, Wickham Park Hotel. The third Newcastle Blues & Roots Festival features some of the hottest local musicians, including Groove Examination, Papa Pilko and The Binrats, Jason Kafoa, Blues Exile, Hell's Kitchen, The Reofenders, Roy Rose, Merewether Fats Blues Band, The Blues Bombers, Plastic Voyage and more.
Surfest Birubi Beach, Anna Bay. The action heats up for Surfest as board-riders battle for a wildcard entry into Newcastle’s biggest surfing contest.
Triple J Hottest 100 12pm. Parties will be happening throughout Newcastle to celebrate the countdown to Triple J’s most popular song of 2017. You can join in the fun at The Grain Store, Customs House, Family Hotel, The Edwards, Greenroof Hotel, Sydney Junction Hotel, Hamilton Station Hotel, The Blind Monk and even Pulse Climbing at Adamstown.
SUNDAY
20 Years On: Open Day 10am to 4pm, Maitland Gaol, East Maitland. Commemorating 20 years since Maitland Gaol’s closure, the gaol will be unlocking its gates for the community. For a gold coin donation visitors can have a look inside, inspect new and travelling exhibitions and enjoy activities.
Free Art Sunday 11am to 1pm, Maitland Art Gallery. Qualified art teachers encourage parents and children to add to their experience of the gallery by accessing hands-on activities.
Lemon Jam 12-4pm, Henderson Park, Lemon Tree Passage. Free music from FunKtus, kids’ activities, raffles, playground and enclosed sea swimming pool.
MARKETS
Farmers & Artisan Market @ Lake Mac East Saturday, 8am to 1pm, Quinn Park, Swansea.
Lake Macquarie Farmers Market 7.30am to 1pm, Speers Point Park, Speers Point.
Newcastle City Farmers Market Sunday, 7am to 1pm, Newcastle Showground, Broadmeadow.
Newcastle Markets Saturday, 9am to 3pm, Hunter Street Mall, Newcastle.
Adamstown Lions Markets Sunday, 7am to 12.30pm, corner Brunker and Glebe roads, Adamstown.
The Rectory Markets Sunday, 9am to 2pm, 48 Sturgeon St, Raymond Terrace.
ARTS
Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery Board; Lake Macquarie: Living Cultures (surf lifesaving); At The Beach. Until February 4.
Finite Gallery Caves Beach School holiday workshops, go to finitegallery.com/category/news for details.
Cooks Hill Galleries The Summer Collection, online exhibition. Until February 4.
Newcastle Museum Dinosaur Revolution, ends Sunday. Rock This City, until February 4.
Maitland Regional Art Gallery Art Maker, Patron, Lover, by Gary Grealy. Until March 18. David Archer: Archer’s Arcadia. Until February 4. Passchendale – A Ridge Too Far, Photography in Battle; Taking a closer look, by Bruce Roxburgh. Until January 28. Lionel’s Place. Until April 8.
Newcastle Art Gallery Painting Memory: From The Collection. Until January 28. Everything Changes: Tim Maguire 2002-2017. Until February 18. Free tours, Saturdays and Sundays, 11am, until February 18.
Gallery 139 The Doggie Show. Until February 4.
Timeless Textiles Urban Narrative, by Eszter Bornemisza. Until February 10.
Cessnock Regional Art Gallery Local HSC 2017. Until February 11.
Port Stephens Community Arts Centre Sun, Surf and Sand. Until February 20.
THEATRE
I Ought to Be in Pictures Neil Simon comedy about a 19-year-old girl who treks from New York to Hollywood to try to make the screen-writing father who deserted the family 16 years earlier accept her acting ability. Newcastle Theatre Company, at the NTC Theatre, Lambton. Wednesday, Friday, Saturday at 8pm, until February 3, plus 2pm Saturday.
Year of the Rooster A young man, bullied and ignored by those around him, trains a rooster to be a cockfighter, believing its success will improve his status; Australian premiere of a dark comedy by US playwright Olivia Dufault. Knock and Run Theatre, at the Royal Exchange, Newcastle. Nightly at 8pm from Wednesday until Saturday, February 3. www.stickytickets,com.au.
MUSIC
5 Sawyers Saturday, Devultra. Sunday, The New Cool.
Argenton Hotel Sunday, Jesse Fildes.
Anna Bay Tavern Saturday, Spank N The Monkey.
Australia Hotel Cessnock Saturday, Layth Gunn.
Avon Valley Inn Saturday, Hard Hitter.
Bar Petite Saturday, Grayson.
Bay Hotel Bonnell Bay Saturday, Siren.
Belmont 16s Saturday, Anthology, Pete Gelzinnis. Sunday, Rich & Famous.
Belmore Hotel Saturday, The V Dubs.
Beresfield Bowling Club Saturday, Project X. Sunday, Jumpin Jukebox.
Blackbutt Hotel Saturday, Kickstarters.
The Bradford Saturday, Witchery.
Bulahdelah Bowling Club Saturday, Zac and Ben.
Cambridge Hotel Saturday, Boys Don’t Cry Fest ft. Pist Idiots, Smacked Youth, Cherry Stain, Looseleaf IV, Dr Dingo & The Space Cadets, Rum Jungle (afternoon), Mar Daze, Dyer Maker (evening).
Cardiff RSL Club Saturday, The Remedy Trio.
Catho Pub Saturday, Jamie Martens. Sunday, Viagro.
Central Charlestown Leagues Club Saturday, Tim Harding.
Central Hotel Stroud Saturday, Duncan Woods.
Cessnock Leagues Club Saturday, Solid Gold Party Night.
Club Catalina Sunday, Reggie Sinclair.
Club Lemon Tree Saturday, Let Loose.
Commercial Hotel Morpeth Saturday, Boney Rivers.
Criterion Hotel Carrington Saturday, Karen O'Shea. Sunday, Zane Penn.
Criterion Hotel Weston Saturday, The Tantrums.
Croatian Wickham Sports Club Sunday, The Cherry Aimes Review.
Crown & Anchor Hotel Saturday, Paparazzi. Sunday, Holly Mae.
Customs House Saturday, Arley Black. Sunday, Sunset Club.
Cypress Lakes Saturday, Emily Smith.
D'Albora Marina Sunday, Karen O’Shea.
Dora Creek Workers Club Sunday, Daxton Monaghan.
Duke Of Wellington Saturday, The DuoTones.
East Cessnock Bowling Club Saturday, Veronika.
East Maitland Bowling Club Saturday, Mardmax Trio. Sunday, Bonny Rai.
East's Leisure & Golf Club Saturday, Tyler John.
Edgeworth Bowling Club Sunday, Klassic Blak.
Edgeworth Tavern Saturday, The Way.
The Edwards Saturday, Soda.
Exchange Hotel Saturday, Sundays Record.
Fingal Bay Sports Club Sunday, Chad Shuttleworth.
Finnegans Saturday, Jade Le Flay, Lionette, Sonic, Extraordinate, Benny B, Oh Webber, Gillecks, Coco Levon.
Gallipoli Legion Club Saturday, Adrianna Mac Big Band.
Gateshead Tavern Sunday, Gareth Jay.
George Tavern Saturday, Dos Eager.
Gunyah Hotel Saturday, Gen-X.
Hamilton Station Hotel Sunday, Jen Buxton, Natalie Henry.
Harrigan’s Pokolbin Saturday, Kellie Cain, Shooting Molly. Sunday, Kristy James.
Hexham Bowling Club Saturday, Blue Water Cowboys.
Honeysuckle Hotel Saturday, Renegade Ways, Tre Soul. Sunday, Mick Jones, CrocQ.
Hotel Delany Saturday, Paperboy.
Imperial Hotel Singleton Saturday, Ash Mountain.
Jewells Tavern Saturday, R and R. Sunday, Emily Smith.
The Junction Hotel Saturday, Liam Endersby.
Kent Hotel Saturday, X & Y. Sunday, Thread Blues Band.
Lake Macquarie Yacht Club Sunday, Darren Rolling Keys.
Lass O’Gowrie Saturday, King River Rising. Sunday, Dawn Barrington, Anna & Jed.
Lemon Tree Passage Foreshore Sunday, FunKtus.
Lizotte’s Saturday-Sunday, The Black Sorrows.
Lucky Hotel Saturday, Lauren Arms.
Mark Hotel Saturday, Matt Semmens. Sunday, Misbehave.
Mary Ellen Hotel Saturday, Loose Bazooka. Sunday, Jordan Fleming.
Maryland Tavern Saturday, Steel City.
Mavericks On The Bay Saturday, Matt McLaren. Sunday, Roxy.
Mavericks On Darby Saturday, Jon Matthews.
Mayfield Ex-Services Sunday, Mark Lee.
Mezz Bar at Wallsend Diggers Saturday, Loko, DJ Angelo.
Morriset Country Club Sunday, Cotton Sax and Strings.
Murray’s Brewery Saturday, Amy Fredes. Sunday, Greg McKew.
Nag’s Head Hotel Saturday, Zane Penn.
Nelson Bay Diggers Saturday, Ian McNamara, The Big Bang. Sunday, Anyerin.
Nelson Bay Golf Club Saturday, Marissa.
Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club Sunday, Daniel Arvidson.
Northern Star Hotel Saturday, Pap N That.
Pedens Cessnock Saturday, Viagro.
Pelican RSL Saturday, Catfish Soup.
Pippis At The Point Saturday, Katie & Feff. Sunday, Tyler John.
Potters Brewery Saturday, Pistol Pete.
Premier Hotel Sunday, Hornet.
Queens Wharf Hotel Saturday, Mojo Bandits.
Raymond Terrace Bowling Club Sunday, Kim.
Royal Federal Hotel Branxton Saturday, Overload.
Royal Hotel Singleton Sunday, The Brown Bull.
Royal Motor Yacht Club Toronto Sunday, Lennie Live.
Rutherford Hotel Saturday, Brendan Murphy.
Salamander Tavern Saturday, Mick Jones.
Seabreeze Hotel Sunday, Matt Bowles.
Shenanigans at the Imperial Saturday, Counterpart. Sunday, Ryan Daley.
Shortland Hotel Saturday, Brien McVernon.
Singleton Diggers Saturday, Darren Rolling Keys Duo.
Soldiers Point Bowling Club Saturday, 2 Left Feet.
South Newcastle Leagues Club Saturday, Jackson Halliday.
Stag and Hunter Hotel Saturday, Den Hanrahan.
Star Hotel Sunday, Rhythm Express ft. Bruce Mathiske, Dave Carter, Steve Cowley and Adam Manning.
Stockton Bowling Club Saturday, DJ Symon. Sunday, Clean Slate.
Swansea RSL Club Saturday, Rock Factor.
Swansea-Belmont Surf Life Saving Club Sunday, John Larder.
Swansea Workers Club Saturday, Misbehave. Sunday, Paul Watters.
Tea Gardens Country Club Sunday, Kazzie.
Tilligerry RSL Saturday, Peter Hibbert.
Toronto Hotel Saturday, Daryl Braithwaite, Boney Rivers, Matt McLaren. Sunday, Ashley Knight.
Toronto Workers Saturday, The Rattlesnakes. Sunday, Max Jackson.
Victoria Hotel Hinton Sunday, Pistol Pete.
Wangi Hotel Sunday, Steve Gilmore.
Wangi Wangi RSL Club Sunday, Ron Knight.
Warners At The Bay Saturday, Frick N Orson.
Warners Bay Hotel Saturday, All Access 80s.
Westfield Kotara Saturday, Gareth Hudson.
Weston Workers Saturday, The Flattrakkers.
Wests Cardiff Saturday, Cruzers.
Wests New Lambton Saturday, The Smarts. Tuesday, Angamus.
Wickham Park Hotel Saturday, Newcastle Blues & Roots Festival ft. Groove Examination, Papa Pilko and The Binrats, Jason Kafoa, Blues Exile, Hell's Kitchen, The Reofenders, Roy Rose, Merewether Fats Blues Band, The Blues Bombers, Plastic Voyage, Helena Kitley Band, Annie O'Dee and the Hotshots, Diplazar, Paris Grace. Sunday, Steve Edmonds, Chikarma.
MOVIES
Coco (PG) Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz.
Darkest Hour (PG) Within days of becoming Prime Minister, Winston Churchill must face his most turbulent and defining trial: exploring a negotiated peace treaty with Nazi Germany, or standing firm to fight for the ideals, liberty and freedom of a nation.
Ferdinand (G) After Ferdinand, a bull with a big heart, is mistaken for a dangerous beast, he is captured and torn from his home.
I, Tonya (MA) Competitive ice skater Tonya Harding rises among the ranks at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, but her future in the sport is thrown into doubt when her ex-husband intervenes.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (PG) Four high school kids discover an old video game console and are drawn into the game's jungle setting, literally becoming the adult avatars they chose.
Mary and the Witch’s Flower (PG) One day, when Mary follows an odd cat into the woods, she stumbles upon a strange flower that she has never seen before. Suddenly, the luminescent power inside the flower brings a broomstick lying nearby to life, which then whisks her above the clouds & off to a strange & secret place.
Maze Runner: The Death Cure (M) Young hero, Thomas, embarks on a mission to find a cure to a deadly disease known as the “Flare”.
Molly’s Game (M) Molly Bloom, a young skier and former Olympic hopeful becomes a successful entrepreneur (and a target of an FBI investigation) when she establishes a high-stakes, international poker game. (Tower)
Nick Jnr’s Paw Patrol: Sea Patrol (G) Cool down with the Paw Patrol as they make a splash to save the day in two underwater adventures.
Paddington 2 (G) Now happily settled with the Brown family, Paddington picks up a series of odd jobs to buy the perfect present for his Aunt Lucy's 100th birthday, only for the gift to be stolen.
Padmaavat (M) Recounts the tale of Rani Padmavati – the legendary Mewar queen known as much for her beauty and intelligence as she was for her courage. (Kotara, Event)
Pitch Perfect 3 (M) Following their win at the world championship, the now separated Bellas reunite for one last singing competition at an overseas USO tour, but face a group who uses both instruments and voices.
Stars Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (M) Rey develops her newly discovered abilities with the guidance of Luke Skywalker, who is unsettled by the strength of her powers.
Sweet Country (MA) When Aboriginal stockman Sam kills white station owner Harry March in self defence, Sam and his wife Lizzie (Natassia Gorey-Furber) go on the run. They are pursued across the outback, through glorious but harsh desert country.
The Commuter (M) A businessman is caught up in a criminal conspiracy during his daily commute home.
The Greatest Showman (PG) The story of P.T Barnum, a visionary who rose from nothing to create a mesmerizing spectacle that became a worldwide sensation.
The Post (M) A thrilling drama about the unlikely partnership between The Washington Post's Katharine Graham - the first female publisher of a major American newspaper – and editor Ben Bradlee (Hanks), as they race to catch up with The New York Times to expose a massive cover-up of government secrets that spanned three decades and four U.S. Presidents.
The Shape Of Water (MA) An other-worldly fairy tale, set against the backdrop of Cold War era America circa 1963. In the hidden high-security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa is trapped in a life of silence and isolation. (Tower)
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (MA) After months have passed without a culprit in her daughter's murder case, Mildred Hayes makes a bold move, painting three signs leading into her town with a controversial message directed at William Willoughby, the town's revered chief of police. (Tower)
Three Summers (M) Over three consecutive years, two musicians meet and fall in love at the festival amidst a microcosm of Australian society. (Regal)
