Harry to Hunter Valley 6pm to 9pm, Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, Lovedale. The wizarding world meets wine country this winter at the magic-themed cocktail party.

National Rugby League 3pm, McDonald Jones Stadium, Broadmeadow. Newcastle Knights vs Gold Coast Titans.

Orchestra Nova 2pm, Saturday & Sunday, Lake Macquarie Performing Arts Centre, Warners Bay. The Hunter’s longest-running community orchestra performs music by Mozart and selections from Berlioz (Les Troyens), Offenbach (La Belle Helene) and Purcell (Dido and Aenaes).

Raise Love Charity Ball 6.30pm to 12am, Wests NEX, Newcastle. Dress up in your best black tie formal wear and help raise money for sick children at the Ronald McDonald House. Hosted by NBN weatherman Gavin Morris. 

SeaSide Singers - 10th Anniversary Concert 2pm, Soldiers Point Bowling Club.

Snow Time in the Garden 9.30am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday, Hunter Valley Gardens, Pokolbin. This weekend is your final chance to visit the winter wonderland and its frosty activities for children of all ages. Glide on the giant ice skating rink, swoosh down the ice toboggan or experience a 9D snow adventure.

Australian Ice Hockey League 4pm, Hunter Ice Skating Stadium, Warners Bay. Newcastle North Stars vs Sydney Bears.

Hope For Halle 10am to 5pm, Shinnies Hotel, Boolaroo. A charity joy ride on anything with two wheels starting from Cameron Park service station and ending at Shinnies Hotel where there will be a barbecue, live band, raffles and best bike awards. All funds raised go towards four-year-old Halle Lambert who suffers from a rare chromosomal disorder.

Winery Running Festival 6.30am to 11am, The Vintage Golf Resort, Pokolbin. Main races are a marathon, half marathon, 10km, 6km and 2km kids marathon.

The smell of freshly-ground coffee beans, rich melted chocolate and decadent dishes descend on Maitland mall on August 11 and 12.

The Aroma Coffee and Chocolate Festival is one of the tastiest events on the calendar and the perfect way to shrug of the winter chill. It features expert chocolatiers, talented baristas and the best of the region’s winemakers. 

Handmade in the Hunter Markets Saturday, 9am to 3pm, Kevin Sobels Wines, corner of Broke and Halls Rd, Pokolbin.

Hope Sunday Markets Sunday, 9.30am to 2.30pm, Hope Estate, Pokolbin. 

Hunt and Gather Markets Saturday, 9am to 2pm, Foreshore Park, Newcastle East.

Hunter Street Organic Food Market Saturday & Sunday, 10am to 3pm, Hunter Street Mall. 

Newcastle City Farmers Market Sunday, 7am to 1pm, Newcastle Showgrounds, Broadmeadow.

Newcastle Flower Markets Saturday, 9.30am to 12pm, Sandgate.

Singleton Farmers & Craft Markets Saturday, 8am to 1pm, Singleton Showground.

The Rectory Markets Sunday, 9am to 2pm, The Rectory, 48 Sturgeon St, Raymond Terrace.

Art Systems Wickham Between, ends July 29.

Wollombi Sculpture in the Vineyards This free public exhibition is open 10am to 5pm, seven days a week. Sculptures will be displayed in the village of Wollombi and Stonehurst Cedar Creek, Wollombi Wines, Wollombi Village Vineyard, Undercliff Winery and Noyce Brothers Wines. All works are for sale. Until December 4. 

Sculpture Workshops @ the Hunter Botanic Gardens Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 2pm. Hunter Region Botanic Gardens hosts artist in residence sculpture workshop where participants have an opportunity to play with mud. 

Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery Hunter Red – Re(a)d Earth, Razzamatazz & Corpus. Ends Sunday.

Maitland Regional Art Gallery Luminous Maitland, until August 12; Stuart Scott – Faces of Maitland from the Mrag Collection, ends August 12; Wendy Sharpe – Secrets, until August 19; All That Glitters, until September 2.

Newcastle Art Gallery Patricia Williams-Adams – Stain Me With The Intensity of Black, until August 26; Hunter Red, ends Sunday.

University Gallery Still Life in Yellow, Steel and Mandarins, by Dani Marti. Until November 12. 

Newcastle Museum Voyage to the Deep is about undersea exploration and adventure – of the kind immortalised by Jules Verne’s novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and celebrated in popular culture from Jacques Cousteau to the Octonauts. 

Disney’s Aladdin Jr Musical version of the classic story about a street boy who falls in love with a beautiful princess and is helped by a genie. Hunter Drama presents the show at Cessnock with a local young cast. Cessnock Performing Arts Centre, Saturday, at 2pm and 7pm.

The Girl With The Golden Locks Amusing family show by American playwright Brian D. Taylor, with fairy tale characters as secret service agents and the suspicious characters they are investigating. Maitland Repertory Theatre, at its theatre. Saturday at 7pm and Sunday at 2pm.

I Hope It’s Not Raining in London Two people trapped in a room piece together memories from their lives; moving and amusing new play by Newcastle’s Nicholas Thoroughgood, with different actors at each performance. Bearfoot Theatre, at Tantrum Studio, Merewether. Saturday 2pm and 7pm.

Peepshow The lives of seven people living in an apartment building, including two pairs of lovers, two female friends seeking relationships, and a lone man, become intertwined in Isabel Wright’s comedy. Newcastle Theatre Company, at the NTC Theatre, Lambton. Saturday at 2pm.

Pinocchio Engaging musical adaptation by Novocastrians William Ford and Glenda Price of Carlo Collodi’s novel about a wooden puppet who becomes a live person. Young People’s Theatre, at its Hamilton theatre. 2pm Saturday and Sunday.

Rowan Thambar The Newcastle-born title comedian mingles musical comedy and big-hearted stand-up on his journey to discover the kind of man he wants to be. Royal Exchange, Newcastle. Saturday, at 8pm.

Which Way Home City-dweller Tash and her Indigenous dad are heading by car to his birthplace, talking, arguing and joking on the way; writer and actor Katie Beckett’s tribute to her father. Ilbijerri Theatre Company, at the Civic Playhouse. Saturday 2pm and 8pm.

5 Sawyers Saturday, AK Morris. Sunday, Matt McLaren Duo.

Adamstown Uniting Church Saturday, King Single, Bitchcraft, Moonsign, Lonelyspeck..

Albion Hotel Wickham Saturday, Lachlan Edwards.

Anna Bay Tavern Saturday, Outerphase.

Australia Hotel Cessnock Saturday, James Naldo.

Avon Valley Inn Saturday, Barracuda.

Bar Petite Saturday, Danny & Jake.

Battlesticks Bar Saturday, Aqwa. Sunday, Codi Kaye.

Bay Hotel Bonnells Bay Saturday, Code Red.

Belmont 16s Saturday, Loko, Hayden Johns. Sunday, The Blue Water Cowboys.

Belmore Hotel Saturday, Misbehave.

Beresfield Bowling Club Saturday, Pocket Aces. Sunday, Red Dirt Country Band.

Blackbutt Hotel Saturday, Hornet.

The Bradford Saturday, Witchery.

Burwood Inn Saturday, Ngariki.

Cambridge Hotel Saturday, Polaris, Justice For The Damned, Diamond Construct, Junkhead (glasshouse), The Chats, Boing Boing, Wavevom (warehouse). Sunday, Goodnight Japan, Lachlan X. Morris, Good Grief.

Catho Pub Saturday, Ben Woodham. Sunday, Crawfish Stew Band.

Central Charlestown Leagues Club Saturday, Pete McCredie.

Central Hotel Stroud Saturday, Doctors Of Rock.

Cessnock Leagues Saturday, 2GoodReasons.

Charlestown Bowling Club Saturday, Something From Nothing – Foo Fighters tribute.

Club Kotara Saturday, Full Throttle.

Club Lemon Tree Saturday, Matty G.

Colliery Inn Saturday, Roxy. Sunday, Kevin O'Hara.

Commercial Hotel Boolaroo Saturday, Steel City.

Commercial Hotel Morpeth Saturday, Presidential Sweet.

Criterion Hotel Carrington Sunday, Boney Rivers.

Croatian Wickham Sports Club Sunday, Jamming With You.

Crown & Anchor Hotel Saturday, Devultra, Bobby C.

Customs House Saturday, DJ Angelo. Sunday, Jake Davey.

Cypress Lakes Saturday, Mark Wells.

D'Albora Marina Sunday, Ben Travis.

Duke Of Wellington Saturday, Greg Bryce Duo.

East Cessnock Bowling Club Saturday, Vivian solo.

East Maitland Bowling Club Saturday, MardMax Trio. Sunday, Roxy.

Edgeworth Bowling Club Sunday, Kempy.

Edgeworth Tavern Saturday, Brazillian Brothers Duo.

Exchange Hotel Saturday, Lithium. Sunday, Hornet.

Family Hotel Maitland Saturday, Pete Gelzinnis.

Finnegans Saturday, Indigo Starlight.

Gallipoli Legion Club Sunday, Shivoo.

Gateshead Tavern Sunday, Outerphase.

George Tavern Saturday, Bandditts.

Grain Store Sunday, JJ King.

Grand Junction Hotel Sunday, Australian Beef Week Show, Handsome Young, Strangers.

Gunyah Hotel Saturday, Paperboy.

​Hamilton Station Hotel Sunday, Yev Kassem, Natalie Henry, Spencer Scott.

Harrigan’s Pokolbin Saturday, Roxy.

Hexham Bowling Club Saturday, The Snape Trilogy.

Honeysuckle Hotel Saturday, Prestige Inc. Sunday, From Creedence to Cougar.

Hotel Delany Saturday, Phonic.

Imperial Singleton Saturday, Ash Mountain.

Jewells Tavern Saturday, The Years, plus Tina Turner show.

The Junction Hotel Saturday, Jason Bone.

Kent Hotel Saturday, Loose Bazooka.

Lake Macquarie Yacht Club Sunday, Jamie Martens.

Lakeside Village Tavern Saturday, Viagro.

Lass O’Gowrie Saturday, The Hedonists, Shrimp, Boots Porter & The Passion Pops, Lu Quade. Sunday, Tim Richards, Sunset Blush, John Tennyson.

Lizotte’s Saturday, Jeff Martin (CAN). Sunday, Aleyce Simmonds & Brad Butcher.

Lochinvar Hotel Saturday, Matt Gaudry.

Lucky Hotel Saturday, Howie & Alex. Sunday, Prestige Inc.

Mary Ellen Saturday, Sundays Record. Sunday, Chad Shuttleworth.

Maryland Tavern Saturday, Counterpart.

Mavericks On The Bay Saturday, Tim Broadway. Sunday, Greg Bryce.

Mavericks On Darby Saturday, Matt McLaren.

Mayfield Ex-Services Saturday, Early Daze.

Mezz Bar at Wallsend Diggers Saturday, Triple Zero. Sunday, Bonnie Rai.

Morriset Country Club Sunday, Mark Lee.

Murray’s Brewery Saturday, Adam Gear. Sunday, Tom Blake.

Nag’s Head Hotel Saturday, Kevin O'Hara.

Neath Hotel Saturday, Mick Jones.

Nelson Bay Diggers Saturday, The Big Bang. Sunday, Bobby C.

Nelson Bay Golf Club Saturday, Ryan Daley.

Newcastle Art Gallery Saturday, String Loaded Celtic Fiddle Band.

Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club Sunday, Mick Jones.

Northern Star Hotel Saturday, Rooney West, Nano.

Paxton Bowling Club Saturday, Daniel Arvidson.

Pedens Cessnock Saturday, Mardmax Trio.

Pelican RSL Club Saturday, The Crawfish Stew Band.

Pippis At The Point Saturday, Jake Davey. Sunday, Mardy Leith. 

Premier Hotel Sunday, Code Red.

Queens Wharf Hotel Saturday, Anyerin Trio, Matt Semmens. Sunday, Mark Wells Trio, Wharf Life.

Royal Exchange Saturday, Rowan Thambar. Sunday, Totally Gourdacious – Mal Webb & Andrew Clermont.

Royal Federal Hotel Branxton Saturday, Kempy.

Royal Hotel Singleton Sunday, Katie N Feff.

Royal Motor Yacht Club Toronto Sunday, Gary Wallace.

Rutherford Hotel Saturday, Zane Penn.

Seabreeze Hotel Sunday, Matt Bowles.

Shenanigans at the Imperial Saturday, Joy Duo.

Shoal Bay Country Club Saturday, ABBAlanche. Sunday, Aqwa.

Shortland Hotel Saturday, Joel Oakhill.

Small Ballroom Saturday, Hayden Shepherd, Will Freeth, Special K, Hooey, Kurtis Elms.

Soldiers Point Bowling Club Saturday, Jumpin’ Jukebox.

South Newcastle Leagues Club Saturday, Pistol Pete.

Stag and Hunter Hotel Saturday, The Craw, Southern End.

Stockton Bowling Club Sunday, Nomie James & Steve Cowley.

Swansea Hotel Saturday, Shaka. Sunday, The Jungle Kings.

Swansea RSL Club Saturday, Maryanne Rex Duo.

Swansea Workers Club Saturday, Solid Gold Dance Party.

Tilligerry RSL Saturday, Cotton Sax and Strings.

Toronto Diggers Saturday, John Noble.

Toronto Hotel Sunday, Kellie Cain,

Toronto Workers Saturday, The Remedy. 

Town Hall Hotel Saturday, Chris Saxby.

Victoria Hotel Hinton Saturday, Chad Shuttleworth. Sunday, Zane Penn.

Wangi Wangi RSL Club Sunday, Reg Sinclair.

Warners At The Bay Saturday, All Access 80's.

Weston Workers Saturday, Deborah Sinclair.

Wests Cardiff Saturday, The Jungle Kings.

Wests New Lambton Saturday, Cruzers. Sunday, British Invasion.

Wests NEX Saturday, Iguana.

Wickham Park Hotel Saturday, Lachlan’s Show - Fundraiser. Sunday, John Larder, Rose Carleo + Len’s Theory.

Windsor Castle Hotel Saturday, Codi Kaye.

Adrift (M) A young woman sails into the eye of a hurricane to save the man she loves.

Ant-Man and The Wasp (PG) As Scott Lang balances being both a Super Hero and a father, Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym present an urgent new mission.

Back To Burgundy (M) After a 10-year absence, Jean returns to his hometown when his father falls ill. (Tower)

Breath (M) Two teenage boys, hungry for discovery, form an unlikely friendship with a mysterious older adventurer who pushes them to take risks that will have a lasting and profound impact on their lives. (Lake Cinema)

Deadpool 2 (MA) When a super soldier arrives on a murderous mission, Deadpool is forced to think about friendship, family and what it really means to be a hero - all while kicking 50 shades of ass. (Event, Glendale)

Hotel Transylvania 3: A Monster Vacation (G) Mavis surprises Dracula with a family voyage on a luxury monster cruise ship so he can take a vacation from providing everyone else's vacation at the hotel.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (M) It's been four years since Jurassic World was destroyed by dinosaurs. Isla Nublar now sits abandoned by humans while the surviving dinosaurs fend for themselves.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (PG) In this sequel to Mamma Mia! Sophie learns about her mother's past while pregnant.

Mary Shelley (M) While staying in the home of Lord Byron at Lake Geneva, the guests are challenged to write a ghost story, which leads Mary to conceive her classic novel, Frankenstein. (Tower)

Ocean’s 8 (M) Debbie Ocean gathers a crew to attempt an impossible heist at New York City's yearly Met Gala.

Overboard (PG) A spoiled, wealthy yacht owner is thrown overboard and becomes the target of revenge from his mistreated employee.

Show Dogs (PG) Max, a macho, solitary Rottweiler police dog is ordered to go undercover as a primped show dog in a prestigious Dog Show, along with his human partner, to avert a disaster from happening.

Skyscraper (M) On assignment in China, US war veteran Will Ford, finds the tallest, safest building in the world suddenly ablaze.

Tag (M) A small group of former classmates organize an elaborate, annual game of tag that requires some to travel all over the country.

Tea With The Dames (M) Dames Eileen Atkins, Judi Dench, Joan Plowright and Maggie Smith have let the cameras in on a friendship that goes back more than half a century. (Lake Cinema)

The Equalizer 2 (MA) A sequel to the the 2014 film, "The Equalizer", which is based on the TV series about a retired agent who's a hired gun for vengeance.

The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society (M) A writer forms an unexpected bond with the residents of Guernsey Island in the aftermath of World War II when she decides to write a book about their experiences during the war. (Tower)

The Incredibles 2 (PG) Bob Parr is left to care for Jack-Jack while Helen is out saving the world.

The Leisure Seeker (M) A runaway couple go on an unforgettable journey in the faithful old RV they call The Leisure Seeker. (Tower)