SATURDAY
Real Film Festival Saturday and Sunday. A celebration of film with workshops, films, panels, international industry experts, a creative hub and more. Tickets to all events are limited. For the entire program, including movie screenings, go to realfilmfestival.com.au. Films screening include Roll With It, Sharkwater Extinction, the Australian premiere of Badass Beauty Queen, Angels Gather Here, One Less God and Power Meri.
Open Air Cinema 4pm to 10pm, Speers Point Park. Bring a picnic blanket for a fun family night of entertainment, a jumping castle, food stalls, a petting zoo and the screening of comedy classic Cool Runnings. Part of the 2018 Real Film Festival and a fundraiser for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.
Street Feast 4pm to 8pm, The Station, Newcastle. Food, entertainment, music and more.
Pugoween 11am to 1pm, The Empire Coffee Co, Honeysuckle. Pug owners, bring your pugs in costume.
Kurri Kurri Community Festival 2018 10am to 9pm, Rotary Park, Kurri Kurri. Watch The Greatest Showman on the big screen, plus enjoy entertainment, rides, food and market stalls, live music.
Clarence Town River Community Hoe Down Noon to 11pm, corner Durham and Queen streets, Clarence Town. A family-friendly outdoor country music festival starring Sara Storer, The Adam Eckerlsey Band and Kirsty Lee Akers, plus markets and rides.
Wallsend Public School Fete 10am to 2pm, 26 Martindale Street, Wallsend. Entertainment, food and market stalls, raffles and rides.
The Hunter Disability Expo 9am to 3pm, Newcastle Jockey Club, Broadmeadow. More than 100 exhibiting service and product providers; presentations and speakers from government agencies and disability organisations; children’s entertainment and more.
Gravel Grit Laguna 8.30am start at Great Northern Trading Post Laguna. 70km gravel ride.
Pass The Hat 6pm to 10m, Singleton Civic Centre Front Lawn. Food trucks, market stalls, beer and wine tasting, live music and more to support farmers doing it tough. Representatives from Rural Aid, Hunter Local Land Services and the Rural Resilience Program will also be on hand to connect our farmers with the support services available to them.
October Poetry 3.30pm to 5.30pm, The Press Book House, 462 Hunter Street, Newcastle. Featuring poets Ali Whitelock, Jenny Blackford, Magdalena Ball and Georgina Woods.
Samhaim Festival 4pm to 10pm, Croatian Wickham Sports Club. A fundraising event to help dancers attend the Irish Open and World Championship Irish Dancing competitions. The evening will feature Irish music, dance and food. Tickets at stickyticket.com.au.
Central Hunter Business and Community Expo 9am to 3pm, Miller Park, 6 Maitland Street, Branxton. An event showcasing 105 local business and community services; there will also be food trucks, live music and a free Kids Zone.
Halloween Comic Fest 2018 10am to 2pm, Heroes and More, Wallsend.
FibreFest 2018 Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 4pm, Sisters of Mercy Convent, 30 Queen Street, Singleton. Workshops, knitting demonstrations, food and music.
Junior Bands in the Park 9.30am to 11am, Warners Bay Foreshore Rotunda. The Newcastle PCYC Brass Band (Junior Band) and Catalina Brass will perform.
Mosque Open Day 10am to 4pm, Sultan Faith Mosque, Mayfield. Part of National Unity Week. Food, entertainment and children’s activities.
Newcastle Pro Wrestling – 7th Anniversary 7.30pm, Charlestown Bowling Club.
Open Gardens & Art Trail Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 4pm. Visit 10 Lake Macquarie gardens over two days for $35, or $5 per garden. Organised by Lake Macquarie Garden Club to raise money for Hunter Medical Research Institute. All open gardens are located on both eastern and western sides of Lake Macquarie, from Marks Point to Jewells, Mt Hutton, Speers Point, Bolton Point, Toronto and Coal Point.
SUNDAY
Newcastle Budgerigar Club Annual Bird Show and Sales 9.15am to 1pm, Wallsend Pioneer Hall, Cowper Street, Wallsend.
Tea4TROG High Tea 1pm to 3pm, Mercure Hotel, Charlestown. A fundraiser for TROG Cancer Research. Tickets $60 per person.
Lemon Jam Noon to 4pm, Henderson Park, on the waterfront, Lemon Tree Passage, free, all ages, monthly music event.
Newcastle Walk 4 Brain Cancer 9.30am to 12.30pm, The Gardens Greyhound and Sporting Complex. Fundraiser for Cure Brain Cancer Foundation.
Seasons Plate at Dalwood Estate 12.30pm to 4pm, 700 Dalwood Road, Dalwood. Go to stickytickets.com.au to book.
All Breeds Dog Rescue Trivia Afternoon 2.30pm to 5.30pm, Raymond Terrace Bowling Club, Jacaranda Avenue, Raymond Terrace. Tickets $20 per person at stickytickets.com.au.
Maitland City Choir Annual Concert 2pm, Seventh Day Adventist Church, Brunswick Street, East Maitland. Cost $15; includes afternoon tea.
SportsFest 10am to 2pm, Speers Point Park. Hosted by the Hunter Academy of Sport, this free event gives children the chance to try various drills, skill development, inflatable batting cages and hitting bays. There will also be a rock climbing wall and the opportunity to have a kick with the Newcastle Jets W-league squad.
Kids Halloween & Baby Animals Party 3pm to 5pm, The Family Hotel, Maitland. Baby animals, face painting and balloon animals, games and prizes, a dress-up parade plus a spooky themed lunch and snacks.
SAVE THE DATE
The inaugural Newcastle International Short Film Festival is on November 16 and 17 at the Royal Exchange Hybrid Theatre complex in Bolton Street, Newcastle. Details on the event’s Facebook page.
MARKETS
Subject to cancellation at late notice due to weather conditions
Handmade in the Hunter “Halloween Hijinks” Markets Saturday, 9am to 3pm, Kevin Sobels Wines, corner Broke and Halls roads, Pokolbin.
Lake Macquarie City Farmers Market Saturday, 7.30am to 1pm, Speers Point Park.
Hunter Wine Country Markets Saturday, 9am to 3pm, De Bortoli Wines, 532 Wine Country Drive, Pokolbin.
Adamstown Lions Markets Sunday, 7am to 1pm, corner Brunker and Glebe roads, Adamstown.
Newcastle City Farmers Market Sunday, 7am to 1pm, Newcastle Showground, Broadmeadow.
Newcastle & Hunter Vietnam Veterans Inc. Market Sunday, 7am to 1pm, Wickham Park, Islington. New stall sites available. Phone Pat Burke 0413 333 165 for information.
Hope Estate Markets 9am to 2pm, Hope Estate, Pokolbin.
My Kids Market NSW Sunday, 9am to noon, Newcastle Basketball Stadium, Cnr Young and Curley Rds, Broadmeadow.
ARTS & CULTURE
The Creator Incubator Open Day, Saturday, 4pm to 8pm, Shed 15A, 50 Clyde Street, Hamilton North.
The Lock-Up The Sea, by Luke Cornish, until December 2. Tracks the artist's journey and experiences during multiple trips to war-torn Syria.
Maitland Regional Museum’s exhibition Journeys: Maitland is My Home is on display Saturdays and Sundays, 10am to 3pm, at Brough House, Maitland, until the end of October.
Finite Gallery Found Horizons, by Painters Ink, ends Sunday.
Cooks Hill Galleries CHG Artists & Guest Mandy Bell, until November 26.
Watt Space Gallery Learning From Alice Springs, by University of Newcastle architecture students and staff and Tangentyere Design; The Mid Century Project Newcastle, by Tim Ross and Kit Warhurst, until November 30.
Gallery 139 Anzac Walk, by Paul Maher, until November 4.
Cessnock Regional Art Gallery Retroactive, by James Wittington, ends Sunday.
Maitland Regional Art Gallery Peace, Place, Prizes & Pictures In Between. Open House: 3rd Tamworth Textile Triennial; Nicola Bolton’s The Garden Palette, ends Sunday. Concerning Peace, until November 25. Finding Country, until February 17.
Newcastle Art Gallery The !818 Project, until November 4.
Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery STEEL: art design architecture; Your Collection: Hunter Steel, until December 2.
Art Systems Wickham Drawn Together, by Susan Hall-Thompson and Ruth Chapman, ends Sunday.
Newcastle Studio Potters & Back to Back Gallery Harmony, by Anne Gazzard and Erica Sayers, until November 4.
Timeless Textiles Crossing Borders, ends Sunday.
Port Stephens Community Art Centre Our Wild World; Mosaics, until November 8.
MUSIC
5 Sawyers Saturday, DJ Urby. Sunday, The New Cool.
Adamstown Uniting Church Sunday, Adam Swanson & The Dizzy Fingers Ragtime Band.
Anchorage Port Stephens Sunday, Lachlan Edwards.
Anna Bay Tavern Saturday, Wicked. Sunday, Mick Jones.
Argenton Hotel Saturday, Katie & Feff. Sunday, Zane Penn Duo.
Argyle House Saturday, Halloween Party – Do Or Die.
Australia Hotel Cessnock Saturday, Outerphase.
Avon Valley Inn Saturday, Steel City.
Bar Petite Saturday, Kylie Jane.
Battlesticks Bar Saturday, KJ & Dave. Sunday, Tim Rossington.
Bellbird Hotel Sunday, Tailgate Drive.
Belmont 16s Saturday, Peter Helliar & Tom Gleeson, Hummingbirds, Daniel Arvidson. Sunday, Scratch.
Belmore Hotel Saturday, Alias.
Beresfield Bowling Club Saturday, Shooting Molly. Sunday, The Rattlesnakes.
The Bradford Saturday, Magic Carpet.
Bulahdelah Bowling Club Saturday, Shivoo.
Cambridge Hotel Saturday, Velvet Elevator, Maple Moths, William John Jr, Fungas.
Cardiff RSL Club Saturday, Damien.
Catho Pub Saturday, John Larder. Sunday, Darren Rolling Keys Band.
Caves Beach Surf Club Sunday, Chad Shuttleworth.
Central Charlestown Leagues Club Saturday, Hayden Johns.
Central Hotel Stroud Saturday, Secret Society.
Cessnock Leagues Club Saturday, Solid Gold Party Night with Dave Cochrane.
Club Kotara Saturday, Early Daze.
Club Lemon Tree Saturday, Mick Jones.
Colliery Inn Sunday, Karen O'Shea.
Commercial Hotel Morpeth Saturday, Allan Freihaut.
Crown & Anchor Hotel Saturday, Just Jade, DJ Z4KLND.
Customs House Sunday, Todd Schmoo.
D'Albora Marina Sunday, Zane Penn.
Denman Hotel Sunday, Michael Bryers.
Dora Creek Workers Club Sunday, Justin Banks.
Duke Of Wellington Saturday, Redline.
East Cessnock Bowling Club Saturday, DJ Cotton.
East Maitland Bowling Club Saturday, Voodoo Punch. Sunday, John Noble.
Eatons Hotel Saturday, Emily Smith.
Edgeworth Bowling Club Sunday, Roxy.
Edgeworth Tavern Saturday, Bad Paris.
Exchange Hotel Saturday, Saving June. Sunday, Anthology.
Gallipoli Legion Club Sunday, 2GoodReasons.
Gateshead Tavern Sunday, Paparazzi.
George Tavern Saturday, Dos Eager.
Grain Store Sunday, J.J King
Gunyah Hotel Saturday, Rocket.
Hamilton Station Hotel Saturday, Perpetrators, The Meantime, Punctured. Sunday, Boots Porter, Lachlan X. Morris, Good Grief.
Hexham Bowling Club Saturday, Iguana.
Honeysuckle Hotel Saturday, Mark Wells Trio.
Hunter River Hotel Saturday, Loose Bazooka.
Iron Horse Inn Saturday, Loko.
Jewells Tavern Saturday, The Search Party.
Kent Hotel Saturday, Big Night Out. Sunday, Grant Walmsley & Friends.
Lass O’Gowrie Saturday, The Havelocks, Lachlan X. Morris, Bad Time Boys. Sunday, Sunday Rave.
Lizotte’s Saturday, Bondi Cigars. Sunday, Joseph and James Tawadros (lunch), Steve Balbi (dinner).
Lucky Hotel Saturday, Bobby C. Sunday, Brown Bear & Hooves.
Marks Point Bowling Club Saturday, Catfish Soup.
Mary Ellen Hotel Saturday, Misbehave. Sunday, Ben Travis.
Maryland Tavern Saturday, Something From Nothing - Foo Fighters Tribute.
Mattara Hotel Saturday, Karen O'Shea.
Mavericks On The Bay Saturday, Robbie T. Sunday, Matt McLaren.
Mavericks On Darby Saturday, The DuoTones.
Mezz Bar at Wallsend Diggers Saturday, The Years. Sunday, Ashley Knight.
Morisset Country Club Sunday, Layth Gunn.
Murray’s Brewery Sunday, Craig Thomson.
Nag’s Head Hotel Saturday, Pap & That.
Neath Hotel Saturday, Jason Ray.
Nelson Bay Diggers Saturday, Dr. Zoom Duo. Sunday, Anyerin.
Nelson Bay Golf Club Saturday, Matt Semmens.
Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club Sunday, Love That Hat.
Northern Star Hotel Saturday, Rooney West.
Paxton Bowling Club Saturday, Pete Gelzinnis.
Pelican RSL Club Saturday, MardMax Trio.
Pippis At The Point Sunday, Jordan Fleming.
Prince of Wales Hotel Saturday, Prestige Inc.
Queens Wharf Hotel Saturday, Love That Hat, Ryan Daley. Sunday, Loko, Wharf Life.
Royal Federal Hotel Branxton Saturday, Evergreen.
Royal Hotel Singleton Sunday, Jamie Martens Duo.
Royal Motor Yacht Club Toronto Sunday, Maryanne Rex.
Rutherford Hotel Saturday, Kristy James.
Seabreeze Hotel Saturday, Rebecca Johnson Band.
Settlers Arms Hotel Sunday, Sami Cooke.
Shenanigans at the Imperial Saturday, Zane Penn Duo.
Shoal Bay Country Club Saturday, Madelyn, New Black Shades. Sunday, Holly Mae.
Shortland Hotel Saturday, Brien McVernon.
Small Ballroom Saturday, Robbie Lowe. Sunday, No Fun At All (SWE), Wolfpack, Hack the Mainframe, No Quarter.
Stag and Hunter Hotel Saturday, James Van Cooper, Axle Whitehead. Sunday, Pop Standen.
Stockton Bowling Club Sunday, Karen & Milton.
Stockton RSL Club Saturday, Summerland Kings.
Swansea Hotel Saturday, Sangue. Sunday, Crawfish Stew.
Swansea RSL Club Saturday, Maryanne Rex Duo.
Swansea-Belmont Surf Life Saving Club Sunday, Kylie Jane Duo.
Swansea Workers Club Saturday, Craig Thommo.
Tea Gardens Country Club Saturday, Siren.
Tea Gardens Hotel Saturday, Kevin O'Hara.
Tilligerry RSL Saturday, Louis Burt.
Toronto Workers Saturday, The Smarts.
Victoria Hotel Hinton Saturday, Steve Werren. Sunday, Big Pete.
Wangi Hotel Sunday, Angie.
Warners At The Bay Saturday, Gen-R-8.
Wests Cardiff Saturday, Cruzers.
Wests New Lambton Saturday, 2GoodReasons.
Wests NEX Saturday, Parkway Drive, Killswitch Engage, Thy Art Is Murder; Phonic Trio.
Wickham Park Hotel Saturday, Pat Eyre Trio. Sunday, John Larder, Ride for Scotty – Raising Funds for Hunter Melanoma Foundation, Steve Edmonds.
Windsor Castle Hotel Saturday, Tom Christie.
THEATRE
Deanna The Musical Premiere of a comedy musical by former Novocastrian Dee Gatgens Johnson in which Deanna, Princess of NSW, tours Australia in a song and dance act aimed at promoting her royal family; cast includes Newcastle actors. Dee Johnson Entertainment & The Really Thoughtful Company, at the Royal Exchange, Newcastle. Saturday at 8pm (final show).
Elf The Musical Jr A young orphan mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is treated as an elf at the North Pole, then promotes Christmas when he goes to New York; a musical for all ages. Young People’s Theatre, at its Hamilton theatre. Sunday at 2pm.
Life + Love: An Evening of Sondheim Songs by composer and writer Stephen Sondheim from nine shows, including Into the Woods, Gypsy and West Side Story, and performed by adult, high school and young singers. Young People’s Theatre, at Young People’s Theatre, Hamilton. Sunday at 6pm.
A Night with Gilbert & Sullivan Maitland Musical Society presents classic songs from the bright and lively comic operas by the title pair. Hawks Nest Community Centre, Saturday, at 7.30pm, Sunday, at 2pm.
MOVIES
1% (MA) Set within the world of Australian motorcycle gangs, this modern day Macbeth follows Paddo, heir to the throne of the Copperheads MC who must assume the mantle whilst club leader Knuck does time in jail. (Tower)
A Simple Favour (M) A mummy blogger in a small town discovers her best friend has vanished.
A Star Is Born (M) A musician helps a young singer and actress find fame, even as age and alcoholism send his own career into a downward spiral.
An Interview With God (CTC) A journalist (Brendon Thwaites, The Giver) must interview a man claiming to be God (Oscar nominee David Strathairn) in this indie drama.
Back To Burgundy (M) Jean left his hometown 10 years ago. When his father falls ill, he comes back and reunites with his sister Juliette and his brother Jérémie. As seasons go by around their vineyard, they'll have to trust each other again. (Lake Cinema)
Backtrack Boys (MA) In this Aussie doco, three boys are on a rocky path towards jail until they meet a rule-breaking jackaroo and join his legendary dog jumping team.
Bad Times at the El Royale (MA) Seven strangers, each with a secret to bury, meet at Lake Tahoe’s El Royale, a rundown hotel with a dark past.
Beautiful Boy (MA) Steve Carell is a father who watches his son (Oscar nominee Timothée Chalamet, Call Me By Your Name) struggle with meth addiction.
Christopher Robin (G) A working-class family man, Christopher Robin, encounters his childhood friend Winnie-the-Pooh, who helps him to rediscover the joys of life.
Ghost Stories (CTC) In this British horror, a renowned sceptic investigates three ghostly supernatural incidents.
Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (PG) Halloween comes to life in a brand-new, family adventure comedy based on R.L. Stine’s 400-million-selling series of books.
Halloween (MA) Jamie Lee Curtis returns for the final confrontation with Michael Myers in the sequel to the classic horror, set 40 years after the first movie.
Hercules – Disney Villains Film Festival Saturday and Sunday, 10am, Event Cinemas Kotara.
First Man (M) A look at the life of the astronaut, Neil Armstrong, and the legendary space mission that led him to become the first man to walk on the Moon on July 20, 1969.
In Like Flynn (MA) The biopic depicts Errol Flynn’s roust-about early life in Australia.
Johnny English Strikes Again (PG) After a cyber-attack reveals the identity of all of the active undercover agents in Britain, Johnny English is forced to come out of retirement to find the mastermind hacker. (Lake Cinema)
Ladies In Black (PG) Set in the summer of 1959, when the impact of European migration and the rise of women’s liberation is about to change Australia forever, a shy schoolgirl takes a summer job at the prestigious Sydney department store, Goode’s.
Night School (M) A group of troublemakers are forced to attend night school in hope that they'll pass the GED exam to finish high school.
On Chesil Beach (M) In 1962 England, a young couple finds their idyllic romance colliding with issues of sexual freedom and societal pressure, leading to an awkward and fateful wedding night. (Lake Cinema)
Paw Patrol: Mighty Pups (G) When their latest scheme goes awry, Mayor Humdinger and his nephew Harold accidentally divert a meteor towards Adventure Bay.
Smallfoot (G) A Yeti is convinced that the elusive creatures known as “humans” really do exist.
The House with a Clock in Its Walls (PG) Lewis, an orphan, is sent to live with his Uncle Jonathan in a creaky old house.
The Nun (MA) A priest with a haunted past and a novitiate on the threshold of her final vows are sent by the Vatican to investigate the death of a young nun in Romania.
The Seagull (M) A heartbreaking and funny story of friends and lovers, all of whom are in love with the wrong person.
The Wife (M) A wife questions her life choices as she travels to Stockholm with her husband, where he is slated to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Twilight – 10th Anniversary Special 4pm, Event Cinemas Kotara.
