Plan your weekend with a little help from the Herald

Christmas Lights Spectacular 5.30pm to 10pm, Hunter Valley Gardens, Pokolbin. Daily until January 26 (closed December 25). Live entertainment, Santa’s workshop display, rides and more.

Maitland Regional Art Gallery 10am to 2pm: Meet the maker with Kerry Shepherd Textiles; 3pm: Indonesian dance, music and stories; 3.30pm: Mayor’s welcome; 3.45pm: On JFK with the US consulate general; 4pm Rosemary Valadon with Dr Rod Pattenden, art historian in conversation; 4.15pm: Jumaadi in conversation; 4.30pm: Mixing Numbers with Kim Blunt: Tim Maguire Art.

Westfield Kotara Saturday only: Live music with Vogue Band on The Rooftop 6pm to 9pm; Santa Claus visits 6pm to 8pm; Face painting 6pm to 9pm; Event Cinema pop-up cocktail bar from 6pm; Fireworks on The Rooftop 9pm. Saturday and Sunday: Lolly bags, prize wheel, cupcakes and ice-cream cart at Kmart Ink & Snow Christmas personalisation station from 10am to 2pm; Gift wrapping for a donation with Christmas charity partner Got Your Back Sista.

Big Al’s Back 5pm, The Station Newcastle. Also, 2pm Sunday. Food, entertainment and fun activities.

Bring Blacksmiths Back Rally 11.30am, Blacksmiths Beach. Campaign to bring the beach back from “the no-surf blues”.

Dogs in the Park Newcastle 9.30am to 3.30pm, Islington Dog Park. Dog sports demonstrations, best-dressed pet competitions, dog races, dog trick contest, market stalls and more.

Bicycle Scavenger Hunt Meet at Lynch’s Hub, 9am. $10 adults; $5 children.

Biker For Kids Newcastle Toy Run 2018 10am to 1.30pm, Wickham Park. Greet the thousands of bikes bearing gifts for kids in need at the Superheroes edition of the annual Newcastle Toy Run. Santa and his reindeer will roar in on a motorised sleigh and the best-decorated bikes of the day will be on display for viewing and public voting. Live music from Grant Walmsley’s GW Freebird Blues Band and Sneaky Freakers, plus amusement rides, food trucks, prizes, market stalls, a classic and vintage bike display, a giant tug’o’war,  face-painting, fairy floss, a colouring competition, Santa photos and a splash zone. Toys and all cash collected on the day will be donated to the Salvos’ local Christmas Appeal.

Maitland Regional Art Gallery 11am to 1pm, Special Free Art Sunday with Jumaddi plus a children’s Christmas party. Free; all welcome.

Legends Race Day Gates open 11.45am, Newcastle Racecourse. Features the Max Lees Classic, Robert Thompson Cup and the inaugural Gary Harley Handicap. 

The Variety Santa Fun Run 8.30am to 11am, Bar Beach to Newcastle Foreshore. With a 5km and 10km route, the event is ideal for families and fun runners alike. Each participant will get a Santa suit to wear to support Variety – the Children’s Charity.

Christmas at the Con 2pm, Newcastle Conservatorium of Music. Family friendly concert celebrating all things Christmas and some of your favourite festive music.

Christmas in Hamilton is on next Wednesday, December 5. Head to Beaumont Street for an all-day celebration with a special visit from Santa (5pm to 7.30pm). Shops will offer “one day only” savings and specials with many open until 8pm.

Also, the Islington shopping strip is hosting a Festive Street Party on Thursday, December 6, 4pm to 7pm. There will be face-painting and craft, a Gnome Grotto, music, food specials and entertainment.

Magpie High Markets Saturday, 4pm to 7pm, Maitland High School, High Street, East Maitland. Free entry and all welcome. 

The Olive Tree Christmas Market Saturday, 9am to 3pm, Civic Park, Newcastle. 

Pelican Foreshore Markets Saturday, 9am to 1pm, Lakeview Parade, Pelican.

Nourish Your Soul Market Day Saturday, 10am to 4pm, Clarence Town School of the Arts hall, Grey Street, Clarence Town. Psychic readers, reiki, massages, essential oils, guest speakers, market stalls and more. Entry is free.

That Little Expo Saturday, 8am to 2pm, Singleton Showground. Handmade goods.

Hamilton Clocktower Markets Saturday, 9am to 2.30pm, Beaumont Street, Hamilton.

Handmade In The Hunter Markets Saturday and Sunday, 9am to 3pm, Kevin Sobels Wines, Halls Road, Pokolbin.

Newcastle Flower Markets Saturday, 8am to 1pm, 1 Rural Drive, Sandgate.

Hunter Wine Country Markets Saturday, 9am to 3pm, De Bortoli Wines, Wine Country Drive, Pokolbin.

Newcastle City Farmers Markets Sunday, 7am to 1pm, Newcastle Showground, Broadmeadow.

Adamstown Lions Markets Sunday, 7am to 1pm, corner of Brunker and Glebe Roads, Adamstown.

Broke Village Markets Sunday, 8am to 1pm, McNamara Road, Broke. 

Five Senses Twilight Market Sunday, 3pm to 8pm, Lambton Park.

Perfect Sunday Markets Sunday, 2pm to 6pm, Lass O’Gowrie Hotel, Newcastle.

Maitland Markets Sunday, 7am to 2pm, Maitland Showground.

Finite Gallery, Caves Beach  Mini collectable art, until December 23.

Cooks Hill Galleries The Golden Mile, by Rod Bathgate, until December 17.

Brough House Maitland Waiting For Rain, by Karen Carrejo, Sue Cone, Sinead Darby, Helen Fenner, Sharron Reid, Billie Mosman, Alexandra Renni, until December 16.

Cessnock Regional Art Gallery Wood, Metal Modern Materials – Local Contemporary Sculptures, ends Sunday.

Maitland Regional Art Gallery Textures of Desire, by Rosemary Valadon; Finding Country; American Visionary: John F. Kennedy’s Life & Times, until February 17. Tim Maguire: A Survey of Prints and Video 2003-2018, until January 27. Staging Love, by Jumaadi, until March 24. 

Newcastle Art Gallery The Erskine Pledge: a gift to Newcastle, until January 28.  Olsen Ormandy: A Creative Force, until February 17.

Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery STEEL: art design architecture; Your Collection: Hunter Steel, ends Sunday. 

Art Systems Wickham Spectrum, by Melisah May, ends Sunday.

Timeless Textiles Echoes – Organic Forms in Felt, by Pam Hovel, until December 22. 

Watt Space Gallery Fine Art Honours Grad Show, ends Sunday. Digital Analogues, by John Price; Painting Episodic Memory, by Claire Kemp.

The Levee Art Gallery Efflorescence, by Wolfe and Browne (Deborah Rogers), ends Sunday.

The Lock Up The Sea, by Luke Cornish, ends Sunday.

The Junction Fair Mitch Revs, until December 18.

The Creator Incubator Garth Art – A Sale of Objects and Art, until December 9.

City of Newcastle Drama Awards The 40th year of the CONDA Awards is celebrated in musical numbers between the presentations. CONDA Inc, at the Starlight Room, Wests, New Lambton. Saturday, at 7.30pm (sold out).

Disney’s Sleeping Beauty KIDS Three fairies use their magic to save a princess from the spell of an evil sorceress; classic fairy tale musical for young performers. Young People’s Theatre, at its Hamilton theatre Saturday at 1pm and 3pm.

It’s a Wonderful Life! An angel helps a depressed man considering ending his life on Christmas Eve to recall how much he has helped other people; bright radio-style adaptation of a popular film. Maitland Repertory Theatre, at its theatre. Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm (show includes festive food and drink).

Kickstart Newcastle TAFE’s Regional Institute of Performing Arts students present their original films and perform contemporary scene work. Civic Playhouse, Newcastle. Saturday at 7.30pm. Free event.

5 Sawyers Saturday, AK Morris. Sunday, Sundays Record.

48 Watt Street Sunday, Afro-Fusion-Night.

Adamstown Uniting Church Sunday, Christmas Card from Hunter Singers.

Anchorage Port Stephens Sunday, Georgie James.

Anna Bay Tavern Saturday, The V Dubs. Sunday, The Andy Show.

Argenton Hotel Saturday, Deuce. Sunday, Prestige Inc.

Australia Hotel Cessnock Saturday, Early Daze.

Avon Valley Inn Saturday, Zebyah.

Battlesticks Bar Saturday, Casey Bellamy. Sunday, Madelyn.

Bay Hotel Bonnells Bay Saturday, Loose Bazooka.

Beach Hotel Saturday, Trataka. Sunday, Col Tegg Experience.

Belmont 16s Saturday, The Years, Hayden Johns. Sunday, Rich & Famous.

Belmore Hotel Saturday, Big Night Out.

Beresfield Bowling Club Saturday, Gen-X.

Bimbadgen Saturday, John Farnham, Richard Marx (US), Daryl Braithwaite, Russell Morris, Bachelor Girl.

The Bradford Saturday, Pat Vs Cat. Sunday, Craig Thommo.

Cambridge Hotel Saturday, Jones The Cat, The Pits, Low-Key Affair, Son of Coco. Sunday, Paces.

Cardiff RSL Club Saturday, Grant Walmsley & Friends.

Catho Pub Saturday, Crazy Stone Cult. Sunday, Whiskey Business.

Central Charlestown Leagues Club Saturday, Dave Carter.

Cessnock Leagues Club Saturday, Counterpart.

Charlestown Bowling Club Saturday, The Remedy Trio.

Club Azzurri Saturday, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (US), The Comfort, Suburban Haze, All In A Year.

Club Lemon Tree Saturday, Brendan Murphy.

Colliery Inn Saturday, Daniel Arvidson. Sunday, Troy Kemp.

Commercial Hotel Morpeth Saturday, Jamie Martens Duo.

Crown & Anchor Hotel Saturday, Matt McLaren, DJ Z4KLND. 

Customs House Sunday, Tyler John.

Cypress Lakes Saturday, Ryan Daley.

Denman Hotel Sunday, Murray Byfield.

Duke Of Wellington Saturday. The Levymen.

East Cessnock Bowling Club Saturday, Norm Bakker.

East Maitland Bowling Club Saturday, The Smarts. Sunday, Emile.

Edgeworth Tavern Saturday, The Way.

Exchange Hotel Saturday, Misbehave. Sunday, Hornet.

Finnegans Saturday, Luke La Beat, Lionette.

Gallipoli Legions Club Sunday, Shivoo.

Gateshead Tavern Sunday, The Way.

Grand Junction Hotel Saturday, Smudge. Sunday, Melody Pool.

Gunyah Hotel Sunday, The 3. Saturday, 24 Hours. Sunday, Pocket Aces.

Hamilton Station Hotel Saturday, The Bennies, Hightime, Stolen Youth, Ill Natured, Run Squirrel, Downside, Hack The Mainframe, Superdose Gangway, Boudicca, Brothers Nude, Jamie Hay, Nina & Reuben, Jesse Coulter, Spencer Scott, Ess Em, Vetty Vials, Dal Failure. Sunday, Squid Fishing, Wilson and the Castaways, New Boon.

Hexham Bowling Club Saturday, City Beats.

Honeysuckle Hotel Saturday, Hummingbirds. Sunday, Mick Jones.

Hotel Cessnock Saturday, Chris Unicomb.

Imperial Hotel Singleton Saturday, Troy Kemp.

Jewells Tavern Saturday, Snape Trilogy.

Kent Hotel Saturday, Newcastle Flyers. Sunday, Thread.

King Street Hotel Saturday, Dom Dolla.

Kurri Kurri Bowling Club Saturday, Kevin O’Hara.

Lambton Park Hotel Sunday, Austin Mackay.

Lass O’Gowrie Saturday, Dream Cities, Catnip, Cooks & Bakers, India and the Journey to the East, Laurence Clancy, Anna & Josh.

Lizotte’s Saturday, Diesel, Colin Lillie. Sunday, Bella Voce (lunch), Lior, Domini Forster (dinner). 

Lochinvar Hotel Saturday, Karen O’Shea.

Lucky Hotel Saturday, The Gleesons. Sunday, Sunday Republic.

Mary Ellen Hotel Saturday, The 3.

Maryland Tavern Saturday, Paparazzi.

Mattara Hotel Saturday, Matt Gaudry.

Mavericks On The Bay Saturday, Todd Schmoo. Sunday, Reg Sinclair.

Mezz Bar at Wallsend Diggers Saturday, Gen-R-8. Sunday, Bonny Rai.

Morisset Country Club Sunday, Jacinta.

Murray’s Brewery Saturday, Amy Fredes. Sunday, Dean Kyrwood.

Nag’s Head Hotel Saturday, Phil McKnight.

Nelson Bay Diggers Saturday, Evergreen. Sunday, Bobby C.

Nelson Bay Golf Club Saturday, Joel Oakhill.

Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club Sunday, Hummingbirds.

Newcastle Jockey Club Sunday, Lauren Arms.

Northern Star Hotel Saturday, Allon, Craig Thomson.

Orana Hotel Sunday, The V Dubs.

Pippis At The Point Saturday, Jon Matthews. Sunday, Pete McCredie.

Queens Wharf Hotel Saturday, Lithium, Bonny Rai. Sunday, Trancemission, Wharf Life.

Railway Hotel Cessnock Sunday, Ash Mountain.

Raymond Terrace Bowling Club Sunday, Max Jackson.

Roche Estate Grapevine Gathering ft. The Wombats (UK), Client Liaison, The Jungle Giants, Tkay Maidza, Miami Horror, Young Franco & more.

Royal Federal Hotel Branxton Saturday, Pocket Aces.

Royal Hotel Singleton Sunday, Kristo and King.

Royal Motor Yacht Club Toronto Sunday, Darren Rolling Keys Band.

Seabreeze Hotel Saturday, Code Red.

Shenanigans at the Imperial Saturday, Zac and Ben.

Shoal Bay Country Club Saturday, Mojo Bandits. Sunday, Dynamite.

Shortland Hotel Saturday, Jon Matthews.

Singleton Diggers Saturday, Darren Rolling Keys.

Small Ballroom Saturday, Dyer Maker, Kingsley James, Rum Jungle, The Shang.

Soldiers Point Bowling Club Saturday, Purple Hearts.

Stag and Hunter Hotel Saturday, Massive.

Stockton Bowling Club Sunday, Karen & Milton.

Stockton RSL Club Saturday, Peter Grant.

Swansea Hotel Saturday, Frick N Orson.

Swansea RSL Club Saturday, Got It Covered.

Swansea-Belmont Surf Life Saving Club Sunday, John Larder.

Swansea Workers Club Saturday, Layth Gunn. Sunday, Matty G.

Sydney Junction Hotel Saturday, Felix Quinn Music Band.

Tea Gardens Hotel Saturday, The Radiators.

Tilligerry RSL Saturday, Mark Lee.

Toronto Workers Saturday, Max Jackson, The Rattlesnakes.

Town Hall Hotel Saturday, Greg McKew.

Victoria Hotel Hinton Saturday, Chris Saxby. Sunday, Zane Penn.

Wangi Hotel Sunday, Dan Newberry.

Warners At The Bay Saturday, The DuoTones.

Westfield Kotara Saturday, Vogue, DJ Justeez, Megan Core. Sunday, Mark Wells. 

Wests Cardiff Saturday, Anthology.

Wests New Lambton Saturday, Rubber Bullet. Tuesday, Angamus.

Wests NEX Saturday, Dr. Zoom Duo.

Wickham Park Hotel Saturday, Sneaky Freakers, The Ride Ons. Sunday, Helena, Steve Edmonds.

Windale Gateshead Bowling Club Saturday, Minute By Minute.

Windsor Castle Hotel Saturday, Codi Kaye.

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 spiral.

Bohemian Rhapsody (M) A celebration of Queen, their music and their lead singer Freddie Mercury. (Lake Cinema)

Book Club (M) Four lifelong friends have their lives forever changed after reading 50 Shades of Grey in their monthly book club. (Regal)

Boy Erased (MA) The son of a Baptist preacher is forced to participate in a church-supported gay conversion program.

Christopher Robin (G) Working-class family man Christopher Robin encounters his childhood friend Winnie-the-Pooh. (Lake Cinema, Regal)

Creed II (M) Adonis Creed tries to seek revenge when he goes toe to toe with the man who killed his father.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (M) Making good on his threat, Grindelwald escapes custody and has set about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda.

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. (Regal)

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) Laurie Strode comes to her final confrontation with Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since a Halloween night four decades ago.

Juliet Naked (M) Annie and her unlikely transatlantic romance with once revered, now faded, singer-songwriter, Tucker Crowe, is the subject of Duncan’s musical obsession. (Regal)

Lean On Pete (M) Charley, 15, lives with his alcoholic father in a run-down house. In an effort to help his dad stay afloat, Charley takes a job at a local racetrack where he befriends jaded trainer Del and burnt-out jockey Bonnie while caring for a  horse named Lean on Pete. (Tower)

Planes (G) From the CG-animated world of Pixar’s Cars comes this high-flying Disney tale of a crop-dusting plane named Dusty, who dreams of competing in a famous aerial race.

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.

Robin Hood (M) A war-hardened Crusader and his Moorish commander mount an audacious revolt against the corrupt English crown.

Second Act (M) A big box store worker reinvents her life and her life-story and shows Madison Avenue what street smarts can do.

The Children Act (M) As her marriage crumbles, a judge must decide a case involving a teenage boy who is refusing a blood transfusion on religious principle.

The Girl in the Spider’s Web (MA) Computer hacker Lisbeth Salander and journalist Mikael Blomkvist are caught in a web of spies, cybercriminals and corrupt officials.

The Grinch (G) A grumpy Grinch plots to ruin Christmas for the village of Whoville.

The King And I (G) Live from the London Palladium Theatre.

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (PG) A young girl is transported into a magical world of gingerbread soldiers and an army of mice.

The Old Man & The Gun (M) At the age of 70, career robber Forrest Tucker embarks on a string of bank robberies that confound the authorities and enchant the public.

Widows (MA15+) Set in Chicago, four women with nothing in common except a debt left behind by their dead husbands' criminal activities, take fate into their own hands.