Carols By The Lake 2018 11am to 9pm, Toronto Foreshore Park, Victory Parade, Toronto. Christmas Fair from 11am to 4pm; live music 5.30pm to 6pm; carols 6pm until 9pm.

Kiwanis Charity Christmas Trees 7am until sold at Telstra Tower, Adamstown Heights; 161 Macquarie Road, Cardiff; Lions Park Macquarie Drive, Eleebana. $55 each. Proceeds donated to children’s charities.

Bands in the Park 11am to 2pm, Warners Bay Foreshore Rotunda. Presented by the Hunter Regional Band Association. 

Christmas in the City 10am to noon, on the tiered lawn in Hunter Street Mall. There will be a baby animal farm, Newcastle Youth Orchestra will perform, plus Ruby the Clown.

Wallsend Community Christmas Carols 6pm to 9.15pm, Federal Park, Wallsend. Music, entertainment, clowns, dancers, Santa Claus plus fireworks.

Carols in Allambee Park 5pm to 8pm,  Allambee Park, Valentine.

Garden Suburb 100 Year Celebration Noon to 2pm, Garden Suburb Uniting Church. On December 7, 1918, most of the blocks of land in Garden Suburb were auctioned and sold. View old photos of the suburb, talk to residents. 

Pups in the Park 8am to 3pm, Lambton Park. Food and market stalls, information and giveaways, puppy Santa pics, best dressed dog and more. Bring your furry friend.

Carols on Dobell 5pm to 8.30pm, Dobell Park, Wangi Wangi. Presented by Wangi Lions Club and LJ Hooker, a night of traditional community Christmas carol singing starring local school students, The Newcastle Army Band, Stilling Street Singers, Westlakes Concert Band and soloists. Santa will arrive on a vintage fire engine.

Newcastle University Choir’s Christmas Concert 2pm to 4.30pm, Great Hall, University of Newcastle, University Drive Callaghan. Handel’s Messiah.

Christmas With The Porters 1pm to 4pm, Miss Porter's House Museum, 434 King Street, Newcastle West. Adults $8, concessions $6, family $20, children under 5 free. 

Splitters Comedy featuring Sarah Gaul 7.30pm to 9.30pm, Crown & Anchor Hotel, Newcastle. Luke Dillon, Jack Tideswell, Allan Brady, David Gairdner and James Connors are also on the line-up. Experience an Edwardian Christmas – see how the Porter family celebrated with cards, recipes, decorations and toys during the early years of the 20^th century. 

Lake Mac Carols Noon to 9pm, Speers Point Park. Lake Macquarie City Council presents an evening of fireworks, entertainment, food and music. Catch the family Christmas movie, Christmas All Over Again, on the big screen from noon, with free children’s activities and live entertainment all day. There will be a food truck alley and Thirsty Merc and Damien Leith will headline the evening carols concert, which kicks off at 6.30pm and concludes with a fireworks finale from 9pm. There will be free Wi-Fi available in the park to sing along to the carols using the online songbook.     

Hyundai A-League Newcastle Jets vs Brisbane Roar at McDonald Jones Stadium, Broadmeadow. Gates open 2pm, kick-off 5pm.

Street Eats 5pm to 8pm, Victor Warby Reserve, Gillieston Heights. 

Ten Year Do-ers Do 2pm to 8pm, The Station Newcastle. Live art, auctions, musical performances, maker stalls, a book launch and, local food and drink. Celebrating 10 years of “doing” for Renew Newcastle. 

Swansea’s annual carols tradition continues on Saturday, December 15, with Carols at Swansea returning to Chapman Oval. The event kicks off at 5pm with The Michael Wilks Band, JD’s World of Magic and a visit from Santa Claus himself. There will live music, food and market stalls, rides, carol singing and a spectacular fireworks display will light up Swansea Channel around 9pm. Bring a picnic rug and camping chairs.

Young Entrepreneurs and Artisans Marketplace Saturday, 9am to 2pm, Hunter Multicultural Community Centre. A handmade, handcrafted, upcycled and recycled Christmas market.

Lake Macquarie City Farmers Market Saturday, 7.30am to 1pm, Speers Point Park. 

Handmade In The Hunter Markets Saturday, 9am to 3pm, Sunday, 9am to 2pm, Kevin Sobels Wines, Halls Road, Pokolbin.

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

Sunset Gather Saturday, 4pm to 8pm, Pacific Park, Newcastle. 

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.

Dalwood Estate Christmas Markets Sunday, 8am to 3pm, Dalwood Estate, Dalwood.

The Lock Up Argo Pacifico, by Jen Denzin and Oliver Harlan, until January 27. 

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 Cessnock Includes You – Diversity, until December 30.

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 OBSESSED: Compelled to Make, by the Australian Design Centre. Headquarters: explores the diverse practices that come from five Hunter-based studios: The Creator Incubator, HQ, Pinkerton, Red Shed and the Soap Factory. Newcastle School: Making It! showcases unbridled creativity in works by students with a mild or severe intellectual ability. All are welcome to the launch of gallery’s summer program on Sunday: 10.30am-4pm, ArtSpace activities; 11am, opening of Newcastle School Making It!; 2pm, informal talks with guest speakers Lisa Cahill (Australian Design Centre) and exhibiting artists from Headquarters; 3pm, music and refreshments. This is a free event. 

Art Systems Wickham The Art of Children – Islington Public School, until Sunday.

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

The Junction Fair Mitch Revs, until December 18.

The Creator Incubator Christmas sale and celebration, Saturday, noon to 5pm.

Lovett Gallery Home Dignity Justice, until January 25.

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, Hamilton. Saturday at 2pm and 5pm (final shows).

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. Maitland Repertory Theatre. Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm (final shows); show includes nibbles and drinks.

Joan A story of faith, hope and courage, looking at the life of Joan of Arc, killed by men at 19 for rivalling them; devised by the young female cast members and directors Callan Purcell and Ann Croger. Upstage Theatre, at Albion Way Barn, Woodville. Saturday at 8pm.

Prada’s Priscillas: An all-male Christmas Revue The popular Sydney drag queen performers deliver a mix of songs, including numbers from Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and bright Christmas works. Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Saturday, at 8pm.

Trial by Jury & Love, Life and Opera III Opera Hunter performers, in association with Newcastle Theatre Company, present the amusing short Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera, plus renowned opera songs, including Wagner’s Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin. NTC Theatre, Lambton. Saturday at 1.30pm and 7.30pm.

5 Sawyers Saturday, DJ Urby. Sunday, Jerome Duo.

Anchorage Port Stephens Sunday, David Mccredie.

Anna Bay Tavern Saturday, The Dreamcatchers. Sunday, Mick Jones.

Argenton Hotel Saturday, Shaka. Sunday, KR Duo.

Australia Hotel Cessnock Saturday, The Tantrums.

Avon Valley Inn Saturday, Barracuda.

Bar Petite Saturday, Matt McLaren. Sunday, Grayson.

Battlesticks Bar Saturday, Greg McKew. Sunday, Mick N Josh.

Beach Hotel Saturday, The Black Sails.

Belmont 16s Saturday, Trancemission, Matt Semmens. Sunday, The Blue Water Cowboys.

Belmore Hotel Saturday, Alias.

Beresfield Bowling Club Saturday, LoKo.

Blackbutt Hotel Saturday, The 3.

The Bradford Saturday, The V Dubs. Sunday, Romney Watts.

Bulahdelah Bowling Club Saturday, Kristo and King.

Burwood Inn Saturday, Ryan Daley.

Cambridge Hotel Saturday, Kids Xmas Party with Bunny Racket. Sunday, White Blanks, Jackie Brown Jr, Surf Trash.

Cardiff RSL Club Saturday, Misbehave.

Catho Pub Saturday, Murray Byfield, Siren. Sunday, The Years.

Caves Beachside Hotel Sunday, Lachlan Edwards.

Cessnock Leagues Club Saturday, Dr. Zoom Duo.

Charlestown Bowling Club Saturday, Shooting Molly.

Charlestown Golf Club Sunday, Phil McKnight.

Club Kotara Saturday, Shivoo.

Club Lemon Tree Saturday, Let Loose.

Colliery Inn Saturday, Robbie T. Sunday, Reg Sinclair.

Criterion Hotel Weston Saturday, Code Red.

Crown & Anchor Hotel Saturday, DJ Alessandro. Saturday, Chad Shuttleworth.

Customs House Sunday, Kylie Jane.

Cypress Lakes Saturday, Pete Gelzinnis.

Denman Hotel Sunday, Lennie Live.

Duke Of Wellington Saturday, Prestige Inc.

East Cessnock Bowling Club Saturday, Andrew G.

East Maitland Bowling Club Saturday, The Lamplighters. Sunday, Big Pete.

Edgeworth Bowling Club Sunday, Brenton Williams.

Edgeworth Tavern Saturday, The Bad and The Ugly.

Exchange Hotel Saturday, Soundabout. Sunday, Anthology.

Family Hotel Maitland Saturday, Maryanne Rex Duo.

Finnegans Saturday, Kid Kenobi.

Gallipoli Legion Club Sunday, Marriah.

Gateshead Tavern Sunday, Craig Thomson Duo.

George Tavern Saturday, Deuce.

Grain Store Sunday, J.J King.

Grand Junction Hotel Sunday, Liz Stringer.

Gunyah Hotel Saturday, Triple Zero. Sunday, Overload.

Hamilton Station Hotel Saturday, Froth Dogs, Riot Violet, Helluvaloser, Moog. 

Hexham Bowling Club Saturday, Christmas Cabaret with Fabba. Sunday, John Noble.

Honeysuckle Hotel Saturday, Mark Wells Trio. Sunday, Jake Folbigg.

Hope Estate Saturday, Shania Twain (CAN), Bastian Baker (SWE).

Hotel Delany Sunday, Lauren Arms.

Imperial Hotel Singleton Saturday, Glamstars.

Jewells Tavern Saturday, Something From Nothing - Foo Fighters tribute band. 

The Junction Hotel Saturday, Marissa.

Kent Hotel Saturday, Dos Eager. Sunday, Giant. Tuesday, TNL.

Kurri Bowling Club Saturday, Matty G.

Lake Macquarie Yacht Club Sunday, Jacinta.

Lambton Park Hotel Saturday, Mick Jones.

Lass O’Gowrie Saturday, Betty Grumble, Willy Wagtail, Simple The Drag Queen, Heaps Gay Falls Set, Rachel Maria Cox. 

Lizotte’s Saturday-Sunday, Richard Clapton, Daniel March (dinner), Sunday, The D Majors (lunch). 

Lochinvar Hotel Sunday, Mark Wells.

Mary Ellen Hotel Saturday, The Smarts.

Maryland Tavern Saturday, Frick-n-Orson.

Mattara Hotel Saturday, The Levymen.

Mavericks On The Bay Saturday, Phil McKnight. Sunday, ROX.

Mavericks On Darby Saturday, Felix Quinn Music Duo.

Metropolitan Hotel Maitland Saturday, The Amigos. Sunday, Metro Muso’s Jam Session.

Mezz Bar at Wallsend Diggers Saturday, 24 Hours. Sunday, Kaylah Anne.

Morisset Country Club Sunday, Darren Rolling Keys.

Murray’s Brewery Saturday, Amy Fredes. Sunday, Holly Mae Wilson.

Nag’s Head Hotel Saturday, Pistol Pete.

Neath Hotel Saturday, Revampt.

Nelson Bay Diggers Saturday, Hummingbirds. Sunday, Karen O’Shea.

Nelson Bay Golf Club Saturday, Emily Smith.

Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club Sunday, Loko.

Newcastle Hotel Saturday, Loods.

Newcastle Jockey Club Saturday, Kaylah Anne.

Northern Star Hotel Saturday, Sarah Christine, Michael Peter.

Paxton Bowling Club Saturday, Matt Gaudry.

Peden’s Hotel Saturday, Mojo Bandits.

Pippis At The Point Sunday, Ben Travis.

Premier Hotel Saturday, Holly Mae.

Prince of Wales Hotel Saturday, Tim Rossington.

Queens Arms Hotel Saturday, Spank N The Monkey.

Queens Wharf Hotel Saturday, Vogue. Sunday, Phonic, Wharf Life.

Raymond Terrace Bowling Club Sunday, Anthony Lee.

Royal Federal Hotel Branxton Saturday, Big Night Out.

Royal Hotel Singleton Sunday, Whiskey Business Duo.

Royal Motor Yacht Club Toronto Sunday, Secret Society.

Settlers Arms Hotel Dungog Sunday, Sarah Christine.

Shenanigans at the Imperial Saturday, Adrianna Mac Duo, Purple Hearts.

Shoal Bay Country Club Saturday, Knight Moves, Sundays Record. Sunday, Brien McVernon.

Shortland Hotel Saturday, Hayden Johns.

Soldiers Point Bowling Club Saturday, Solid Gold Party Night.

Stag and Hunter Hotel Saturday, Them Wild Oats.

Station Hotel Kurri Kurri Saturday, Extreme Mobile Entertainment.

Stockton Bowling Club Sunday, Misbehave.

Swansea Hotel Saturday, Kyle Cartner. Sunday, State FX.

Swansea RSL Club Saturday, Open Fire.

Swansea-Belmont Surf Life Saving Club Sunday, Lisa Hunt.

Swansea Workers Club Saturday, Chris Unicomb. Sunday, Barracuda.

Sydney Junction Hotel Saturday, The Radiators.

Tilligerry RSL Saturday, James Paul.

Toronto Diggers Saturday, 40 Up Club.

Toronto Hotel Sunday, Greg Bryce.

Toronto Workers Saturday, Snape Trilogy.

Town Hall Hotel Saturday, Scully.

Victoria Hotel Hinton Saturday, Joel Procter. Sunday, Troy Kemp.

Wangi Hotel Saturday, Mark Lee. Sunday, Coral Lee.

Warners At The Bay Saturday, The Years.

Warners Bay Hotel Saturday, Gen-X.

Wests Cardiff Saturday, Love That Hat.

Wests New Lambton Saturday, Cruzers. Sunday, John Schumann & Shane Howard. 

Wests NEX Saturday, Counterpart. 

Wickham Park Hotel Saturday, Sunhill Drive, Band Of Burbs. Sunday, Nano.

Windsor Castle Hotel Saturday, Jessica Cain.

2.0 (M) Dr.Vaseegaran is forced to reassemble Chitti in order to stop a deadly winged monster.

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.

Beautiful Boy (MA) Based on the best-selling pair of memoirs, it chronicles the heartbreaking and inspiring experience of survival, relapse, and recovery in a family coping with addiction over many years. (Lake Cinema)

Bohemian Rhapsody (M) A celebration of Queen, their music and their lead singer Freddie Mercury, who defied stereotypes to become one of the world’s best entertainers.

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

Crazy Rich Asians (PG) This romantic-comedy native New Yorker Rachel Chu to Singapore to meet her boyfriend's family. (Regal)

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

Elliot the Littlest Reindeer (G) When Blitzen announces his retirement on December 21st, a miniature horse has 3 days to fulfill his lifelong dream of earning a spot on Santa's team at the North Pole try-outs. 

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)

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (PG) Five years after the events of Mamma Mia!, Sophie prepares for the grand reopening of the Hotel Bella Donna as she learns more about her mother's past. (Regal)

Mortal Engines (M) Many years after the “Sixty Minute War,” cities survive a now desolate Earth by moving around on giant wheels attacking and devouring smaller towns to replenish their resources.

One Hundred and One Dalmatians (G) When a litter of Dalmatian puppies are abducted by the minions of Cruella de Vil, the parents must find them before she uses them for a diabolical fashion statement.

Overload (R) On the eve of D-Day, American paratroopers are dropped behind enemy lines to carry out a mission crucial to the invasion's success. But as they approach their target, they begin to realize there is more going on in this Nazi-occupied village than a simple military operation.

Ralph Breaks The Internet (PG) Six years after the events of Wreck-It Ralph, Ralph and Vanellope, now friends, discover a wi-fi router in their arcade, leading them into a new adventure.

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.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (PG) Spider-Man crosses parallel dimensions and teams up with the Spider-Men of those dimensions to stop a threat to all reality.

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

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 Seagull (M) In the early 20th century, an aging actress and her lover visit the estate of her elderly brother. (Lake Cinema)

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.