FESTIVAL X Saturday and Sunday, Newcastle venues. University of Newcastle student works in the areas of design, animation, communication, theatre, music and film. Exhibitions, screenings and performances include Stories from the Hunter Region documentaries, Women x Women, immersive performance Leaves and Lashes: High Tea and the Art of Flogging, and The Bone Dry Bash.

Christmas Lights Spectacular 2019 Saturday and Sunday, 5.30pm to 10.30pm, Hunter Valley Gardens, Pokolbin. Newly created immersive displays include a White Christmas scene, Lovers Corner and light tunnels. Daily until January 26.

McHappy Day McDonald's restaurants across NSW. Now in its 28th year, the day raises funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Lake Macquarie Family History Group Meeting 10am to 4pm, Marmong Point Community Hall, 31B George Street, Marmong Point. Guest speaker at 2pm is Carla Edwards, portrait and exhibiting photographer. Research assistance available from 10am. Entry is free. Phone Warren Oliver on 4959 5403 for further information.

Repair Cafe Lake Mac 10am to 1pm, Warners Bay Girl Guides Hall, 6 Lamington Drive, Mount Hutton. Bring your clothing, bicycle, hand tools and small furniture in need of repair, and we can help you mend or fix it. Or simply come along for a cuppa and a chat. Services are free.

East Coast Sidecar Round Up Newcastle Showground. preliminary racing 4pm; main event 6pm.

Real Film Festival 2019 Saturday and Sunday. Film screenings, workshops, parties. For details and events go to realfilmfestival.com.au.

Newcastle International Animation Festival Saturday and Sunday, Harold Lobb Theatre, Newcastle Conservatorium, corner Auckland and Laman streets, Newcastle.

The Grove Open Day and Registration Day 11am to 2pm, The Grove Studios Academy, 286 Mangrove Road, Somersby. For students wanting to study a career in music or audio in 2020. Find out about the 12-month Diploma of Music Industry (Sound Production) and Advanced Diploma of Music Industry.

Tilli Fest 2019 Celebrate the towns of the Tillgerry Peninsula at Henderson Park, Lemon Tree Passage, 10am to 9pm. Market stalls, carnival rides, demonstrations, music, dancing, fireworks and more.

The Hunter Race Day 10am onwards, Newcastle Racecourse, Broadmeadow. The inaugural running of million-dollar race The Hunter.

Kids Farm Animals 1pm to 4pm, Royal Crown Hotel, Dudley.

Wheelchair Basketball Club Challenge 10am, Broadmeadow Basketball Stadium, Broadmeadow.

Clean Up The Breakwall 10.30am to 2.30pm, d'Albora Marina, Nelson Bay. Divers must have their Open Water Dive Certificate and bring it on the day to be able to dive. Please supply your own diving gear and a dive knife. Other helpers, bring sturdy shoes, a hat and sunscreen or wet weather gear. Register at sharkandrayencounters.rezdy.com.

Legends of League McDonald Jones Stadium, Broadmeadow. A day of "old school" rugby league where six teams containing league legends compete to raise money for the Mark Hughes Foundation. Gates open noon; first game 1pm.

Kotara 2019 Beer Carnival Meet the brewers from noon plus face painting, a hypnotist and live music. Beerhaus at The Rooftop, Westfield Kotara.

Community Colouring-in and Art Therapy Exhibition 9.30am to 3pm, Carrington Bowling Club. The Carrington Colouring-in Group will demonstrate the many ways to colour using pencils and marker pens. Limited edition artwork and crafts for sale.

Westfield W-League Round 1 Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne City. Kick-off 6pm at No. 2 Sportsground, Smith Street, Newcastle West.

Lions "Lap the Map" Walk For Diabetes Various locations. Each walker's gold coin donation will be donated to Lions Diabetes Research Foundation.

Central Districts Rowing Association Sprint Championships 8am onwards, Throsby Creek, Carrington.

Time Out Festival 9am to 4pm, Morisset High School. Markets, food and wine, music, workshops, arts, craft, fitness, entertainment, Medieval battles, Steam Punk displays, drumming and more.

The Wellbeing & Psychic Fair 10am to 4pm, Nelson Bay Bowling and Recreation Club, Stockton Street, Nelson Bay. Holistic therapists, unique gifts, psychic mediums and workshops. Entry is $5; children under 12 free.

Family Fun Day - Say No To Domestic Violence 10am to 2pm, Speers Point Park, Creek Reserve Road, Speers Point. Rides, face painting, baby animal petting zoo, sport skills demonstrations, children's play zone, entertainment and more. Gold coin donation to each activity.

Newcastle Guitar Club 1pm to 4pm, Edgeworth Memorial Neighbourhood Centre, corner Minmi and Main roads, Edgeworth. Monthly catch-up for guitar lovers, players, collectors and enthusiasts. Phone Jeff Clapton on 0448 899 744 for details.

Maitland BrickFest: A LEGO Fan Event 10am to 4pm, Maitland High School. Entry $5 per person, or $15 per family.

Guided sustainable homes tour, November 23 and 14, at Callicoma Hill Eco-cabins, 529 Mount Royal Road, Carrowbrook. Information for anyone building or renovating a house, wanting a sustainable lifestyle, or simply curious about how off-grid living works in practice. Also, a screening of 1947 film Bush Christmas. Bookings essential, go to calli.com.au.

Warners Bay Markets Saturday, 8am to 2pm, The Esplanade, Warners Bay.

Christmas Market Day Saturday, 9am to 1pm, Toronto Uniting Church Hall, 118 The Boulevarde, Toronto.

Olive Tree Market (& Festival X) Saturday, 9am to 3pm, Civic Park, Newcastle.

Garage Sale Saturday, 8.30am to 12.30pm, St John's Presbyterian Church Hall, corner Hanbury and Macquarie streets, Mayfield.

Artisan Market Saturday, 8am to noon, Anglican Parish Hall, corner Capp and South streets, Telarah.

Waratah Mens Shed Market Saturday, 8am to 3pm, Waratah Park, opposite Waratah Station.

Newcastle Food & Flower Markets Saturday, 8am to 2pm, 1 Rural Drive, Sandgate.

Handmade in the Hunter Markets Saturday, 9am to 3pm, Kevin Sobels Wines, 5 Halls Road, Pokolbin.

Hamilton Clocktower Markets Saturday, 8am to 2pm, James Street Plaza, Hamilton.

Hunter Street Organic Markets Saturday, 9am to 3pm, Hunter Street Mall, Newcastle.

Hunter Wine Country Markets Saturday, 9am to 3pm, De Bortoli Wines, 532 Wine Country Drive, Pokolbin.

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

Adamstown Lions Market Sunday, 7am to 1pm, corner Brunker and Glebe roads, Adamstown.

The Sunday Muster Artisan Market Sunday, 9am to 2pm, Mortels Sheepskin Factory, 1 Weakleys Drive, Thornton.

Art Bazaar Christmas Market Sunday, 9am to 3pm, Lambton Park, Lambton. A Hunter Arts Network event.

Toronto Lions Market Sunday, 8.30am to 1.30pm, Toronto Lions Park, Toronto.

Stardust Bazaar Market Sunday, 3pm to 7pm, Lass O'Gowrie Hotel, 14 Railway Street, Wickham.

The Old Fireshed Gallery Wollombi Conversation, by The Wollombi Ceramics Group, until December 1.

Newcastle Art Gallery Between Two Worlds, by Guo Jian, Rowena Foong and Peter Gardiner. Panel discussion with curator Catherine Croll on Saturday, 2pm to 3pm.

Newcastle Library Local History Lounge Newcastle In Print, until February 22.

Art Systems Wickham 40/40: 40 Artists Celebrate 40 Years, until November 24.

Cooks Hill Galleries Birdland, by Phil Stallard, until November 25.

Cessnock Regional Art Gallery Gathered, by Nicole de Mestre and Kylie Beynon, until November 23.

Blackstone Gallery Newcastle Life and Light, by Ebony Bennett, until November 24.

Newcastle ArtSpace On Her Shoulders, until November 17.

The Lock Up Open House, by Tim Buchanan, Keg De Souza, Hannah Furmage, until December 1.

CStudios Art Gallery Connections, by Hunter Women Artists, until November 30.

University of Newcastle Gallery Reimagining the Canon, various artists, until November 17. Saturday, 10.30am to 1.30pm: meet the artists, curator and contributors.

SEEN@Swansea Waste To Art, until December 1.

Timeless Textiles Alchemy, by Susan Hotchkis, until November 21.

Brough House, Museum of Clothing High Street Maitland - Coming to Town in the 50s, until November 30.

Gallery 139 at The Owens Collective Expansion, by Lydia Miller, Matthew Tome, Shelagh Lummis, Paul Maher, Dino Consalvo, Sally Reynolds, Malcolm Sands, Kate Hopkinson-Pointer, Peter Gardiner, Liam Power, Belinda Street, Nina Battley, Hugh Ramage, Michelle Teear, Helene Leane, Jo Shand, until December 14.

Watt Space Gallery Saturday at 2pm: Women x Women fundraising event designed to raise awareness and funds for women's mental health with all proceeds going towards organisation Liptember.

Newcastle Studio Potters & Back To Back Galleries Air Fire Water Earth, by Gail Steel, Janet Steel, Tara Mann, Julie Batts, until December 1.

Port Stephens Community Arts Centre Memories of Our Travels, until December 3. Christmas Display.

Maitland Regional Art Gallery Snakeabout, Teresa Purnell, until February 2. The Myth of the Angry Wizards of Maitland, by Frank Oakes; Time Traveller, by Suzanne Archer; In The Light of the Day, by Nola Tegel, until November 17. A Poem For Maitland - In celebration of the Maitland Region Society of Artists 21st Birthday, until November 24. Unfolding Time, Penelope Seidler's Gift to Maitland, until February 16. Remnants Before The Tasman, by Brett Piva, until May 31. Legacy: Reflections on Mabo, until January 26. Free Art Sunday.

Dali: Hallucinogenic Toreador Newcastle writer and actor Carl Caulfield uses the scandalous and surreal life of Spanish artist Salvador Dali to raise questions about art, love and fame. Stray Dogs Theatre, at the Civic Playhouse, Newcastle. Saturday at 8pm. 4929 1977.

Miss Bennet: Christmas At Pemberley Four of the five Bennet sisters from Pride and Prejudice are reunited for Christmas, but have things improved for them in the two years they have been apart? Comedy by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon. Newcastle Theatre Company, at the NTC Theatre, Lambton. Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2pm. 4952 4958.

Wizard of Oz Retro Revised version of the first lively stage musical adaptation by L. Frank Baum of his novel about a girl flown over the rainbow by a fierce storm. Maitland Musical Society. St John's Pro Cathedral, Maitland. Saturday at 7pm, Sunday at 1.30pm.

5 Sawyers Saturday, DJ Shots Fired. Sunday, DJ Perry Carter.

Adamstown Uniting Church Saturday, Voices For Tuvalu Concert.

Anna Bay Tavern Saturday, Loaded Acoustics. Sunday, Darren Rolling Keys.

Argenton Hotel Sunday, Chad Shuttleworth Duo.

Avon Valley Inn Saturday, Steel City.

Battlesticks Bar Saturday, John Larder. Sunday, Kaitlyn Simms.

Beach Hotel Saturday, The Black Sails. Sunday, Riff Raff.

Beerhaus Saturday, Ashley Knight. Sunday, Big Pete.

Belmont 16s Saturday, Loko, Duncan Woods. Sunday, Norm Bakker.

Belmont Hotel Saturday, Redline.

Belmore Hotel Saturday, Pocket Aces. Sunday, Tim Broadway.

Beresfield Bowling Club Saturday, Rave On.

Bimbadgen Saturday, Rob Thomas (USA), Pete Murray, Daryl Braithwaite, Russell Morris.

The Bradford Saturday, Kisstory - The Australian Kiss Show.

Bulahdelah Bowling Club Saturday, Mark Lee.

Cambridge Hotel Saturday, Pals, Shady Nasty, NTL Landmarks. Sunday, Boom Crash Opera, Machinations, Dale Ryder.

Carrington Bowling Club Sunday, Lonesome & Ernest.

Catho Pub Saturday, The Bad and The Ugly. Sunday, Smokin Rosie.

Caves Coastal Bar & Bungalows Saturday, Thomas Macokatic Band. Sunday, Tim Harding.

Central Leagues Club Saturday, Pete Gelzinnis.

Cessnock Leagues Club Saturday, The Hitpit.

Civic Theatre Saturday, Hooked On Classics. Sunday, Hunter Singers 30th Anniversary Concert.

Club Charlestown Saturday, The Smarts.

Club Maitland City Saturday, Pete McCredie.

Colliery Inn Sunday, Troy Kemp.

Commercial Hotel Morpeth Saturday, Kelly Hope.

Customs House Sunday, Jake Davey.

Cypress Lakes Saturday, Ashley Knight.

Denman Hotel Saturday, The Georgia Project.

Duke Of Wellington Saturday, Chad Shuttleworth Duo.

East Cessnock Bowling Club Saturday, Andrew G.

East Maitland Bowling Club Saturday, Big Night Out. Sunday, Bernie.

Easts Golf & Leisure Club Sunday, Karen O'Shea.

Edgeworth Bowling Club Sunday, ROX.

Edgeworth Tavern Saturday, Pete Hibbert, Brien McVernon.

Family Hotel Newcastle Saturday, Kingsley James, Byren.

Finnegans Saturday, Kid Kenobi.

Gallipoli Legion Club Sunday, PaNic.

Gateshead Tavern Sunday, The Bad & The Ugly.

George Tavern Saturday, Spank'n The Monkey.

Grand Junction Hotel Sunday, Magpie Diaries.

Great Northern Hotel Newcastle Saturday, James Paul.

Gunyah Hotel Saturday, The Search Party. Sunday, Glen Harrison.

Hamilton Station Hotel Sunday, The Yugoslav Attack, Dog, Lem Bucko, Spencer Scott.

Harrigan's Pokolbin Saturday, The V-Dubs.

Hexham Bowling Club Saturday, The Levymen.

Honeysuckle Hotel Saturday, D-Love. Sunday, CrocQ.

Hotel Delany Saturday, Crawford Brothers.

Imperial Hotel Maitland Saturday, The After Party.

Iron Horse Inn Saturday, 2GoodReasons.

Jewells Tavern Saturday, Jarred Taylor & The Iron Shackle Band, Blues Bombers, Katie Jayne & KTK Band.

The Junction Hotel Saturday, James Burgess Trio.

Kurri Kurri Bowling Club Saturday, Steve Werren.

Lake Macquarie Yacht Club Saturday, Oran Vir. Sunday, Kelly Griffin.

Lakeside Village Tavern Saturday, Loose Bazooka.

Lambton Park Hotel Saturday, Danny & Jake. Sunday, Austin Mackay.

Lass O'Gowrie Hotel Saturday, Heaps Gay.

Lizotte's Saturday, Steve Balbi, Lozz Benson. Sunday, Sam Reynolds & Co.

Lochinvar Hotel Saturday, Wayne Dufty.

Lucky Hotel Saturday, The Colonel's 2 Piece Feed. Sunday, Sunday Republic.

Mary Ellen Hotel Saturday, Choice Cuts.

Maryland Tavern Saturday, Kazzie Duo.

Mattara Hotel Saturday, Bobby C.

Mavericks On The Bay Saturday, Max Jackson. Sunday, Mick Jones.

Mavericks On Darby Saturday, Mick Jones.

Mayfield Bowling Club Saturday, The Motherlode, Trashed Again, Froth Dogs, Stoids.

Mayfield Ex-Services Saturday, Cruzers.

Mezz Bar at Wallsend Diggers Saturday, Greg Bryce Band, DJ Smashup. Sunday, Chris Saxby.

Murray's Brewery Sunday, Brien McVernon.

Nag's Head Hotel Saturday, Boney Rivers.

Nelson Bay Golf Club Saturday, Anyerin. Sunday, Matt Bowles.

Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club Sunday, Dave Carter.

Newcastle Diggers Saturday, Hendo.

Newcastle Jockey Club Saturday, Chad Shuttleworth, Zane Penn, David McCredie, Renee Standing.

Newcastle Hotel Saturday, Kid On A Leash, In Mantra, Sophie Berlyn, Korky Buchek. Sunday, Marauda, Subfiltronik, Akira, Ayonikz, BOM.

Norah Head Lighthouse Saturday, Xavier Rudd, Mama Kin Spender, The Sea Gypsies, Miniq, Tiali Eliza, Jye Sharp, Nick Saxon.

Northern Star Hotel Saturday, Paula & Owen.

Paxton Bowling Club Saturday, Hayden Johns.

Pedens Hotel Sunday, Pete McCredie.

Pippis At The Point Saturday, Michael Peter Duo. Sunday, Max Jackson.

Premier Hotel Saturday, Got It Covered.

Prince of Wales Hotel Saturday, Connect 5. Sunday, Spuz.

Queens Wharf Hotel Saturday, Matt Gaudry, Paparazzi. Sunday, Fish Fry, Wharf Life.

Royal Federal Hotel Branxton Saturday, Lithium.

Royal Hotel Singleton Sunday, Loaded Acoustics.

Royal Motor Yacht Club Toronto Sunday, Dave McCredie.

Rutherford Hotel Saturday, Bernie.

Seabreeze Hotel Saturday, Leadbellies. Sunday, Jayde Corner.

Shoal Bay Country Club Saturday, The Australian Crawl Show. Sunday, Mak.

Soldiers Point Bowling Club Saturday, Snape Trilogy.

Stag and Hunter Hotel Saturday, Urban Chiefs, Halfway Homebuoy, Filthy Lucre, Salt & Steel, Lizard, New Black Shades, Darryl James, Chris Mathews, Jimmy Watts, The Lil Corn Holes & Pop Standen. Sunday, Mick Daley's Corporate Raiders.

Swansea Hotel Sunday, Felix Quinn.

Swansea RSL Club Saturday, Bliss Bomb. Sunday, Jamie Martens.

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

Swansea Workers Club Sunday, Jackson Halliday.

Sydney Junction Hotel Saturday, Misbehave. Sunday, Hornet.

Tattersalls Hotel Greta Saturday, Ryan Hemsworth.

Tea Gardens Hotel Saturday, Kevin O'Hara.

Tilligerry RSL Saturday, Deborah Sinclair.

Toronto Hotel Sunday, Matt McLaren.

Toronto Workers Saturday, 24 Hours.

Town Hall Hotel Saturday, Jim Overend.

Vault 73 Saturday, Ian Papworth.

Victoria Hotel Hinton Saturday, Robbie T. Sunday, Mark Wells.

Vincent St Kitchen & Bar Cessnock Saturday, Darren Gould.

Wangi Hotel Sunday, Maryanne Rex.

Wangi Wangi RSL Club Sunday, DJ Cotton.

Warners At The Bay Saturday, Katie & Feff.

Warners Bay Hotel Saturday, Stiletto.

Wests Cardiff Saturday, The Jungle Kings.

Wests City Saturday, Anthony Lee.

Wests Nelson Bay Saturday, Hummdinger. Sunday, Bobby C.

Wests New Lambton Saturday, The Years.

Wickham Park Hotel Saturday, Sunhill Drive, Mal Eastick. Sunday, Greg Bryce, Shtick Men.

Windsor Castle Hotel Saturday, Darren Rolling Keys.

Ad Astra (M) An astronaut travels to the outer edges of the solar system to find his father and unravel a mystery that threatens the survival of our planet. He uncovers secrets which challenge the nature of human existence and our place in the cosmos. (Lake Cinema)

Alice-Miranda Friends Forever (G) Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale Girls Academy is a place of friendship and fun, but also high drama, mystery and intrigue. Join Alice-Miranda, the youngest ever student, on her treasure trove of mysteries.

Arctic Justice (G) Swifty is a little fox with big dreams, working in the mail room of the Arctic Blast Delivery Service. When Swifty accidentally stumbles upon the hidden fortress of evil genius Otto Von Walrus, he enlists the help of his friends.

Cats (PG) A cat named Blanket has long been living in a high-rise apartment in the city with his son, Cape. One day, curious about the outside world, Cape decides to leave home and embarks on an adventure to find the legendary cat's paradise.

Charlie's Angels (M) Charlie's Angels have always provided security and investigative skills to private clients, and now the Townsend Agency has expanded internationally, with the smartest, most fearless, most highly trained women all over the globe.

Downton Abbey (PG) The continuing story of the Crawley family, wealthy owners of a large estate in the English countryside in the early 20th century. (Lake Cinema, Regal)

Ford v Ferrari (M) Visionary US car designer Carroll Shelby and the fearless British-born driver Ken Miles battle corporate interference, the laws of physics, and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary race car for Ford Motor Company and take on the dominating race cars of Enzo Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France in 1966.

Hustlers (MA) Inspired by the viral New York Magazine article, Hustlers follows a crew of savvy former strip club employees who turn the tables on their Wall Street clients.

INXS: Live Baby Live at Wembley Stadium (M) On July 13, 1991 INXS, one of Australia's most iconic bands, delivered the gig of their lives at Wembley Stadium to 74,000 fans. After a decade and a half on the road the band were at their peak.

Joker (MA 15+) A failed stand-up comedian is driven insane and becomes a psychopathic murderer.

Judy (M) Legendary performer Judy Garland arrives in London in the winter of 1968 to perform a series of sold-out concerts.

Last Christmas (PG) Kate harumphs around London, a bundle of bad decisions accompanied by the jangle of bells on her shoes, another irritating consequence from her job as an elf in a year-round Christmas shop.

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (PG) The years have been kind to Maleficent and Aurora. Their relationship, born of heartbreak, revenge and ultimately love, has flourished. Yet the hatred between man and the fairies still exists.

My Big Gay Italian Wedding (M) In this merry movie of matrimony, happily engaged Antonio brings his fiancé Paulo to the exquisite old Italian village of his birth to meet his headstrong parents and reveal his sexuality, setting out on a quest to make a city founded on religious tradition understand that love is love. (Event, Kotara)

Palm Beach (M) Lifelong friends reunite for a party at Sydney's Palm Beach. (Regal)

Pavarotti (M) From two-time Academy Award-winning director Ron Howard and the team behind the worldwide success The Beatles: Eight Days a Week, comes a documentary celebrating the life of the beloved opera star Luciano Pavarotti.

Put Nonna in the Freezer (M) Simone, a clumsy financier, falls in love with Claudia, who's living on her grandma's retirement checks. When the old lady dies Claudia hides the body in a freezer, and sets up a fraud with the help of some friends to avoid bankruptcy.

Ready Or Not (MA) A young bride joins her new husband's rich, eccentric family in a time-honoured tradition that turns into a lethal game with everyone fighting for their survival.

Ride Like A Girl (PG) The story of Michelle Payne, the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup.

Rory's Way (M) When a rugged old Scotsman reluctantly moves in overseas with his estranged son in San Francisco, his life is altered through an unexpected romance and newly-found bond with his baby grandson. (Regal)

Sink Or Swim (M) Several 40-something guys, all on the verge of a mid-life crisis, decide to form their local pool's first synchronised swimming team - for men. (Regal)

Stephen King's Doctor Sleep (MA) Years following the events of The Shining, an now-adult Dan Torrence meets a young girl with similar powers as his and tries to protect her from a cult known as The True Knots who prey on children with powers to remain immortal.

Terminator: Dark Fate (MA) Returning to the original premise of the first two Terminator films, where an unstoppable killing machine relentlessly pursues an unsuspecting human target in our contemporary world.

The Keeper (M) The story of a man whose love for football, for England and for the love of his life, Margaret, saw him rise from Nazi 'villain' to British hero. (Regal)

Zombieland: Double Tap (MA) Four slayers must face off against the many new kinds of zombies that have evolved since the first movie, as well as some new human survivors. But most of all, they have to face the growing pains of their own snarky, makeshift family.