The Drop Festival 1pm to 10pm, Empire Park, Bar Beach. An all-ages music festival.

Barrelled Food, Wine and Beer Festival Saturday and Sunday, Jefferson Park, Merewether. Wine tasting, craft brewers, music and entertainment, gourmet food. A child and dog friendly event overlooking the surfing action.

Surfest 2020 Saturday and Sunday, Merewether Beach. Final weekend.

2020 NSW Surf Life Saving Championships Saturday and Sunday, Blacksmiths Beach. Open Championships.

Rainbow Families Storytime 10am to 11am, Newcastle Library. A glitter-filled storytime with Newcastle's own Timberlina and friends. All are invited to join a singing, dancing and storytelling celebration of the city's commitment to diversity and inclusion.

NUSEC Beach Clean Up - Nobby's Breakwall Meet Newcastle University Student Environment Club members at Horseshoe Beach at 9.30am.

Webers Circus Saturday, 3pm and 7pm, and Sunday, 11am, Quinn Park, Swansea. Final weekend.

Mediums On Tour 7pm to 9pm, The Place, corner Frederick and Pearson streets, Charlestown. Tickets are $35 plus booking fee. A fundraiser for Variety the Children's Charity featuring mediums Donna Young and Benjamin Graham.

International Women's Day at Mac Museum of Art and Culture 6.30pm to 9.30pm, First Street, Booragul. A screening of Icelandic black comedy Woman at War, plus bubbles and a grazing table. Tickets $10.

International Women's Day Film Screening 6.30pm, Event Cinema, Kotara. Pappa Sven and The Swedish pay tribute to Sweden's most loved author, Astrid Lindgren, with a screening of Becoming Astrid. Tickets $20; all money raised will be donated to HMRI - Jill Emberson Memorial Foundation for Ovarian Cancer Research.

Homemade By The Porters: arts, crafts and needlework 1pm to 4pm, Miss Porter's House Museum, 434 King Street, Newcastle. See homemade clothing and textiles made by Florence Porter and her daughters Ella and Hazel, plus certificates won by the Porter women in annual shows from Newcastle to Gresford, Muswellbrook and Dungog.

The Loop Charity Ride 7am to 2pm, starting at Speers Point Park. Main ride 88km; team ride 88km; short ride 45km; family ride 7-11km.

The Wellbeing & Psychic Fair 10am to 4pm, Club Charlestown, 5 Lincoln Street, Charlestown. Holistic therapists, readers, free workshops and unique gifts. Entry is $5; children under 12 admitted free.

International Women's Day - Printmakers 2pm to 3pm, Newcastle Art Gallery, 1 Laman Street, Newcastle Celebrating local female printmakers with a panel discussion and workshops featuring different techniques.

An Afternoon With Clare Bowditch 2pm, Babylon Newcastle 145 King Street, Newcastle. Tickets $65 plus booking fee.

The Spiegeltent returns to Newcastle's Civic Park later this month. Blanc de Blanc is back (March 26 to April 19), alongside a mix of talented musicians, magicians, comedians and singers. Effie's Love Me Tinder show is first cab off the rank on Friday, March 27. Tickets are on sale now. View the line-up at spiegeltentnewcastle.com.

International Women's Day at The Olive Tree Market Saturday, 9am to 3pm, Civic Park, Newcastle. Support female artists and creatives, plus give a gold coin donation for a Bushfire Relief Fundraiser. Prizes to be won.

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

Church 4 Life Garage Sale Saturday, 8am to 1pm, 32 Sixth Street, Boolaroo.

Upper Hunter Farmers Market Saturday, 8am to noon, Maitland Street, Muswellbrook.

Hunter Wine Country Markets Saturday, 9am to 1pm, De Bortoli Wines, 532 Wine Country Drive, Pokolbin.

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

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

Newcastle City Farmers Market Sunday, 9am to 1pm, Newcastle Racecourse, Broadmeadow.

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

International Women's Day Fearless Flowers Market Sunday, 10.30am to noon, Timeless Textiles, 90 Hunter Street, Newcastle. All auction proceeds will support the Pink Meets Teal initiative, raising money to support ovarian cancer research.

Singleton Sunday Markets Sunday, 8am to 1pm, Townhead Park, Singleton.

Newcastle Art Gallery Stopping Time: Material Prints 3000 BCE to Now, until May 10. On Being There, by George Gittoes, until April 26.

Newcastle ArtSpace Retrospective, until March 8.

Wallsend Library Imagining Peace A Portrait of Modern Afghanistan, until March 15.

CStudios Art Gallery Paintings on Water - photography by Ralph Kerle, until March 7.

Cooks Hill Galleries Chi-Raq, by George Gittoes, until March 9.

Art Systems Wickham Francis Celtlan: Prints & Drawings, until March 15.

The Lock Up Living with Uncertainty, by Lucas Davidson; Natural Causes, Gavin Vitullo, until March 29.

Hunter Wetlands Centre A Place In Mind, byLyn Fabian and Shelagh Lummis, until March 27.

Watt Space Gallery [Censurativa], by Crystian Cruz; Ephemeral Compositions, by Kathryn Jeanes; Commune With Nature, by Mary Graham; Unkown Lands, by Suzi Zglinicki, until March 29.

University of Newcastle Gallery Commonplace, until March 21.

Timeless Textiles Wild Atlantic Coast, by Nicola Henley, until March 8.

MAC Museum of Art and Culture Lake Macquarie First Class 19; Guan Wei: A Case Study, curated by Carol Carter, until April 5. Mervyn Bishop, until April 12.

The Old Fireshed Gallery Wollombi Our Life - Works across two generations, by Salamah Stewart and Hadijah Munting, until March 15.

SEEN@Swansea Then and Now, until March 29.

Port Stephens Community Arts Centre Australian Flora & Fauna, by Norman Littlefair. Feature Potter Theresa Kutcha, until March 24.

Maitland Regional Art Gallery Remnants Before The Tasman, until May 31. Let All The Birds Fly: The Hybrid Print, curated by Patricia Wilson-Adams, Therese Kenyon; How Can It Be Recovered?, by Kei Takemura; Maitland International Salon of Photography, until May 3. Masters & Apprentices, by Lakeview Collection of Old Masters; Unravelling to Recognition, by Jaime Pritchard, until May 10. Free Art Sunday.

Newcastle Museum Capturing Nature, until March 8. Bush Mechanics; Cultural Resurgence, until May 31.

Chapter Two A widowed writer and a woman whose marriage has broken up are attracted to each other, but the past events make them reluctant to get together; comedy by Neil Simon. Theatre on Brunker, at St Stephen's Church Hall, Adamstown. Saturday, dinner and show at 7pm, show only at 8pm. 4957 1895.

H.M.S Pinafore Set sail on the high seas with Gilbert Sullivan's beloved comedy of star-crossed lovers, mismatched marriages and mistaken identities. Hayes Theatre Co, at Cessnock Performing Arts Centre. Saturday at 8pm. 4993 4266.

Mixed Bill Four new contemporary and very different dance works by Australian choreographers, commissioned and performed by Newcastle professional company, Catapult Dance Choreographic Hub. Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Saturday at 7.30pm. 4929 1977.

She Loves Me Musical about two shop employees, who are at odds with each other at work, and unaware that each is the other's secret lonely-hearts ads pen-pal. Book by Joe Masteroff, music and lyrics by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick. Opera Hunter, at Lake Macquarie Performing Arts Centre, Warners Bay. Saturday at 1.30pm and 7.30pm, Sunday at 1.30pm (final shows). 4943 1672.

The 39 Steps Parody by Patrick Barlow of the classic Alfred Hitchcock film about a male fugitive and a female music performer trying to save Britain from spies. Metropolitan Players, at the Civic Playhouse, Newcastle. Saturday at 1.30pm and 7.30pm. 4929 1977.

5 Sawyers Saturday, Jethro Thorpe. Sunday, The Snape Trilogy.

Anna Bay Tavern Saturday, Rocket.

Argenton Hotel Sunday, Komiti Levai Duo.

Argyle House Saturday, DJs.

Bay Hotel Saturday, The Smarts. Sunday, Kempy.

Bellbird Hotel Saturday, Kempy.

Belmont 16s Saturday, The Years, Bobby C, Mamma Mia - The Ten Sopranos Sing The Best of ABBA. Sunday, Backbeat Duo.

Belmont Hotel Saturday, Ben Travis. Sunday, Kellie Cain.

Belmore Hotel Saturday, 24 Hours.

Belmore Hotel Scone Saturday, Darren Rolling Keys.

Beresfield Bowling Club Saturday, Rubber Bullet.

The Bradford Saturday, The Amigos.

Cambridge Hotel Saturday, Alpine White, Linear, Repeater. Sunday, Order Sixty6, Novocation.

Cardiff RSL Club Saturday, Gen-R-8.

Catho Pub Sunday, No Exit - The Angels Show.

Caves Coastal Bar and Bungalows Saturday, The Gaudrys. Sunday, Beth Gleeson.

Central Charlestown Leagues Club Saturday, Tom Christie.

Cessnock Leagues Club Saturday, The Big Bang.

Clarendon Hotel Saturday, Michael Peter Duo.

Club Maitland City Saturday, Ashley Knight.

Colliery Inn Sunday, Mick Jones.

Commercial Hotel Morpeth Saturday, Lee Rolfe.

Customs House Sunday, Max Jackson.

Cypress Lakes Saturday, Emily Smith.

D'Albora Marina Sunday, Bobby C.

Duke Of Wellington Saturday, Jamie Martens Duo.

East Maitland Bowling Club Saturday, Loose Bazooka. Sunday, Boney Rivers.

East's Leisure and Golf Club Sunday, Donnie Soper.

Edgeworth Tavern Saturday, Lauren Arms.

Empire Park Bar Beach Saturday, The Drop Festival ft. The Presets, Boy & Bear, Ball Park Music, Allday, DZ Deathrays, Kita Alexander, Graace, The Pits.

Family Hotel Newcastle Saturday, Mesmeriser, Poolroom.

Finnegans Saturday, Nino Brown.

Gallipoli Legion Club Sunday, Pap & That.

George Tavern Saturday, Spank N The Monkey.

Grand Junction Hotel Sunday, Sneaky Freakers.

Great Northern Hotel Newcastle Saturday, Jess Knaus Duo.

Gunyah Hotel Saturday, Felix Quinn Band.

Hamilton Station Hotel Saturday, Planet of the 8s, El Collosso, Hey Lady, Age of Emergence.

Harrigan's Saturday, Levymen, Pocket Aces. Sunday, Two Piece Feed.

Hexham Bowling Club Saturday, The Blue Water Cowboys. Sunday, Brien McVernon.

Honeysuckle Hotel Saturday, Hummingbirds. Sunday, James Paul.

Honeysuckle Social Sunday, Arley Black.

Hotel Delany Saturday, Soundabout.

Hotel Elermore Saturday, Komiti and Jason, Hayden Johns, The Humm. Sunday, Mark Wells, Kylie Jane.

Imperial Hotel Singleton Saturday, Area 51.

Iron Horse Inn Saturday, Crawford Brothers Duo.

Jewells Tavern Saturday, Spy Vs Spy, DV8, Urban Guerillas, Witching Hour.

The Junction Hotel Saturday, Oran Vir.

Kent Hotel Saturday, Komiti Levai Band.

King Street Hotel Saturday, Slice N Dice.

Lakeside Village Tavern Saturday, The Core.

Lass O'Gowrie Hotel Saturday, Danny Blake, Tikabox, Eclipse Music, Hooey, Jakesy Hustle.

Lizotte's Saturday, Seeker Lover Keeper, Elana Stone. Sunday, WoN Love (lunch), Irish Mythen (CAN), Cass Eager (evening).

Mary Ellen Hotel Saturday, Choice Cuts.

Mattara Hotel Saturday, Tim Harding.

Mavericks On The Bay Saturday, Kaylah Anne. Sunday, Greg Bryce.

Mayfield Ex-Services Club Saturday, The Leadbellies.

Mezz Bar at Wallsend Diggers Saturday, Pseudo Echo. Sunday, Brendan Murphy.

Murray's Brewery Saturday, Amy Fredes.

Nag's Head Hotel Saturday, Karen O'Shea.

Neath Hotel Saturday, Mick Jones.

Nelson Bay Golf Club Saturday, Kazzie.

Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club Sunday, Ryan Daley.

Northern Star Hotel Saturday, Jack Evans, Allon.

Paterson Tavern Saturday, Anthony Lee.

Pippis At The Point Saturday, Chad Shuttleworth Duo. Sunday, Kristy J.

Queens Wharf Hotel Saturday, Matt Semmens, Misbehave. Sunday, Loko, Wharf Life.

Raymond Terrace Bowling Club Sunday, Kaylah Anne.

Royal Federal Hotel Branxton Saturday, Codi Kaye Band.

Royal Motor Yacht Club Toronto Saturday, Minute By Minute.

Rutherford Hotel Saturday, Simon King.

Shenanigans at the Imperial Saturday, Sun Hill Drive.

Shoal Bay Country Club Sunday, Matt McLaren.

Shortland Hotel Saturday, Reg Sinclair.

Stag and Hunter Hotel Saturday, Lizard. Sunday, Diplazar.

Swansea Belmont Surf Lifesaving Club Sunday, Reggie Sinclair Duo.

Swansea Hotel Saturday, Sound Of Sunday. Sunday, Chad Shuttleworth Duo.

Swansea RSL Club Saturday, Paparazzi.

Tilligerry RSL Saturday, Kristy J.

Toronto Hotel Saturday, Chad Shuttleworth. Sunday, ROX.

Toronto Workers Club Saturday, City Beats Duo.

Town Hall Hotel Saturday, Robbie T.

Victoria Hotel Hinton Saturday, Mick Jones, Nick Rage. Sunday, Oran Vir.

Vincent Street Kitchen and Bar Saturday, Outerphase.

Warners At The Bay Saturday, Sari Jade and Spike.

Warners Bay Hotel Saturday, Gen-X.

Wests Cardiff Saturday, The Snape Trilogy.

Wests Nelson Bay Saturday, Dr Zoom Duo. Sunday, Tim Harding.

Wests New Lambton Saturday, Doug Parkinson.

Wests NEX Saturday, Joy Duo.

Wickham Park Hotel Saturday, Rose Carleo Band. Sunday, Steve Edmonds. Wednesday, The Sound Search Band Comp.

Windsor Castle Hotel Saturday, Jacinta.

Bad Boys For Life (MA) Marcus Burnett is now a police inspector and Mike Lowery is in a midlife crisis. They unite again when an Albanian mercenary, whose brother they killed, promises them an important bonus.

Birds Of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (MA) After splitting with the Joker, Harley Quinn joins superheroes Black Canary, Huntress and Renee Montoya to save a young girl from an evil crime lord.

Bombshell (M) A group of women take on Fox News head Roger Ailes and the toxic atmosphere he presided over at the network. (Regal)

Dolittle (PG) A physician who can talk to animals embarks on an adventure to find a legendary island with a young apprentice and a crew of strange pets. (Event, Glendale)

Downhill (M) Barely escaping an avalanche during a family ski vacation in the Alps, a married couple is thrown into disarray as they are forced to reevaluate their lives and how they feel about each other.

Emma (PG) Handsome, clever, and rich, Emma Woodhouse is a restless queen bee without rivals in her sleepy little town. In this glittering satire of social class and the pain of growing up, Emma must adventure through misguided matches and romantic missteps to find the love that has been there all along.

Fantasy Island (M) The enigmatic Mr. Roarke makes the secret dreams of his lucky guests come true at a luxurious but remote tropical resort. But when the fantasies turn into nightmares, the guests have to solve the islands mystery in order to escape with their lives.

Fisherman's Friends (PG) A London music executive is pranked into signing a group of shanty-singing sherman in this feel-good, true-story comedy drama. (Regal)

Jojo Rabbit (M) A young boy in Hitler's army finds out his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their home.

Judy (M) The legendary performer Judy Garland arrives in London in the winter of 1968 to perform a series of sold-out shows at the Talk Of The Town nightclub. (Regal)

Little Women (G) Jo March reflects back and forth on her life, telling the beloved story of the March sisters - four young women each determined to live life on their own terms. (Regal)

Military Wives (M) With their partners away serving in Afghanistan, a group of women on the home front form a choir and quickly find themselves at the center of a media sensation and global movement.

Miss Fisher & the Crypt of Tears (M) After freeing a young Bedouin girl, Shirin Abbas, from her unjust imprisonment in Jerusalem, Miss Fisher begins to unravel a wartime mystery concerning a priceless jewel, an ancient curse and the truth behind the suspicious disappearance of Shirin's forgotten tribe.

Parasite (MA) A poor family, the Kims, con their way into becoming the servants of a rich family, the Parks. But their easy life gets complicated when their deception is threatened with exposure.

Sonic The Hedgehog (PG) After discovering a small, blue, fast hedgehog, a small-town police officer must help it defeat an evil genius who wants to do experiments on it.

Spies In Disguise (PG) When the world's best spy is turned into a pigeon, he must rely on his nerdy tech officer to save the world.

The Big Trip (PG) A goofy stork mistakenly delivers a baby panda to the wrong door. A bear, a moose, a tiger and a rabbit set on an arduous but fun filled adventure through wilderness to return the panda to its rightful home. (Event, Kotara)

The Biggest Little Farm (PG) The successes and failures of a couple determined to live in harmony with nature on a farm outside of Los Angeles are lovingly chronicled by filmmaking farmer John Chester, in this inspiring documentary. (Lake Cinema)

The Call Of The Wild (PG) A sled dog struggles for survival in the wilds of the Yukon.

The Invisible Man (MA) When Cecilia's abusive ex takes his own life and leaves her his fortune, she suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of coincidences turn lethal, Cecilia works to prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see.

The Little Mermaid (G) A mermaid princess makes a Faustian bargain with an unscrupulous sea-witch in order to meet a human prince on land.

The Way Back (M) A widowed, former basketball all-star lost family foundation in a struggle with addiction and attempts to comeback by becoming the coach of a disparate, ethnically mixed high school basketball team at his alma mater.