Come and Try Dragon Boating 8am, 34 Tully Street, Carrington. Over-18s only.

Opera Hunter Showcase 2pm, Rathmines Theatre. Tickets $25 by emailing mbuck@exemail.com.au.

Newcastle International Short Film Festival 8pm, Royal Exchange, Bolton Street, Newcastle.

Singleton Men's Shed Open Day and Garage Sale 9am to 4pm, 37 Combo Lane, Singleton.

Fort Scratchley Tunnel and Fort Tours Saturday and Sunday, 1/3 Nobbys Road, Newcastle East.

All Fun Rides Family Carnival Saturday, 11am to 3pm and 5pm to 9pm, Sunday, 11am to 3pm. Maitland Showground.

Camel Races 4pm to 9pm, Maitland Showground. Camel racing; camel and pony rides; market and food stalls.

Warners Bay Community Garden Working Bee 9am to 1pm, Bunya Park, Eleebana. Wear protective clothing, covered shoes, a hat and sunscreen. Tools are provided.

Art Cart 10.30am to 11.15am, 11.30am to 12.15pm, Newcastle Art Gallery. Free art making program for families.

Women Embrace - Stand Up Paddleboarding 8am to 10am, Booragul Foreshore Reserve.

Aussie Disc Golf Day 9am to 5pm, Newcastle Disc Golf, Jesmond Park.

Christmas Lights Spectacular Saturday and Sunday, Hunter Valley Gardens, Pokolbin.

Newcastle Comedy Festival Gala 2020 3pm and 8pm, Civic Theatre Newcastle. Rhys Nicholson, Rove McManus, Andy Saunders, Tom Ballard, Luke Heggie, Nick Cody, Nina Oyama, Sarah Gaul.

Cupcake Espresso Pop-Up Level 1, Charlestown Square, opposite Portmans.

Newcastle Junior Cricket Association Girls Gala Day Smith Park, Newcastle.

NSW 13 and 16 Skiff State Championships Saturday and Sunday, Port Hunter 16 Sailing Skiff Club, Stockton.

Lake Macquarie Hobby Showcase 10am to 3pm, Rathmines Theatre.

Ironbark Creek Paddle & Clean 9.30am, Hunter Wetlands Centre, Shortland.

Newcastle Comedy Festival Gala 2020 3pm and 8pm, Civic Theatre Newcastle. Nazeem Hussain, Matt Okine, Cameron James is Funny, Nick Capper, Aaron Gocs, Alex Jae Comedy Stuff, Cameron Duggan, Elliott Stewart.

CDRA Sprint Rowing Championships Newcastle Rowing Club, Carrington.

Chinchen St's Vintage/Preloved Fashion Yard Sale Saturday, 9am to 2pm, Kent Street, Hamilton.

Christmas Market Saturday, 9am to noon, Hamilton Uniting Church, Beaumont Street, Hamilton.

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

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

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

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

Maitland & Beyond Family History Group Plant Market Sunday, 8.30am to 1pm, 17 Lindesay Street, East Maitland.

Maitland Growers Markets Sunday, 8am to noon, The Regal Inn, Tenambit.

Homegrown: Handmade & Design Market Sunday, 10am to 2pm, Speers Point Park, Speers Point.

Tomaree Markets Sunday, 8.30am to 1pm, Neil Carroll Park, Nelson Bay.

Awabakal in the Morning

Shannon Bellamy is exhibiting her solo exhibition of drawings and wildlife illustrations from her daily morning walks on the Awabakal nature reserve, from Dudley to Redhead, in AWABAKAL IN THE MORNING on Saturday, November 21, for one day only, 10am to 4pm at Onwards Studio and Gallery.

First Supper

Dr Mojgan Habibi is exhibiting First Supper at The Creator Incubator, opening Saturday, November 21, 4.30pm to 6.30pm. It runs until November 29. Habibi is a contemporary Iranian Australian artist and is combining her signature use of ceramics and installation.

Works on Paper prize

The finalist exhibition for the inaugural Blackstone Gallery Works on Paper prize starts on Saturday, November 21, at 11am. Opening night is booked out but you can visit on Sunday between 10am and 2pm. The theme for 2020 is 'blue'.

Natural Elements (things of stone & wood)

Siblings Adam and Louise Faulkner are exhibiting Natural Elements (things of stone & wood) until Sunday, November 22, at Newcastle Art Space. Adam Faulkner shapes timber with an appreciation of this natural resource to make beautifully carved functional objects. Louise Faulkner uses digital photography to focus on the wildness of the landscape; from the darkness of the forest to the dreaminess of sun-lit clouds.

From Fires to Lockdown & Beyond

Kerrie Coles is exhibiting her annual exhibition at Art Systems Wickham. This year, Coles responded to current events in FROM FIRES TO LOCKDOWN & BEYOND. Coles is a highly skilled artist and her ability to handle paint and pastel is beyond question. This brings to the forefront her choice of subject matter - 2020 has provided an overload of social and political commentary. Coles doesn't shy away from this and paints the "beauty and terror of the fires and the incredible changes they made to the quality of light over the land and sea". If that wasn't enough, the global COVID-19 pandemic came next and Coles found reprieve by painting the view looking out of her studio apartment window and the objects found in her home.

Aberdeen Sport and Rec Club Saturday, Blake O'Connor, Sinead Burgess. Adamstown Bowling Club Saturday, Callum MacDonald. Sunday, 2 Good Reasons. Beach Burrito Company Sunday, Phoenix, Brock. Belmont 16s Saturday, Adam Harvey. The Cambridge Hotel Saturday, Northeast Party House, Benson, Jeffe, Tyne-James Organ, Pierce Brothers, Jack Botts. Cessnock Leagues Club Saturday, Georgie Winchester. Club Charlestown Saturday, Greg Bryce Duo. The Corner Charlestown Square Saturday, Little CENTS, Soul Shakedown Dan Phelan, Jason Winn Trio. Sunday, Joshy Dre. Denman Hotel Sunday, Matt McLaren. The Family Hotel Maitland Saturday, Crawfish Stew. The Gal Sunday, Loko. The Great Northern Newcastle Saturday, David McCredie, Phoenix Pritchard. Sunday, Georgie Winchester. Gunyah Hotel Saturday, MAK. Sunday, Austin McKay. The Hamilton Station Hotel Saturday, Adam Newling, Not Good Not Bad. Huntlee Tavern Saturday, Matt McLaren. Lambton Park Hotel Saturday, Chloe Parker. Lass O'Gowrie Hotel Saturday, Heaps Gay. Malt N Hops Brewhaus Beresfield Saturday, Aaron White. Mary Ellen Hotel Saturday, Pete McCredie. The Mighty Hunter (Potters) Saturday, Phil Jamieson. Newcastle City Hall Saturday, City Hall Sounds ft e4444e, Hamilton Alpine Club, Butterknife (all ages). The Newcastle Hotel Saturday, Austin Mackay (EP launch). Queens Wharf Hotel Sunday, The After Party. The Racecourse Hotel Wallsend Saturday, Aaron White. The Regal Inn Tenambit Sunday, Georgie Winchester, Duncan Woods, Bobby C. The Rooftop Westfield Kotara Saturday, Bobby C. Royal Motor Yacht Club Toronto Sunday, Ben Woodham. Soldiers Point Bowling Club Saturday, Rave On Duo. Vincent Street Kitchen + Bar Saturday, Reg Sinclair. Sunday, Tyler John. The Wicko Saturday, The Royal Coats, Osprey, Lee Rolfe & Friends. Sunday, Raw Candy, The Blues Bombers.