What’s on in July? Even though it’s the middle of winter, there’s still plenty on both indoors and out. Here’s the month’s top events in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & The Hunter specially selected for families. There is a mix of ticketed and free events for parents, grandparents and carers to enjoy some family fun.
Look for this icon showing our Featured Events this month!
FIRST Exhibition – Newcastle Museum
Running until August 6, Newcastle Museum’s FIRST exhibition features different works by local First Nations Creatives. First is about providing a space for the abundance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives with a connection to Newcastle and the Hunter Region. Showcasing their work on what can feel like an unattainable platform – this is a chance to leave a first (and hopefully lasting) impression.
Date: Runs until Sunday 6 August 2023
Time: 10am – 5pm (Tues – Sun)
Location: Newcastle Museum
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Free
Website
Sculpture in the Gardens
Running until Saturday September 9, Sculpture in the Gardens is a bi-annual collaboration between the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens and Newcastle University Watt Space Gallery. The dual exhibits feature nineteen prominent Newcastle artists exhibiting sculpture works across the two locations. Entry to the exhibit is covered by normal HRBG entry fees or FREE with an ADF pass. Various packages are available for purchase and include guided and self paced tours of the sculpture walk, morning tea, sketching classes, live harp music, grazing boxes and more.
Date: Runs until Saturday September 9 2023
Time: 9am – 4pm
Location: Hunter Region Botanic Gardens
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Free with Gardens entry (packages available at extra cost)
Website
Snow Time in the Garden at Hunter Valley Gardens
Enjoy a fun-filled day of icy activities at Hunter Valley Garden’s winter festival Snow Time in the Garden. Build a snowman (or snow family) in the mega snow pit, glide down the giant ice toboggan and skate on a real ice rink. Plus there’s amazing amusement rides, roving entertainment, hearty food and warm beverages.
Date: 24 June to 23 July 2023
Location: Hunter Valley Gardens
Cost: Adult $38, Kids (4-15) $28, Family Pass (2A+2C) $116
Website
Young People’s Theatre presents Disney’s Frozen JR.
The enchanting modern classic from Disney brings Elsa, Anna, and the magical land of Arendelle to life onstage. The show features all of the memorable songs from the animated film, plus five new songs written for the Broadway production.
Date: 4 July – 5 August 2023
Location: Young People’s Theatre Newcastle, Hamilton
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Tickets from $25
Website
My Kids Market
At the Kids Market families can recycle gently used pre loved baby and kids items they no longer need. You can declutter your home and earn some extra cash by selling second hand baby and kids goods instead of adding them to landfill. The My Kids Market attracts a large crowd of parents, grandparents and expecting parents who are looking for quality baby and kids goods without breaking the budget.
Date: Sunday 16 July 2023
Time: 9am – 12pm
Location: Newcastle Showground Exhibition Centre
Cost: $4 per ticket
Website
Newcastle Live Site – FIFA Women’s World Cup
Newcastle’s Civic precinct will turn green and gold this month as they host outdoor screenings of the Matildas World Cup campaign in Wheeler Place! Catch all the action from the Group Stage matches live on the big screen: Thursday 20 July from 7pm vs. Republic of Ireland, Thursday 27 July from 7pm vs. Nigeria, Monday 31 July from 7pm vs. Canada. There will be added home-grown pride on the line, with Novocastrians Clare Wheeler and Emily Van Egmond named in the 23-player squad for the much-anticipated tournament.
Date: Thursday 20 – Monday 31 July 2023
Location: Wheeler Place, Newcastle
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Free
Website
Disney on Ice 100 Years of Wonder
Join Mickey Mouse and his friends at Disney On Ice presents 100 Years of Wonder, an adventure filled with world-class skating, high-flying acrobatics and unexpected stunts!
Date: Thursday 20 – Sunday 23 July 2023
Location: Newcastle Entertainment Centre
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Tickets from $29.40. Ages 2+ at the date of show require a ticket for entry.
Website
HICCUP! at The Art House Wyong
HICCUP! is presented by South Australia’s Windmill Theatre, and is a rocking, outback adventure to find the great hiccup cure. Featuring a nostalgic, psychedelic rock-inspired soundtrack by Ross McHenry, the whole family will be bopping along and singing for days following.
Date: Friday 21 – Saturday 22 July 2023
Location: The Art House, Wyong
Age Group: Recommended for ages 4-10
Cost: Tickets from $12.00
Website
Hunter Homeschool Science Fair
Newcastle Museum are hosting the Hunter District Homeschool Science Fair, the first Science Fair for the Hunter homeschooling community! Come explore science exhibits created by the next generation of scientists! Free entry to visit as a spectator on the day.
Date: Saturday 22 July 2023
Time: 10-2pm
Location: Newcastle Museum
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Free
Website
Lambton Chill-Out!
Come CHILL-Out! at Lambton Park. There’ll be snow and bubbles, roving characters, amusement rides, gourmet food stalls, retail market stalls and live music. BYO picnic rug and chairs. Puppies must be on a lead.
Date: Saturday 22 July 2023
Time: 12-8pm
Location: Lambton Park
Age Group: All ages
Cost: $2 entry
Website
Roald Dahl’s The Twits
Shake & Stir Theatre Co presents Roals Dahl’s The Twits, adapted for stage. See Roald Dahl’s gruesome twosome, The Twits, live on stage in a visually spectacular, delightfully-disgusting, revoltingly-funny production for the whole family.
Date: Saturday 22 July 2023
Location: Newcastle Civic Theatre
Age Group: Suitable for ages 5-105
Cost: Tickets from $30.
Website
Winter Warmer at The Levee
Meet at The Levee for a bone warming day of warm foods, hot drinks and the best in locally made winter fashion and accessories. Winter Warmer will also include live entertainment, kids activities. The whole family will enjoy a chance to get out in the fresh air. It’s also a chance to visit one of your favourite cafes or bars and get some mid year shopping done. Visit The Levee website for a list of stallholders, entertainment and the free workshops.
Date: Sunday 23 July 2023
Time: 10am – 2pm
Location: The Levee, High Street, Maitland
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Free entry
Website
ASPIRE 2023 The Pirate Code
Come join over 150 young performers, musicians, designers and production crew from the Maitland Newcastle Catholic Schools as they share their original production over just five fabulous performances! This fun filled adventure is designed to entertain and excite with a host of popular music that punctuates the storyline throughout as well as some sea shanties thrown in for good measure!
Date: Wednesday 26 – Saturday 29 July 2023
Location: Newcastle Civic Theatre
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Tickets from $26, babies under 24 months free
Website
Shrek The Musical Jr Presented by Hive Creative Studios
Hive Creative Studios is excited to present their first full theatre production, Shrek The Musical JR, based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film and fantastic Broadway musical. This will be an exciting display of local youth theatre. Come and enjoy this enchanting story, vibrant music and amazing talent from the students at Hive!
Date: Friday 28 & Saturday 29 July 2023
Time: Various Times, visit website for show details
Location: Hunter Theatre, Hunter School of Performing Arts, Broadmeadow
Age Group: All ages
Cost: All tickets $35.50
Website
Raymond Terrace Festival 2023
Get ready for an awesome time at the Raymond Terrace Festival. Everyone is invited to the town centre to celebrate everything that makes Raymond Terrace so great. With the main street closed to traffic, the community can take over to enjoy food, stalls, performers, an amazing display of cars and power boats at the Show and Shine on William Street plus much more.
Date: Saturday 29 July 2023
Time: 10am – 2pm
Location: William Street & King Street, Raymond Terrace
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Free entry
Website
Lake Mac POP BAM: Pop Cultural Festival
Lake Mac POP BAM is a celebration of all things popular culture including comics, superheroes, music, film, television and everything in between. From cosplay panel discussions to Swordcraft battles, the festival caters for pop culture fans of all ages. With movie characters, magical wizard craft, costume displays, cosplay discussions, trivia, lightsaber demonstrations and plenty more, there’s something for everyone. Cosplay is also strongly encouraged and there will be prizes for the best dressed. Fans of Star Wars, Harry Potter, Doctor Who, LEGO, games and sword fighting, will love POP BAM!
Date: Saturday 29 July 2023
Time: 10-4pm
Location: Warners Bay Theatre, baramayiba
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Adults $10.00, 5-17 years $17.00, Children under 5 – Free
Website
Peek Into the Past – Tocal Homestead
Peek into the Past is when Tocal Homestead comes alive with the sights, sounds and smells of yesteryear. It is the perfect old-worldly day out for the whole family to become immersed in the nostalgia. Including traditional bush games, farm animals, heritage parades, machinery demonstrations, sheep shearing, fresh scones and much more.
Date: Sunday 30 July 2023
Time: 10am – 3pm
Location: Tocal Homestead, Paterson
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Adults – $18 online/$20 at the gate, Concession – $13 online/$15 at the gate, Children 5-12 years – $3 online/$5 at the gate
Website
Edgeworth Trains
Ride on a miniature train. Lake Macquarie Live Steam Locomotive Society hosts monthly public ride days. There’s a variety of miniature trains such as steam and diesel and different rail routes (both elevated and ground-level) so you can easily spend a couple of hours watching and riding trains. Their public ride days run on the last Sunday of each month excluding December.
Date: Sunday 30 July 2023
Time: Trains running from 12:30pm till 3:30pm (weather permitting). The park is open from around 9:30am.
Location: Velinda Street, Edgeworth
Age Group: All ages
Cost: It costs $2.50 per train ride. Children under 2 years old are free.
Website
What’s On Next Month?
Looking for more events in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter? Check out our What’s On Guide with information about events all year long. The guide provides a list of local family-friendly events organised by month.
Started in late 2012 by a local mum, Newy with Kids has grown into a thriving go-to family guide for the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter region. Parents visit the Newy with Kids website to find things to do with babies, kids and teens. Whether it’s local attractions, upcoming events, kids eat free, school holiday activities or birthday party ideas, Newy with Kids is the best website for local parents to find local kid-friendly activities and information 24/7.