What’s on in September? 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!
Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards Exhibition
While living in East Africa and working as a wildlife photographer, founder Paul Joynson-Hicks MBE was looking through his photographs when he came across several that made him laugh out loud. He realised that the humour of these photographs was both entertaining and a means to engage people with the threats facing these same animals and so The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards was born.
Date: Runs until Sunday 29 October 2023
Location: Newcastle Museum
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Free
Website
Eco Fair
Join St. John’s Eco Care on 9 September for their spring Eco Fair! There will be local vendors, environmental groups, folk dancing, a maypole, and more. Feel free to BYO picnic and eat on the lawn of their beautiful heritage-listed site!
Date: Saturday 9 September 2023
Time: 9am – 2pm
Location: St John’s Anglican Church, Cooks Hill
Cost: Free
Website
Young People’s Theatre presents A Pocketful of Stories
Following the success of their most recent production, Frozen JR, Young People’s Theatre, Newcastle Inc. is thrilled to bring a brand new story to life on the stage. In ‘A Pocketful of Stories’ – an author and their ensemble of ideas weave six tales from their imaginations: The Pocket, Pip, Koo-Koo Gossip, The Plok, Poppy’s Pond and Tamiko. Throughout these stories the audience will meet many lovable characters such as the fashionable ladybug, a theatrical possum and a pop-star sea-turtle!
Date: 26 August to 9 September 2023
Location: Young People’s Theatre Newcastle, Hamilton
Age Group: All ages
Cost: $25 – adults at children’s prices. Children 2 years and over must be counted and are also charged at $25 per head
Website
Count Us In Festival
With over 50 events and activities across the city, City of Newcastle’s Count Us In festival celebrates community inclusion and accessibility across Newcastle. The festival runs for three weeks until 24 September. Throughout the duration of the festival be sure to participate in key family friendly events including Count Us In Vibes at Museum Park, JD’s World of Magic and the Families Supporting Families Inclusive Disco.
Date: 2 – 24 September 2023
Location: Various locations
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Mix of free and ticketed events
Website
The Royal Czech Ballet presents Sleeping Beauty
Following their 2022 performances of Swan Lake, the Royal Czech Ballet return to Australia with their presentation of the classic masterpiece, Sleeping Beauty.
Date: Wednesday 6 September 2023
Location: Newcastle Civic Theatre
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Tickets from $66
Website
Volksfest Australia
Celebrate VW’s 70th Anniversary in Australia at Volksfest in Lake Macquarie. There will be something for everyone including market stalls, trade stalls, live entertainment, food vans, swap meet, children’s entertainment and of course a VW Car Show and Shine for all years and models.
Date: Friday 8 – Sunday 10 September 2023
Location: Swansea Lakeside Holiday Park
Age Group: All ages
Cost: $5 per adult, kids free
Website
HMRI Glow Walk 2023
The Glow Walk is a 2 kilometre walk along Nobbys Beach and the Breakwall raising much needed funds for Hunter Transplant Research Foundation. Friends and families will light up the Breakwall by wearing bright fluoroscent colours or costumes!
Date: Saturday 9 September 2023
Location: Nobbys Beach
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Tickets from $25
Website
Monster Thrillmasters Live
Head to Maitland Showground for an adrenaline-fueled extravaganza like no other! See Monster Trucks causing all sorts of mayhem in a full action packed night that will entertain the whole family as well as comedy cars, Flame Throwing Jet Van, stunt acts and much more.
Date: Saturday 9 September 2023
Location: Maitland Showground
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Tickets from $35
Website
Our Bushland Festival 2023
Join Cessnock City Council for a delightful celebration of our local fauna and flora in the beautiful Cessnock region. The Bushland Festival is an event for all ages. The main day of the festival will be Sunday 10 September from 9.30am, following a morning bushwalk on Friday 8 September and an evening ‘Spotlight Adventure’ on Saturday 9 September.
Date: Sunday 10 September 2023
Time: 9.30 – 4pm
Location: Poppethead Park, Kitchener
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Free entry
Website
Vacy Country Carnival
Come to the country and experience the way of life. Country cooking, country people, and fun. Jack Russell and Dachshund races, pony and camel rides, market stalls, and country food. Sheep dog trials and Team Penning exhibitions, Blacksmithing and other traditional country crafts on show. Bring the family for a great day out. An annual event in Vacy village full of country fun!
Date: Sunday 10 September 2023
Time: From 9am
Location: Gresford Road, Vacy
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Free entry
Website
Living Smart Festival
The Living Smart Festival features a free line-up of workshops, demonstrations, market stalls and presentations by some of Australia’s most prominent and innovative personalities in the field of sustainability.
Date: Saturday 16 September 2023
Location: Speers Point Park
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Free
Website
Kid’s Movie Night Under the Stars
Celebrate the last weekend before daylight savings with Mayfield West Bowlo’s cinema under the stars movie night for the kids and family! First Movie Mario to start at 6pm. Second Movie Sing 2 to start at 7.30pm. Bean bags available or bring a picnic rug and snuggle up with blankets. Popcorn, fairy floss, ice cream, chips, lollies and glow sticks available.
Date: Saturday 16 September 2023
Time: 5.30pm until late
Location: Mayfield West Bowling Club
Age Group: All ages
Cost: $15 family of 4, or $5 per person
Website
Living Together Festival
The Living Together Festival celebrates multiculturalism in our community. The festival will feature workshops, demonstrations, market stalls, world music, international cooking classes, global gardens and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and language sessions.
Date: Sunday 17 September 2023
Location: Speers Point Park
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Free
Website
Creative Kids Concert Featuring The Quokkas
Attention creative kids and families! Don’t miss this fun filled concert at Newcastle Conservatorium of Music featuring Newcastle kids super group The Quokkas! The Quokkas will perform for 45 minutes, featuring a very special combined number with the Early Childhood Music students!
Date: Sunday 17 September 2023
Time: 10.30-12.30pm
Location: Newcastle Conservatorium of Music
Age Group: All ages
Cost: From $11.90
Website
Back to the 80s – The Musical
From the era that brought the world The Rubik’s Cube, Max Headroom and The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comes this “totally awesome” musical in the style of movies such as Back To The Future, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Karate Kid and The Wedding Singer. Join the graduating class of William Ocean High School as they live through their final senior year – as they experience the fun, the heartbreak, the loves and the loneliness of growing up…. all set to the biggest hits of the 80’s!!
Date: Wednesday 20 – Saturday 23 September 2023
Location: Warners Bay Theatre
Age Group: TBA
Cost: Free
Website
New Annual
New Annual is back for 2023, bringing 10 days of art, culture and creativity to the centre of Newcastle. With an exciting lineup of family-friendly events and activities, New Annual is a must-visit. Read more about New Annual family-friendly events here.
Date: Friday 22 September to Sunday 1 October 2023
Location: Newcastle CBD
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Mix of free and paid events
Website
Waru – Journey of the Small Turtle
In Bangarra’s first dedicated work for children, join our heroine Migi as she undertakes a journey of discovery and survival. A contemporary saltwater Lagaw Kazil (Island Children) story inspired by the totemic system of the green turtle, Waru – journey of the small turtle is an interactive and immersive introduction to Torres Strait Islander culture and dance for 3–7-year-olds.
Date: 22 & 23 September 2023
Location: The Art House Theatre, Wyong
Age Group: Recommended for ages 3-7
Cost: Tickets from $20 (child)
Website
Tantrum Youth Arts presents Good Mourning
Good Mourning tells the true story of four young siblings and their Dad’s cancer diagnosis. While the children come to understand what the C-word means, Mum and Dad make themselves busy with appointments, to-do lists and plans for their final three months together.
Date: 22 & 23 September 2023
Location: Newcastle Civic Theatre
Age Group: Recommended for ages 12+
Cost: Tickets from $30.
Website
Chalk the Walk
Chalk the Walk is an award-winning street art event produced by Zest Events International. Come and see the footpaths of Newcastle turn into concrete canvases with a collection of mind-bending artworks during Chalk the Walk. This year’s theme is ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ in which this team of internationally acclaimed street artists bring animals onto the street with a fun interactive twist. There will be six locations to visit in Newcastle.
Date: Saturday 23 September – 2 October.
Location: Different locations around Newcastle CBD
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Free
Website
Amaze & Play in the Gardens
Enjoy a fun day out as you search for the lost creatures hidden within the giant Spring Adventure Maze and discover the magical fairies and gnomes of the Storybook Garden. The kids will love bouncing around on the inflatable jumping castle and seeing all the fresh spring colours of Hunter Valley Gardens.
Date: Saturday 23 September – Sunday 8 October 2023
Time: 9am – 5pm
Location: Hunter Valley Gardens, Pokolbin
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Child (4-15yrs) $28.00, Adult (16yrs+) $38.00, Family passes available
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 24 September 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
Koala Sanctuary Port Stephens Third Birthday
Join the Koala Sanctuary as they celebrate their third birthday. There will be a fun-filled day of celebration and activities including free gifts on arrival for kids, free guided tours throughout the day, free koala informational talks by Port Stephens Koala Hospital, cutting of the official birthday cake and much more.
Date: Monday 25 September 2023
Time: 9am – 5pm
Location: Koala Sanctuary Port Stephens, Gan Gan Road, One Mile
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Child (4-13) $15.00, Adult (14+) $28.00, Family tickets available
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.