ENJOY THE OPENING SPECTACLE
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A two-hour spectacle of music, dance, theatre, lights and fireworks will officially kick off the Special Olympics 2013 Asia-Pacific Games when Hunter Stadium hosts the opening ceremony Sunday from 7pm. Feature performers include Human Nature, Anthony Callea, Iva Davies, Marcia Hines, Doug Parkinson, Marina Prior and Darren Percival. Tickets prices start at $30; available online at proticket.com.au or by phoning 1300121012.
EVENTS
Variety Santa Fun Run Sunday. The fifth annual Santa Fun Run starts at the Newcastle Yacht Club before converging at the Queen's Wharf Brewery. 7am to 10am. 16 Worth Place, Newcastle.
Christmas In the City Saturday. Live entertainment on the steps of the old Post Office building. 11am to 2pm. Former Newcastle Post Office site, Hunter and Bolton Streets, Newcastle.
Simply Hunter Summer Al Fresco Long Lunch Saturday. An indulgent seven-course degustation prepared by Muse, matched with Oakvale's handcrafted wines, set to the live sounds of Funky Do Das. $135 per person inclusive. Noon to 6pm. Oakvale Wines, Pokolbin.
BrainWaves Concert Sunday. Performance from two stroke rehabilitation study groups that formed the BrainWaves choir. Noon, Harold Lobb Concert Hall, Newcastle. Tickets $12/$8.
Beautiful Bach Saturday. Scots Kirk Baroque Band presents Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring and other delights. 2pm. Scots Kirk Presbyterian Church, Hamilton. Tickets $25/$15 includes afternoon tea.
Of Birds and Angels Saturday. The Song Company present Christmas music from Australia and around the world. 7.30pm. Newcastle Conservatorium of Music.
Camyr Allyn Wines Music Day Saturday. Bring a picnic, a chair and a rug to listen to live music on the lawn. 2pm to 5pm. Free. 65 Allyn River Road, East Gresford.
Ex-Inmate Torchlight Tour Saturday. A guide will explain the history of the maximum security facility and how he survived in the state's penal system. Bookings essential 4936 6482. Starts 8pm. Costs $28/$23. Maitland Gaol.
Christmas Lights Spectacular Saturday and Sunday. More than 1.5 million Christmas lights and displays on show, Santa photos and live entertainment. Entry fees apply. Display open from 6.30pm every day. Hunter Valley Gardens, Pokolbin.
Sculpture In The Vineyards Saturday and Sunday. Annual exhibition of large-scale outdoor sculptures along the Wollombi Valley Wine Trail. Visit sculptureinthevineyards.com.au.
High Tea Sunday. An afternoon of bite size delicacies, including a glass of wine and fine teas. Bookings essential 4998 7910. $35 per person. Gemelli Estate, Pokolbin.
MARKETS
Salt Water Market Sunday. Fruit and vegetables, fresh flowers, jams, pickles, face painting, jumping castle, tie dye workshop for kids and live entertainment. 9am to 2pm. Swansea Public School.
Rotary Community Markets Saturday. Quality handmade goods, exotic jewellery and art. 8.30am to 1.30pm. New Lambton South Public School.
Adamstown Markets Sunday. Produce, gifts, crafts and more, 7am to noon. Corner of Glebe and Brunker roads, Adamstown.
Newcastle City Farmers Market Sunday. Fresh produce, gourmet food, plants and more, 8am to 1pm. Newcastle Showground, Broadmeadow.
Hamilton Clock Tower Markets Saturday. More than 30 stalls, food, coffee and music. 8am to 2pm. James Street Plaza, Hamilton.
Branxton Lions Club Inc Market Day Saturday. Candles, jewellery, clothing, knitwear, children accessories, dolls, plants, bric-a-brac, quality food and sausage sizzle. 8am to 2pm. Branxton Community Hall.
Maitland Markets Sunday. Homemade and homegrown goods, musicians, gourmet foods and fine quality art. 8am to 2pm. Maitland Showground.
Hunter Adventure Market Sunday. Climbers, hikers, mountain bikers, trail runners, kayakers, and outdoor enthusiasts from every discipline will get together and sell, swap or give away their pre-loved gear. 10am to 4pm. 122 Garden Grove Parade, Adamstown.
Broke Village Market Sunday. Plants, gourmet food, wine, cakes, handcrafted toys, jams, pickles,pre-loved goods and barbecue breakfast or lunch. 8am to 1pm. Near the fire shed in Broke (opposite Broke Village Store).
THEATRE
Empire Lively mix of comedy, circus, variety and burlesque, presented in a spiegeltent in Newcastle's Wheeler Place; not for children. Spiegelworld and Nine Live. Saturday at 7.30pm and 9.30pm, Sunday at 7pm, until December 8. 4929 1977.
Footrot Flats at Theatre on Brunker, Adamstown. Saturday dinner and show at 7pm, show only at 8pm, until December 7; also matinee Sunday at 2pm. 4956 1263.
Pure As The Driven Snow Purity Dean, a working girl with a secret, attracts the attention of a moustache-twirling villain; tongue-in-cheek melodrama. Maitland Repertory Theatre, at its theatre. Saturday and Sunday, dinner and show at 6.30pm, until December 8. 4931 2800.
Calendar Girls Newcastle Theatre Company, at the NTC Theatre, Lambton. Tonight at 8pm, to December 7; 2pm matinees Saturday and Sunday, charity fund-raising nights. December 5. 4952 4958.
A Double Dose of Bill Two William Shakespeare comedies, All's Well That Ends Well and Measure for Measure, in which clever women pull the wool over the eyes of foolish men. Company Clegg, at the Civic Playhouse, Newcastle. Saturday at 7.30pm and Sunday at 5pm. 4929 1977.
Magic Moments With After Five New Lambton Community Centre. Sunday at 2pm. Door sales.
ENVIRONMENT
Chemical Drop-Off Saturday. Safely dispose of your household chemicals and paint free of charge. 8am-noon, Lemon Tree Passage Waste Transfer Station, 1261 Lemon Tree Passage Road, Lemon Tree Passage. (Port Stephens residents only).
ART
Art Systems Wickham Heads and Claws: Peter Read. Until December 8.
Back to Back Galleries Round and Round the Garden: Valé Zakarauskas, Samantha Powell, Prints and artists books. Claire Locker-Potter, Ceramics. Until Sunday.
Cessnock Regional Art Gallery Hunting and Gathering: Six sculptors. Until December 8.
Cooks Hill Galleries We Get By: Emerging artists. Until tomorrow.
Forsight Gallery Blue Chair: Jill Orr. Until December 8.
Greenway Gallery Backyard and Beyond: Ruth Chapman and Ros Elkin. Until tomorrow.
John Hunter Hospital Arts for Health Painting with Light 2013.
Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery Spy: Windows and Doors in Art . Until February 9.
The Lock-Up Shape things to come: Josh Wodack. Until December 8.
Lovett Gallery Remote and Wild: Richard Green photographs. Newcastle Library, Until December 9.
Newcastle Art School at TAFE Arrival: Advanced Diploma in Visual Arts Final Exhibition. Until December 6.
Maitland Regional Art Gallery Director's Choice, Annual Print Sale. Until December 8.
Nanshe Shelley Cornish. Last Day.
Newcastle Art Gallery Whiteley on Water. Until February 23. Across Time: Bill Henson. David Aspden Survey. Olley-Alia. All until February 20.
Newcastle Art Space Samaritans' annual exhibition. Until December 8.
Pandora Opening the Box. Until December 7.
Studio 48 Asian Pilgrimage: Group show. Until December 8.
Timeless Textiles Connections: Judi Nikoleski. Until Sunday.
University Gallery Water: From the Collection. Last day.
Watt Space Student Gallery Industrial Design Exhibition. Until Sunday.
Wollombi: Sculpture in the Vineyards. Until Sunday.
MUSIC
Belmont 16 Footers Saturday, Rodney Rude, Talk of The Town. Sunday, Cool Change.
The Brewery Saturday, Ryde, James Paul, DJ Patsan. Sunday, Phonic Trio.
Cambridge Hotel Saturday, People's Palace.
Delany Hotel Saturday, The Urge.
Exchange Hotel Saturday, Misbehave.
Great Northern Hotel Saturday, Mar Haze. Sunday, Sunday Sessions feat. Wax Lyrical.
Grand Junction Hotel Saturday, Fish Fry, Pow Wow.
Hamilton Station Hotel Saturday, Live It Up Karaoke (front bar), Soul Station feat. Edy Brock, NCL, Electric Elements Calski, Lefta Centa, Dawn Laird, Limit Infinity plus DJs Wizla, Mad Man, Begzy (back room). Sunday, Mark Wood (front bar).
Harrigan's Pokolbin Saturday, Dai Pritchard, Usual Suspects. Sunday, Twinsanity.
Kent Hotel Saturday, True Lies. Sunday, Leadbellies.
King Street Hotel Saturday, Sam Idols, Rufeyo, Anna-Sue Rave, Jace Cordell, Boogie, Ruggs, Krock. Sunday, Any Given Sunday.
Lass O'Gowrie Saturday, Jim Gordon's Comeuppance (3pm), Mach 3, Sub Division, Joram Nathan. Sunday, The Doctor's Wife (3pm).
Lizotte's Newcastle Saturday, Troy Cassar Daley, Ashleigh Dallas. Sunday, The Jim Keays & Russell Morris Band.
Pippis At The Point Saturday, Affinity. Sunday, Kylie Jane.
Premier Hotel Saturday, The Remedy. Sunday, Kevin Borich.
The Small Ballroom Saturday, Closure in Moscow, All The Colours and special guests.
Warners At The Bay Saturday, Love That Hat.
Wests Leagues Club New Lambton Piano Lounge: Saturday, Stuart Hamilton. Marble Bar: Saturday, Matt Meler, Wicked.
Wickham Park Hotel Saturday, Steely Fever.
MOVIES
ADVANCE SCREENING
Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2 (G) Flint Lockwood now works at The Live Corp Company for his idol Chester V. But he has to leave his post when he learns that his most infamous machine is still churning out menacing food-animal hybrids.
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
The Bolshoi Ballet: Spartacus (CTC) The Bolshoi Ballet captured live in HD from Moscow. (Tower Cinemas Newcastle)
The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child Cinema Event (CTC) Everyone's most loveable monster and his DVD adventures are heading for a big-screen outing. (Glendale)
Uncharted Waters: The Personal History of Wayne Lynch (E) This film follows Lynch, "the ultimate soul surfer", throughout his fabled career. From his years as a conscientious objector, living as an outlaw on Victoria's south coast, to his invention of "vertical surfing" and the impact he had on his chosen sport, it paints a picture of a man who sought a spiritual connection with the ocean and refused to compromise on his ideals. (Avoca, Tower Cinemas Newcastle)
OPENINGS
Carrie (MA15+) Carrie White (Chloë Grace Moretz) is an outcast at high school due to the extreme beliefs of her mother (Julianne Moore). Upon discovering hidden telekinetic abilities, she uses her newly developed powers for revenge against her tormenters at the senior prom. A remake of the 1976 movie starring Sissy Spacek, based on the Stephen King novel of the same name.
One Chance (PG) A comedy centered on an aspiring singer who becomes a reality-show sensation.
NOW SHOWING
About Time (M) The latest from Richard Curtis stars Domhnall Gleeson as Tim, who on his 21st birthday learns from his father (Bill Nighy) that he can travel in time. Stars Rachel McAdams.
Blue Jasmine (M) A New York socialite, deeply troubled and in denial, arrives in San Francisco to impose upon her sister. She looks a million, but isn't bringing money, peace or love. Stars Cate Blanchett.
Captain Phillips (M) The true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the US-flagged MV Maersk Alabama - the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in 200 years.
Doctor Who's 50th Anniversary Episode (PG) The world's longest running sci-fi series celebrates its 50th anniversary with an explosive anniversary episode. Shot in 3D, The Day of the Doctor stars Matt Smith, David Tennant, Jenna Coleman, Billie Piper and John Hurt. The adventure reveals that the Doctor has a dangerous past. And he's coming back. (Glendale)
Enough Said (M) A divorced woman who decides to pursue the man she's interested in learns he's her new friend's ex-husband. Stars James Gandolfini, Toni Collette, Julia Louis-Dreyfus. (Tower Cinemas Newcastle)
Fireman Sam: The Great Fire of Pontypandy (G) When Fireman Sam performs a heroic rescue, he is awarded a special bravery medal and offered a new job in Newtown. (Hoyts)
Gravity (M) Sandra Bullock stars as medical engineer Ryan Stone, who must work with astronaut Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) to try to survive after they are left adrift in space.
In Bob We Trust (PG) The story of one small priest's battle with Rome. Beloved working class hero Father Bob Maguire, forcibly retired and evicted and now without his church, seeks to find out who he is beyond his priesthood. (Avoca)
Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (MA15+) The signature Jackass character Irving Zisman (Johnny Knoxville) and eight-year-old grandson Billy (Jackson Nicholl) take audiences along for a zany hidden-camera road trip.
Mystery Road (M) In an outback town, Jay Swan, an indigenous cowboy detective, returns home to solve the murder of a teenage indigenous girl. (Avoca)
Planes (G) A crop-dusting plane with a fear of heights lives his dream of competing in a famous around-the-world aerial race.
Renoir (M) Set on the French Riviera in the summer of 1915, Jean Renoir - son of the Impressionist painter, Pierre-Auguste - goes home to convalesce after being wounded in World War I. At his side is Andree, a young woman who rejuvenates, enchants and inspires both father and son. (Avoca)
The Butler (M) Forest Whitaker is Cecil Gaines, who served eight presidents during his time as head butler in the White House from 1952 to 1986, the time of the civil rights movements and major political and social change. Also starring Oprah Winfrey.
The Counselor (MA15+) Thriller film directed by Ridley Scott. The story of a lawyer, played by Michael Fassbender, who finds himself in over his head when he gets involved in drug trafficking.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (M) In the second instalment of The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) become targets of the Capitol after their victory sparks a rebellion.
Thor: The Dark World (M) Chris Hemsworth reprises his role as Norse god Thor, who must stop an ancient race from plunging the universe back into darkness.
DON'T FORGET
The Special Olympics 2013 Asia-Pacific Games kick off in Newcastle today with events held around the city until December 7, bringing together 32 nations.
SAVE THE DATE
Twin Forks, the new musical project from Dashboard Confessional's Chris Carrabba - perform in Newcastle at the Cambridge Hotel on Friday night.
![The Santa fun run is on this weekend. The Santa fun run is on this weekend.](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-36mDshx2U2dAuMR3XyjpW6R/898240ec-0454-43c3-b4b0-963c8f3f5977.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)