Hunter's best of markets, movies, music, art and activities

Teddy Bears Hospital Foreshore Park, 10.30am to 3pm. The University of Newcastle Medical Society’s Teddy Bears Hospital is a free event where parents and children can bring their teddy bears or other soft toys for a medical check-up. The event aims to alleviate childhood anxieties in medical environments. Children can be their own mini Teddy Doctor after learning about vital signs, first aid and vaccinations. There will be a bake sale running with proceeds going to Fair Go For Kids, a charity that supports children in the Newcastle and Hunter area who are disadvantaged or living with a disability. 

Winery Running Festival Saturday and Sunday, 7am to noon. Distances include ultra marathon, marathon, half marathon, 10 kilometres, five kilometres and two kilometres for kids. Competitors can run or walk any event and enjoy the convenience of the start and finish lines in the same area. There will be a local produce expo and family entertainment on offer. Mecure Resort Hunter Valley Gardens. 

A Winter Christmas at Maitland Gaol  6pm to 9.30pm. Start the night with a hearty two-course dinner at Blackbird Artisan Bakery to get you in the festive spirit, before unlocking the gates of the gaol to enjoy a guided tour. You’ll hear stories of what it was really like living behind the towering sandstone walls before finishing the night in the gaol’s chapel with a delicious hot dessert and warm mulled wine. $75 per person, bookings essential.

Collaborative Cuisine Newcastle Art Gallery, 6pm to 8pm. Reconsider your preconceptions of Aboriginal art and Australian native foods and let your culinary concepts be challenged as you move through the gallery on a journey that is both visually and literally nourishing. Cost: $70 per person; Cost with wine: $85 per person. 

Friends of Maitland City Library Book Sale  Maitland City Library, 9am to 2pm. Each year the library sorts through its collections, removes redundant stock and offers it at bargain prices. Prices range from $1 to $2, or buyers can bring a bag and fill it for $10. 

Tomago By Torchlight Tomago House, 7pm to 10pm. The evening begins with a walk to the chapel and historical stories. A light supper will be provided and there will be lots of time to explore and conduct paranormal investigations. 

Newcastle Jockey Club Whitebridge Birralee Long Day Care has hosted this annual winter race day since 1999. Racing starts at 11.50am; the last race is at 4.24pm. Chevals Restaurant will serve a three-course winter menu and The Broadmeadow Bar will offer live music from 2pm. 

Beginners Learn to Knit Workshop Maitland Regional Art Gallery, 10am to noon. An informative and engaging workshop where you’ll learn the essential techniques to start knitting confidently. Cost $85 per person. 

Christmas Lights Display Saturday and Sunday, 5.30pm to 7.30pm. Mojo Homes, 12 Harvest Boulevard, Chisholm. Face painting by Santa’s helpers and free coffee or hot chocolate for the first 50 visitors.

Together We Rise Carrington Bowling Club, noon onwards. In honour of the victims of the Orlando shootings. Lawn bowls, sausage sizzle, live performances, a disco and more.

Christmas In July Hope Estate 6pm onwards in the Great Cask Hall. Three-course matched wine dinner. Members $59; non-members $69, bookings essential. 

Port Stephens Wedding Expo Soldiers Point Bowling Club, 11am to 2pm. Talk to wedding industry professionals about how they can turn your dream wedding into reality. 

Puno Workshop  Maitland Regional Art Gallery, noon to 2pm. Hear stories from Central Australia and get hands on with sand designs, carving and wood burning using traditional tools by the campfire in the gallery gardens. Limited to 20 participants, register on day. 

Celebrating 25 Years With Karl Stockhausen Muse Restaurant, 12.30pm onwards. Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Karl Stockhausen Signature Series and pay homage to the contribution Karl has made to the Australian wine industry. Guests will enjoy a showcase of wines from the Karl Stockhausen range and a four-course meal created by chef Troy Rhoades-Brown. Cost $150 per person.

Folk In Broke The annual Folk in Broke busking competition is at Broke Hall from 11am to 6pm. Bring your own picnic and beverages; enjoy market stalls and great music. Also, Art in the Vineyard at Nightingale Wines will feature a high tea, art demonstrations and live music. 

The Newcastle University Choir present Anzacs – A Generation Lost In Legend at 2pm on Sunday, August 14 in the Great Hall at the University of Newcastle. This is a new work by eminent New Zealand composer Janet Jennings who has set to music poems by New Zealand war poets, giving voice to the ANZAC soldiers who served during World War I. The performance will also feature prominent Newcastle soloists Kathryn Dreis, Paul Morris and Alex Sefton, Lakeside Brass and conductor Dr Christopher Allan.

Swansea Markets Saturday, 7.30am to 1pm at Quinn Park, Galgabba Street, Swansea. All proceeds to East Lake Macquarie Historical Society.

Handmade In The Hunter Markets Saturday, 9am to 3pm at Kevin Sobels Wines, 5 Halls Road, Pokolbin.

Hunter Wine Country Markets Saturday, 9am to 3pm, at De Bortoli Wines,  532 Wine Country Drive, Pokolbin.

Clocktower Markets Saturday, 8am to 2pm, at James Street Plaza, Hamilton. 

Hunter Street Markets Saturday, 9am to 3pm, Hunter Street Mall, Newcastle. 

The Puggles Baby & Kids Market Sunday, 9am to noon at PCYC Broadmeadow.  Live music, free face painting, yummy treats, goodie bags to the first 70 attendees and a visit from Peppa Pig. Entry costs $2 for adults, children free.

Olive Tree Winter Market Sunday, 9am to 2pm at Maitland Regional Art Gallery. Showcasing the region’s most talented contemporary artisans, designers and gourmet food producers.

The Early Childhood Resources Market Sunday, 9am to 4pm at Club Macquarie, Argenton. An opportunity for families and childcare professionals to shop for quality resources and services.

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

Adamstown Lions Market Sunday, 8am to noon, at corner of Glebe and Brunker roads, Adamstown. 

5 Sawyers Saturday, DJ Shots Fired. Sunday, Nick Raschke & Luke Bellows.

Bar 121 Saturday, Oversteer.

Bar Petite Saturday, Brien McVernon.

Beach Hotel Saturday, Soundabout. Sunday, Brien McVernon Band.

Belmont 16s Saturday, Loko, The Andy Show. Sunday, Klassic Blak. 

Belmont Bowling Club Sunday, Cash Up – Johnny Cash Tribute Show.

Belmont Hotel Sunday, Rock Cave.

Belmont Sporties Saturday, The Good, The Bad And The Ugly.

Beresfield Bowling Club Saturday, Misbehave.

Blackbutt Hotel Saturday, Phase III.

The Bradford Saturday, The Australian Creedence Show & Women of Rock. Sunday, The Way.

Cardiff RSL Club Saturday, X and Y.

Catho Pub Saturday, John Larder. Sunday, Four To The Floor.

Central Charlestown Leagues Club Saturday, The Adam Eckersley Band, Ghost Road, Dane Fitzsimmons.

Central Hotel Stroud Saturday, Lennie Live.

Cessnock Leagues Club Saturday, Wicked.

Cessnock Performing Arts Centre Saturday, Big Guns of Country.

Charlestown Bowling Club Saturday, Pistol Pete.

Clarendon Hotel Saturday, Phil McKnight.

Club Kotara Saturday, Trataka.

Colliery Inn Saturday, Pete & Kate Sneddon.

Commercial Hotel Morpeth Saturday, Marissa.

Country Club Hotel Shoal Bay Saturday, The V Dubs, Firewall. Sunday, Kr Duo.

Criterion Hotel Carrington Sunday, Mick Jones.

Criterion Hotel Weston Saturday, Ash Mountain.

Customs House Saturday, Devultra. Sunday, Peta Taylor-Evans.

Cypress Lakes Saturday, Melody Feder.

Duke Of Wellington Saturday, Greg Bryce & The Bad Bad Things.

East Cessnock Bowling Club Saturday, Anthony Lee.

East Maitland Bowling Club Saturday, The Fedz.

Exchange Hotel Saturday, Twinsanity Duo.

Family Hotel Maitland Saturday, Witchery.

Finnegans Hotel Saturday, DJ Delicious.

Foghorn Brewhouse Saturday, Jacob & Laura. Sunday, Jessica Cain.

Gateshead Tavern Sunday, Brindle Pigs.

George Tavern Greenhills Saturday, Dan Runchel Band.

Grand Junction Hotel Sunday, Alby Pool.

Hamilton Station Hotel Saturday, The Million, SAY MY NAME, In Motion, Magic Bean Merchants. Sunday, Sons Of Sand.

Harrigan’s Pokolbin Saturday, Codi Kane, Fox Catapult. Sunday, The Levymen.

Hexham Bowling Club Saturday, Bobby C.

Honeysuckle Hotel Saturday, Mark Wells Trio. Sunday, Karen O’Shea.

Hotel Delany Saturday, Alias.

Iron Horse Inn Saturday, Overtone.

Jewells Tavern Saturday, Daxton Monaghan.

The Junction Hotel Saturday, Mike Horzbac.

The Junction Inn Raymond Terrace Sunday, TK.

Kent Hotel Saturday, Project XI. Sunday, Catfish Stew. 

King Street Hotel Saturday, Joel Fletcher. Sunday, Hot Dog Sunday.

Lake Macquarie Tavern Saturday, Pete Gelzinnis.

Lakeside Village Tavern Saturday, Jackson Halliday.

The Landing Saturday, Daniel Arvidson.

Lass O’Gowrie Saturday, Truman Smith Band, Tom Stone & The Soldiers of Fortune.

Lizotte’s Newcastle Saturday, Bad Moon Rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival Show. 

Lochinvar Hotel Saturday, Anyerin.

Lucky Hotel Saturday, Murph. Sunday, Matt McLaren. 

Mark Hotel Saturday, Zane Penn. Sunday, Loko.

Mary Ellen Saturday, Phonic. Sunday, Matt Semmens.

Mavericks On The Bay Saturday, Peta Evans-Taylor. Sunday, Max Jackson.

Merewether Surfhouse Sunday, Mike Horbacz, Howard Shearman.

Metropolitan Hotel Maitland Saturday, Roar Boar. Sunday, Marriah.

Mezz Bar at Wallsend Diggers Saturday, The Smarts. Sunday, Stephen Boyd.

Murray’s Brewery Sunday, Nano.

Nag’s Head Hotel Saturday, Redline.

Neath Hotel Saturday, Daley Holliday.

Nelson Bay Diggers Saturday, The Big Bang.

Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club Sunday, Dave Carter.

Northern Star Hotel Saturday, Nicko.

Parry Street Garage Sunday, Kylie Jane.

Pedens At Cessnock Saturday, GenX.

Pippis At The Point Saturday, Deuce. Sunday, Roxy.

The Pourhouse Maitland Saturday, Tiali.

Premier Hotel Saturday, Slam Tango. Sunday, Steve Edmonds Band.

Prince of Wales Hotel Saturday, Banddits. Sunday, Devultra, Peta Evans-Taylor.

Queens Wharf Hotel Saturday, Darren Fewins, Eoin Smith. Sunday, Howard Shearman.

Racecourse Hotel Saturday, Michael Mills.

Rathmines Bowling Club Saturday, Barracuda. Sunday, Darren Rolling Keys.

Raymond Terrace Bowling Club Sunday, Darren Gould.

Royal Crown Hotel Saturday, Pete Hibbert.

Royal Hotel Singleton Sunday, Frets With Benefits.

Royal Inn Waratah Saturday, Pete Fitz.

Royal Motor Yacht Club Toronto Sunday, Samantha Broadbent.

Seabreeze Hotel Saturday, Live DJ. Sunday, Brendan Murphy. 

Seven Seas Hotel Saturday, Hayden Johns.

Shinnies Hotel Sunday, Robbie Urquhart.

Shortland Hotel Saturday, The Steves.

Small Ballroom Saturday, Josh Wade.

Stag and Hunter Hotel Saturday, The Hurricanes, The Donkey Browns, The Not Nots. Sunday, The Justin Yap Band.

Star Hotel Saturday, Love That Hat. Sunday, Mark Wells.

Stockton Bowling Club Saturday, DJ Symon. Sunday, Anyerin.

Stockton RSL Club Saturday, Solid Gold Rock’n’Roll Party with Dave Cochrane.

Stonebridge Golf Club Saturday, Maryanne Rex.

Swansea Hotel Saturday, Arley Black Duo. Sunday, Shooting Molly.

Swansea RSL Club Saturday, Back Beat.

Sydney Junction Hotel Saturday, Hot Fox.

Tea Gardens Hotel Saturday, Purple Hearts, Chad Shuttleworth.

Tilligerry RSL  Saturday, Murray Byfield.

Toronto Workers Saturday, Spank & the Monkey. Sunday, Brooke Harvey.

Town Hall Hotel Saturday, Brenton Williams.

Victoria Hotel Hinton Saturday, Todd Schmoo. Sunday, Zane Penn.

Warners At The Bay Saturday, Cruzers.

Westfield Kotara Saturday, Beth Gleeson.

Weston Workers Club Saturday, Deborah Sinclair.

Wests Cardiff Saturday, The Snape Trilogy.

Wests New Lambton Saturday, Gen-R-8. Tuesday, Angamus.

Wickham Park Hotel Saturday, King Shakey Band, The Years. Sunday, Greg Bryce, The Blues Bombers. 

Windsor Castle Hotel Saturday, Holly Wilson.

A Month Of Sundays (PG) An Adelaide real estate agent finds himself invigorated by an unusual friendship with an elderly widower. (Regal)

Batman: The Killing Joke (R) As Batman hunts for the escaped Joker, the Clown Prince of Crime attacks the Gordon family to prove a diabolical point mirroring his own fall into madness.

Central Intelligence (M) After he reunites with an old pal through Facebook, a mild-mannered accountant is lured into the world of international espionage.

Finding Dory (G) The friendly-but-forgetful blue tang fish reunites with her loved ones, and everyone learns a few things about the true meaning of family along the way.

Ghostbusters (PG) 30 years after Ghostbusters took the world by storm, the beloved franchise makes its long-awaited return. Director Paul Feig brings his fresh take to the supernatural comedy, joined by some of the funniest actors working today.

Goldstone (M) Indigenous detective Jay Swan arrives in the frontier town of Goldstone on a missing persons enquiry. What seems like a simple light duties investigation opens into a web of crime and corruption.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople (PG) Ricky is a defiant city kid who finds himself on the run with his grumpy uncle in the wild Kiwi bush. A national manhunt ensues, and the two are forced to put aside their differences. (Lake Cinema)

Ice Age: Collision Course (G) Scrat’s epic pursuit of the elusive acorn catapults him into the universe where he accidentally sets off a series of cosmic events that transform and threaten the Ice Age World.

Florence Foster Jenkins (PG) Based on the true story of a notoriously talentless singer in 1940s Manhattan, who dreams of playing Carnegie Hall. (Regal)

Lights Out (M) A woman is haunted by a creature that only appears when the lights go out. A feature adaptation of the 2013 short film, Lights Out by David Sandberg.

Love & Friendship (PG) Lady Susan Vernon takes up temporary residence at her in-laws' estate and, while there, is determined to be a matchmaker for her daughter Frederica - and herself too, naturally.

Me Before You (PG) A girl in a small town forms an unlikely bond with a recently-paralyzed man she's taking care of.

Meet Me In St Louis (G) The timeless musical starring Judy Garland launched the standards The Trolley Song, the title track and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. (Regal)

Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (MA) Two brothers place an online ad to find dates for a wedding and the ad goes viral.

Money Monster (M) Financial TV host Lee Gates and his producer Patty are put in an extreme situation when an irate investor takes over their studio. (Regal)

Sing Street (M) A boy growing up in Dublin during the 1980s escapes his strained family life by starting a band and moving to London.

Star Trek Beyond (PG) The USS Enterprise crew explores the furthest reaches of uncharted space, where they encounter a mysterious new enemy who puts them and everything the Federation stands for to the test.

The BFG (PG) A girl named Sophie encounters the Big Friendly Giant who, despite his intimidating appearance, turns out to be a kindhearted soul who is considered an outcast by the other giants because unlike his peers refuses to eat boys and girls.

The Legend of Tarzan (M) Having acclimated to life in London, Tarzan is called back to his former home in the jungle to investigate the activities at a mining encampment.

The Meddler (M) After the death of her husband, a woman (Susan Sarandon) moves from New Jersey to Los Angeles to be closer to her daughter (Rose Byrne). (Regal)

The Student and Mr. Henri (PG) An old man lets a student live in his apartment for free in exchange for ruining his son's marriage. (Event Newcastle)

Wild Open Sky (G) A warm and funny documentary following a children’s choir from auditions to end-of-year concert in outback New South Wales. (Regal, Lake Cinema)

Cinderella Magic is in the air when the practical title character goes to the king’s ball in Michele L. Vacca’s amusing version of the timeless tale. Maitland Repertory Theatre. Friday at 7.30pm, Saturday and Sunday at 2pm (final shows).

Noises Off Actors in a second-rate touring company have as many problems offstage as on in Michael Frayn’s witty farcical comedy. Newcastle Theatre Company, Lambton. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm, until July 30, plus 2pm matinees on Saturday and Sunday, July 23 and 24.

Rumours of Polar Bears A rag-tag bunch of teenagers struggle for survival in a world ravaged by war, with their leader dreaming of a safe planet filled with polar bears; by Jonathan Dorf. Eclectic Productions, at the Newcastle Community Arts Centre Black Box Theatre, Hamilton. Nightly until Saturday at 7pm; plus Saturday matinee at 2pm.

Soup! Audience members get an interval cup of soup in this lively show featuring Maureen O’Brien, Bubbles and Squeak, Drench’n’Launders, Manon, Net Nerd Nev, Rose & Briar, Ruby Blue, Shadow Sisters and The Word Meister. The Dungeon, Adamstown Uniting Church. Saturday at 2pm and 8pm.

The Ghosts of Operas Past Gilbert and Sullivan emerge from portraits and help a musical company stage one of their works. Trial by Jury; premiere of musical comedy by Maitland’s Paul Causley. Maitland Musical Society. St John’s Hall at Maitland Pro Cathedral: Friday and Saturday, at 8pm; Sunday, at 2pm. Also at James Theatre, Dungog, July 30 and 31; and Soldiers Point Bowling Club, August 6 and 7.

The Three Little Pigs The title characters amusingly battle the inept Wolf in this bright children’s musical show. Young People’s Theatre, at Young People’s Theatre, Hamilton. Saturday and Sunday at 2pm until July 24; 2pm Saturday matinee July 30; and 2pm and 7pm Saturday from August 6 to 20.

Who Am I Comedian Russell Cheek, directed by another Castanet Club member, Stephen Abbott, attempts to find himself on a television quiz show; based on events in Cheek’s life. The Royal Exchange, Newcastle. Nightly from Wednesday to Saturday, July 23, at 8pm.

Cessnock Regional Art Gallery Iconic Prints From Crown Street Press. Until July 24. 

Curve Gallery Land Lines, an exhibition by four female artists whose art practices investigate visually the inherent links to family, heritage, land and architecture. Until July 30.

Art Systems Wickham The Gentle Light of Day, by Nicola Bolton. Until July 24. 

Newcastle Art Space Everyday Observations + Twists and Turns; Field Notes. Until July 24. 

Finite Gallery Caves Beach Verdure: Still Life From The Garden. Until July 31. 

The University Gallery Shade: Artists of the Desert. Until August 6. 

The Lock-Up It’s Timely Too. Discussions on social and cultural change in the era of Whitlam and beyond. Until August 7. 

Newcastle Art Gallery Black White & Restive. Until August 7. 

Maitland Regional Art Gallery Mytho-Poetic: Print & Assemblage Works by Glen Skien; Form by Ruth Feeney. Until August 28. 

Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery Watching Clouds Pass The Moon; Your Collection: Presence and Absence. Until July 31. 

The winner of the Aladdin tickets, plus a night’s accommodation in Sydney and a Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb experience is J.Winslade, of Highfields.