Hunter weekend Planner: April 1-2, 2017

Season of Sailing Until April 12, Port Stephens. It is the 10th anniversary of Sail Port Stephens and the largest ever fleet of Grand Prix and performance yachts are anticipated to make the pilgrimage to take part. There will be a raft of exhilarating races and family-friendly fringe events off and on shore, go to portstephens.org.au/seasonofsailing for details. Women Who Sail Gathering on the Bay: Saturday and Sunday. Newcastle to Port Stephens Race: Sunday. 

A Day On The Green 2.30pm to 10pm, Bimbadgen Estate. Blondie, Cyndi Lauper, Clouds, Alex Lahey, Montaigne. 

2017 OC6 Outrigging State Titles Saturday and Sunday, Port Stephens. On Saturday more than 300 paddlers from across the state will compete in the 18km or 12km course from Shoal Bay beach out around the islands off Port Stephens. On Sunday morning the OC1 (single paddler) and OC2 (dual paddlers) will compete in a 12km race around the islands followed by a novelty race off Shoal Bay beach. 

Wallalong Preschool Family Fun Day & Preschool Open Day 1pm to 4pm, Morpeth Street, Wallalong. Face painting, craft, market stalls. 

Super Heroes 4 a Cure 4pm, Smurfs, at Event Cinemas in Glendale. Fund-raiser for the Cancer Council. 

Newcastle Jets vs Western Sydney Wanderers A-League match 5.30pm, McDonald Jones Stadium, Turton Road, Broadmeadow.

Masquerade Ball 6pm to 11pm, Town Hall, Newcastle. Fund-raiser for Surgicure, a not-for-profit Newcastle-based charity supporting gastrointestinal Cancer Research at John Hunter Hospital.

Daylight savings ends on Sunday Turn your clocks back an hour before going to sleep.

Kurri Coal Face Pedal 2017 – Charity Mountain Bike Ride The ride will start and finish at Pelaw Main School from 8am and caters for families as well as those looking for a challenge. 

We All Need A Little Therapy Dog Walk 10am, Croudace Bay Park. Market stalls, food and drinks, novelty dog competitions, agility dog demonstrations, Newcastle PCYC Brass Band will be performing. All funds raised on the day will help fund new Therapy Dog Teams visiting local hospitals, aged care facilities, libraries and schools. You can register your dog online at stickytickets.com.au or on the day from 9am. One dog $10; two dogs $15; three or more dogs $20.

NewRun – Newcastle's Festival of Running 2017 Half marathon, 5km, 10km Hill to Harbour, Hunter Orthodontics 2K4Kids. For details go to newrun.com.au.

Menulog’s Taste of the Town Cook-Off 9.30am to 1pm, Queens Wharf Brewery. Download the Menulog app, try all of the dishes on the day and vote for your favourite. Also, a chef’s cook-off. 

Crobat Crazy About Chrome Charity Motor Show 9am to 2.30pm, McDonald Jones Stadium, Broadmeadow. Hosted by the 48 to 78 Holden Car Club, all proceeds go to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, Little Wings and Variety. All makes of classic and collectable cars, bikes, hot rods, commercials and vans, vehicle displays, car balance ramp, trade stalls, food stalls, rides and a rock’n’roll dance display. Entry $5 per person, children under 12 free. 

TYCA Snak & Rap Youth Event 9am to 1pm, Fly Point Skate Park, Nelson Bay. Scooter and skateboard competition, food, music art demonstrations, market stalls.

Book launch 2pm, the Resistance Centre, 472 Hunter Street, Newcastle. Alan Broughton will launch his book Sustainable Agriculture Versus Corporate Greed.

Hunter Wetlands Centre in Shortland will celebrate Easter on April 15. From 9.30am to 1pm there will be face painting, a jumping castle, craft, dip-netting and a reptile encounter. Meet the Easter Bunny at 10.30am or 11.30am. Enjoy a BBQ sausage sizzle, eat at Spoonbill Cafe or bring a picnic.

Also, The MESCH Trivia Night kicks off at 6pm on April 8 at The Belford Function Room, 35 Belford Street, Broadmedow. Raises money for Australian overseas aid relief. Tickets $25; tables of eight to 10 welcome. 

The Olive Tree Market Saturday, 9am to 3pm, Civic Park, Newcastle. 

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

Handmade in the Hunter Markets Saturday, 9am to 3pm, Kevin Sobels Wines, corner of Broke and Halls roads, Pokolbin. 

Genuine Farmers Market Saturday, 8am to Anzac Park, Marine Drive, Tea Gardens. 

Hunter Street Organic Food Markets Saturday, 8am to 3pm, Hunter Street Mall, Newcastle.

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

Adamstown Lions Club Markets Sunday, 7am to 1pm, corner Glebe and Brunker roads, Adamstown.

Maitland Markets Sunday, 8am to 2pm, Maitland Showground.

Art Bazaar Warners Bay Sunday, 10am to 3pm, Warner Park, corner The Esplanade and Lake Street, Warners Bay. Sixty art stalls to browse, plus food and music. Grab a unique, handmade Mother’s Day gift. 

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

The Art and Stories of Rex Granites Japanangka & Ida Granites Nangala Saturday, 2pm, Adamstown Uniting Church.

Orchestra Nova presents The Art of The Scherzo Sunday, 2pm, Lake Macquarie Performing Arts Centre, Lake Street, Warners Bay. Light-hearted works of Beethoven, Haydn, Tchaikovsky and more.

Hunter Singers presents Sacred Rites Sunday, 2pm, Adamstown Uniting Church. Sacred music from around the world including works by JS Bach, John Rutter and John Leavitt, as well as Australian composers. Special guests Quintus: singers Paul Bevan, Paul Morris, Paul Tenorio, Chris Allan and Peter Guy. Tickets $25 (adult), $20 (concession), $10 (school aged children).

Newcastle Museum Perseverance, featuring Japanese tattoos. Also, A Ticket to Paradise? Shadows Of Sacrifice and Emporium. 

Art Systems Wickham Second Nature, by Kelly Lees and Anna Scobie of Urban Hum. Until April 9.

The Lock Up Know Your Neighbour. Until April 23. 

Timeless Textiles Aftermath, by Glenese Keavney, Meri Peach and Flora Friedmann. Until April 9. 

Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery First Class 16; Fiona Hall: A Case Study. Until April 30. 

Watt Space Gallery at University of Newcastle Bends, by Silje Buxton Soldal; Scale, by John Morris; Scott Probst; student exhibition. End Sunday. 

Newcastle City Library Emblem of a City Exhibition – Local History Lounge. Until April 29. 

CStudios Art Gallery Illume, by Stephen McDonald. Ends Saturday. 

Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre 44th Muswellbrook Open Art Prize; Heth: Norman Hetherington – Artist at war. Until May 7.

John Earle Gallery, Merewether New paintings of Newcastle.

Old Fire Shed Gallery, Wollombi Paintings and drawings by Valley New Art Group. Until December 18. 

Wallsend District Library On The Beach Exhibition. Until March 31. 

Newcastle Art Gallery Alex Seton: The Island. Until April 30. Magic Mike. Until May 28. 

Gallery 139 Studio Life, by Dino Consalvo, Peter Lankas, Helene Leane, Paul Maher, Olivia Parsonage. Until April 9. 

Acrux Art Gallery Animalia. 

Maitland Regional Art Gallery Susan and Peter O’Doherty: Moving House; The Year of the Rooster: Chinese Scrolls from the MRAG Collection. End Sunday. David Capra: Teena’s Bathtime; Vanessa Turton: Welcome to WOOF WOOF. Until May 28. Wendy Stokes: Walking Through The Space Of Landscape; Catherine Rogers: Pictures For Waiting Rooms. Until April 30.

Port Stephens Community Art Centre Culture. Until May 2.

University of Newcastle Gallery The art of collecting. Until April 8. 

Back To Back Gallery Are We There Yet? An Athena Group exhibition. Until April 9.

Curious Studios Saturday, 10am to 1pm, The Edwards. This week: Sewing it together. 

Dreamtime Two male teenagers find their dreams of adventure are different to reality when they try to steal a couple’s money; drama by Maura Campbell, based on real events. Reamus Youth Theatre, at Maitland Repertory Theatre. Saturday at 8pm.

Newcastle Comedy Showcase Hour Ten Newcastle comedians showcase their skills in this fund-raiser for the new University of Newcastle Comedy Club; with Jarrod Moore as MC. Royal Exchange, Newcastle. Saturday, at 7.30pm.

Queen of Mars A young woman with a passion for space exploration competes for a one-way vessel trip to Mars; premiere of a comedy-drama by Newcastle writer-director John Wood. Theatre on Brunker, at St Stephen’s Church Hall, Adamstown. Saturday, dinner and show at 7pm, show only at 8pm.

Soul & Cirque A band of musicians recreate the classic Motown sound, while international aerial and ground acrobats perform amazing routines. Lizotte’s, Lambton. Saturday, dinner and show from 6pm, show only at 8.30pm.

The Business A woman who helped to make a family company an Australian success finds herself in conflict with her children when her husband is dying; comedy-drama by Jonathan Gavin. Valley Artists, at Laguna Hall, Laguna. Saturday, at 8pm.

The World of Musicals A large international cast in numbers from 18 musicals, including Les Miserables, Cats, Jersey Boys and Singing in the Rain. R.K.T.Z Group and Mayo Entertainment. Civic Theatre, Newcastle, Saturday, at 8pm. Cessnock Performing Arts Centre, Monday, at 8pm.

5 Sawyers Saturday, Devultra.

Adamstown Uniting Church Sunday, Hunter Singers – Sacred Rites.

Anna Bay Tavern Saturday, The Remedy. Sunday, Kim.

Australia Hotel Cessnock Saturday, Open Fire.

Bar Petite Saturday, Emmy Rose. Sunday, Jerome.

Battlesticks Bar Saturday, Little Cents. Sunday, Nicko.

Beach Hotel Saturday, Club Esky.

Belmont 16s Saturday, DV8, All Access 80s, Anthology. Sunday, Blue Water Cowboys.

Belmont Hotel Saturday, The Bad And The Ugly.

Beresfield Bowling Club Saturday, Blues Bombers.

Belmore Hotel Saturday, Pelican Romance.

Bimbadgen Saturday, Blondie (US), Cyndi Lauper (US), Montaigne, Alex Lahey.

Blackbutt Hotel Saturday, Phase III.

The Bradford Saturday, Iguana. Sunday, Jacinta.

Broughtons at The Bay Sunday, Mick Jones.

Burwood Inn Saturday, Pap’N’That.

Cambridge Hotel Saturday, Client Liaison (Glass House), Gooch Palms, Vacations (Warehouse). Sunday, Kill The Noise, Blanke.

Cardiff RSL Club Saturday, Loose Bazooka.

Carrington Place Saturday, Joe Cox.

Catho Pub Saturday, Shawn Lidster. Sunday, The Search Party.

Central Sunday, Thirsty Merc.

Central Charlestown Leagues Club Saturday, Matt Semmens.

Central Hotel Stroud Saturday, The Milestones.

Cessnock Leagues Club Saturday, Counterpart.

Charlestown Bowling Club Saturday, Mardy Leith.

Club Kotara Saturday, Bobby C.

Club Lemon Tree Saturday, Big Pete.

Commercial Hotel Morpeth Saturday, Pat Vs Cat.

Country Club Hotel Shoal Bay Saturday, Dola.

Criterion Hotel Carrington Saturday, Roxy. Sunday, Ben Travis.

Criterion Hotel Weston Saturday, Crawfish Stew Band.

Croatian Wickham Sports Club Saturday, Peach Studio 54.

Crown & Anchor Hotel Sunday, Kylie Jane.

Customs House Saturday, Kim. Sunday, Bonny Rai.

Cypress Lakes Saturday, Daniel Arvidson.

D’Albora Marina Sunday, Mick Jones.

Denman Hotel Sunday, James Naldo.

Duke Of Wellington Saturday, Redline.

Family Hotel Maitland Saturday, Purple Hearts. Sunday, Lennie Live.

FogHorn Brewhouse Saturday, Tori Foryth & Carl The Bartender. Sunday, Gleny Rae Virus & Her Bluegrass Playboys.

Gallipoli Legion Club Saturday, Yes Commissioner.

George Tavern Saturday, The De Lisle Project.

Grain Store Sunday, Matt McLaren.

Grand Junction Hotel Sunday, Neil Murray, William Crighton.

Great Northern Hotel Teralba Saturday, Kaylah Anne.

​Hamilton Station Hotel Sunday, Laura Mardon, Nothing Rhymes with David, Spencer Scott, Jack Lundie & Jim Dusty.

Honeysuckle Hotel Saturday, McKenzie. Sunday, Jerome, Banddits.

Hotel Delany Saturday, The Urge.

Iron Horse Inn Saturday, Jungle Duo.

Jewells Tavern Saturday, R n R.

Kent Hotel Saturday, Project XI. Sunday, Jungle Kings.

King Street Hotel Saturday, Scndl.

Lake Macquarie Performing Arts Centre Sunday, Orchestra Nova presents The Art of the Scherzo.

Lakeside Village Tavern Saturday, The V Dubs.

The Landing Saturday, Tim Harding.

Lass O’Gowrie Saturday, Unfit For Human Consumption, Flight to Dubai, Nick Nuisance & The Delinquents. 

Lizotte’s Saturday, Soul & Cirque. Sunday, The Grigoryan Brothers.

Mark Hotel Saturday, Mark Wells Duo. Sunday, Hornet.

Mary Ellen Saturday, The DuoTones. Sunday, Mark Wells.

Maryland Tavern Saturday, Full Throttle.

Mavericks On The Bay Saturday, Jackson Halliday, Matt McLaren. Sunday, Greg Bryce.

Mavericks On Darby Saturday, Chad Shuttleworth.

Mezz Bar at Wallsend Diggers Saturday, Cruzers. Sunday, Blues Bombers.

Murray’s Brewery Sunday, Brien McVernon.

Nag’s Head Hotel Saturday, Hayden Johns.

Neath Hotel Saturday, Flatline.

Nelson Bay Diggers Saturday, Frick-n-Orson.

Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club Sunday, Bobby C.

Northern Star Hotel Saturday, Phoenix Pritchard.

Pedens Cessnock Saturday, Ash Mountain.

Pelican RSL Club Saturday, Smokin Rosie.

Pippis At The Point Saturday, Troy Kemp. Sunday, Max Jackson.

The Pourhouse Saturday, James Osborn.

Premier Hotel Saturday, Steve Geary. Sunday, Busta Thong.

Prince of Wales Hotel Saturday, Nicko.

Queens Wharf Hotel Saturday, The Sue & Mikey Show, Dean Kyrwood. Sunday, The Years.

Raymond Terrace Bowling Club Sunday, Roxy.

Royal Federal Hotel Branxton Saturday, The Gaudrys.

Royal Hotel Singleton Sunday, Zac And Ben.

Royal Motor Yacht Club Toronto Sunday, Karen O’Shea.

Rutherford Hotel Saturday, Pistol Pete.

Seabreeze Hotel Saturday, 4 Letter Word. Sunday, Georgina Grimshaw.

Seven Seas Hotel Saturday, Jessica Cain. 

Shamrock Hotel Saturday, Duplexity.

Shortland Hotel Saturday, Brenton Williams.

Soldiers Point Bowling Club Saturday, Dreams.

South Newcastle Leagues Club Saturday, Karen O’Shea.

Stag and Hunter Hotel Saturday, Bad Luck Kitty. 

Star Hotel Saturday, Phonic Duo. Sunday, Steve Cowley & Friends.

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

Stockton RSL Club Saturday, The Rattlesnakes.

Sunnyside Tavern Saturday, Phil McKnight.

Swansea Hotel Sunday, Damien.

Swansea RSL Club Saturday, KaDenCe.

Tea Gardens Country Club Saturday, Outerphase.

Tea Gardens Hotel Saturday, Extreme Mobile Entertainment.

Tilligerry RSL Saturday, Sarah Christine.

Toronto Workers Saturday, Wicked. Sunday, Kaylah Anne.

Unorthodox Church of Groove Sunday, Hinterlandt.

Wangi Hotel Sunday, Wesleys Edge.

Wangi Wangi RSL Club Sunday, Gareth Hudson.

Warners At The Bay Saturday, Zane Penn.

Westfield Kotara Saturday, Beth Gleeson.

Wests Cardiff Saturday, Wayne and the Wanderers.

Wests New Lambton Saturday, Dr Zoom. Tuesday, Angamus.

Wickham Park Hotel Saturday, Jye Sharp, The Years. Sunday, Codi Kaye, Blues Exile.

Windsor Castle Hotel Saturday, Pete Hibbert.

A Street Cat Named Bob (PG) Based on the international best selling book. The true feel good story of how James Bowen, a busker and recovering drug addict, had his life transformed when he met a stray ginger cat. (Regal)

A United Kingdom (PG) Prince Seretse Khama of Botswana causes an international stir when he marries a white woman from London in the late 1940s. (Lake Cinema)

Beauty and the Beast (PG) An adaptation of the classic fairy-tale about a monstrous prince and a young woman who fall in love.

Ghost In The Shell (M) Major, a special ops, one-of-a-kind human-cyborg hybrid leads the elite task force Section 9. Devoted to stopping the most dangerous criminals and extremists, Section 9 is faced with an enemy whose singular goal is to wipe out Hanka Robotic’s advancements in cyber technology.

Hidden Figures (PG) A team of African-American women provide NASA with important mathematical data needed to launch the program's first successful space missions.

Kong: Skull Island (M) A team of explorers and soldiers travel to an uncharted island in the Pacific, unaware that they are crossing into the domain of monsters, including the mythic Kong.

Life (MA) Astronauts aboard the International Space Station are on the cutting edge of one of the most important discoveries in human history: the first evidence of extraterrestrial life on Mars. As members of the crew conduct their research, the rapidly evolving life-form proves far more intelligent and terrifying than anyone could have imagined.

Lion (PG) A five-year-old Indian boy gets lost on the streets of Kolkata, thousands of kilometres from home. (Regal)

Logan (MA) In the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X in a hide out on the Mexican border. But Logan’s attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant arrives, being pursued by dark forces.

Manchester By The Sea (M) A depressed uncle is asked to take care of his teenage nephew after the boy's father dies. (Regal)

Moonlight (M) The tender, heartbreaking story of a young man’s struggle to find himself, told across three defining chapters in his life as he experiences the ecstasy, pain, and beauty of falling in love, while grappling with his own sexuality.

Peppa Pig: My First Cinema Experience (G) On this exclusive four-part adventure see Peppa visit the outback for a barbecue, learn to surf, throw a boomerang and see the Great Barrier Reef in a submarine.

Power Rangers (M) A group of high-school kids, who are infused with unique superpowers, harness their abilities in order to save the world.

The Boss Baby (G) A suit-wearing briefcase-carrying baby pairs up with his seven-year old brother to stop the dastardly plot of the CEO of Puppy Co.

The Coming War On China (CTC) John Pilger's 60th film for ITV. Pilger reveals what the news doesn’t – that the United States and the world’s second economic power, China are on the road to war. 

The Edge of Seventeen (M) Everyone knows that growing up is hard, and life is no easier for high school junior Nadine, who is already at peak awkwardness when her all-star older brother Darian starts dating her best friend. (Regal)

The LEGO Batman Movie (PG) Bruce Wayne must not only deal with the criminals of Gotham City, but also the responsibility of raising a boy he adopted.

The Light Between Oceans (M) A lighthouse keeper and his wife living off the coast of Western Australia raise a baby they rescue from an adrift rowboat. (Regal)