Let the Herald help you make the most of your weekend

Raffertys Coastal Run 2017 8am to 1pm, Raffertys Resort. An 11km, 22km and 35km trail run through Catherine Hill Bay and the Munmorah State Conservation Area. 

Snowtime in the Garden Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 9pm, Hunter Valley Gardens, Pokolbin. Until July 16. 

Black Creek Family Fun Day 10am to 2pm, TAFE Park, Darwin Street, Cessnock. Join Black Creek Aboriginal Corporation for a family-friendly day of music, culture, stalls, food, jumping castles and lots of activities for the kids. A flag-raising ceremony will commence at 10am at TAFE Park, followed by a street parade.

Hedweld Milbrodale Mountain Classic Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 4pm, Putty Road, Milbrodale. Entry $10 per person per day; children 12 and under free.

Creative Childcare Hunter Street Open Day 11.30am to 1.30pm, 946-954 Hunter Street, Newcastle. Picnic lunch, face painting, clown entertainment and music.

Book Launch 10.30am to 12.30pm, Charlestown Library. Amber and Alice is the new romantic comedy by Janette Paul (pen name of bestselling crime author Jaye Ford). 

History in the Museum’s Neighbourhood: A Walking Tour 1pm to 3pm, meet at Newcastle Museum, Workshop Way, Newcastle. Encounter heritage buildings and fascinating stories of local history on this two-hour tour over 2.7km of even terrain. Bookings essential.

Hypnotik for Hannah 5.30pm to 10pm, Club Macquarie, Argenton. Two-course meal with a hypnotist and illusionist show raising money to help support Hannah, 15, and her family as they fight Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare cancer.

NAIDOC Week Exhibition Saturday and Sunday, 9am to 5.30pm, Cessnock City Library. 

School Holiday Disco 3pm to 5pm, Cardiff RSL Club. Face painting, balloon animals, games and giveaways. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Whale Talk 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm and 1.30pm at Bar Beach car park viewing platform. All invited to delve into the natural history of the whales during their annual migration at four free talks by cetacean guru Jeannie Lawson. 

Newcastle Brickfest 2017 9.30am to 5.30pm, Newcastle Jockey Club, Broadmeadow. A LEGO fan event featuring a city layout with fully working trams and trains and a working LEGO version of Kooragang Island. Bookings essential at trybooking.com.

150 Years Under Lock & Key Tour at Maitland Gaol 11am, Maitland Gaol, East Maitland. Immerse yourself in the history of Maitland Gaol on this 90-minute tour, discovering stories of all sorts of heroes and villains. 

Soul Food 10.30am to noon, Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery, Booragul. The theme for this month is The Mountains of Life: Exploring the tests and challenges of life.

Winter Blues & Jazz Fest 10am, Memorial Park, The Entrance. 

The third annual St Albans Writers’ Festival is taking place from September 8 to 10. The intimate literary celebration attracts some of the best and brightest of Australian writers for a weekend rich with talks and ideas surrounding the theme of “Escape and Explore”. The festival precinct includes the historic St Albans Church, the Settlers Arms Inn, the School of the Arts Hall and marquees corralled around a huge fire and hay bales in the St Albans Reserve festival hub. Simmone Logue will cater the entire festival weekend, including a three-course Dinner With The Writers. Cost: $120 for an all-day pass (five writers’ sessions); $200 for a weekend pass (10 writers’ sessions); special event tickets sold separately. Details and tickets at stalbanswritersfestival.com.au.

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

Lake Macquarie City Farmers Market Saturday, 7.30am to 1pm, Tighes Hill TAFE.

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

Warners Bay Markets Saturday, 8am to 2pm, corner The Esplanade and Lake Street, Warners Bay.

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

Kurri Kurri Community Markets Saturday, 8am to 1pm, Rotary Park, Kurri Kurri.

Hunter Street Organic Food Market Saturday, 9am to 3pm, Hunter Street Mall, Newcastle.  

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

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

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

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

Markets at the Rectory Sunday, 9am to noon, The Rectory, 48 Sturgeon Street, Raymond Terrace. 

Cessnock Regional Art Gallery Ngani Barray This Country: Wonnarua artist Lesley Salem; works by CatholicCare’s Indigenous Art and Culture Program for Teens and Parents of Teens. Opening Saturday at 5pm. 

Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery Diane Arbus: American Portraits; Artist Focus: Pablo Tapia and Your Collection: Photo i.d. Exhibitions launched Sunday, 2pm to 4.30pm, refreshments served, all welcome.

The Society of Artists – Newcastle Art Prize 2017 at Adamstown Uniting Church Saturday to Monday, 9am to 5pm. Entry by gold coin donation.

Morpeth Gallery Two Living Masters: Gordon Hanley and John McCartin. Saturday and Sunday only. 

Maitland Regional Art Gallery Derek Kreckler: Accident and Process. Until September 3. Make A Face; Showcase 4 Exhibition. Until September 10. Lionel’s Place: Lionel Lindsay from the MRAG Collection. Until April 8, 2018. Jim Anderson: Lampoon, An Historical Art Trajectory 1970-2017; Locust Jones: Back to the Dark Ages; Who Was Les Darcy? End Sunday. Frank Murri: The Prime Ingredient in a Big Piece of Pi; Colonial Afterlives: A Salamanca Arts Centre Exhibition. Until July 23. 

Newcastle Museum One Million Stars To End Violence; RAD Exhibition; Australian of the Year Awards 2017; Shadows of Sacrifice. 

Peter Sesselmann Artist Gallery Colouring Out. Until July 10. 

Reader’s Cafe and Larder Exhibition by Joanne Conder. Until July 28. 

John Earle Gallery New paintings in progress.

The University Gallery Balnhdhurr: A Lasting Impression. Until July 15.

Crowtrap Studio Exhibition celebrating 50 years of painting. Until July 10. 

Newcastle Art Gallery Abstraction: Celebrating Australian Abstract Women Artists. Until July 23. The Phantom Show. Until August 20. 

Old Fire Shed Gallery It’s New Art 2017. Until December 18. 

Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre Contemporising the Modern: Australian modern and contemporary photography; Travis De Vries: Lost Tales – Walking with Gods. Until August 27.

The Lock-Up Stitched Up. Until August 6.

Gallery 139 The PRINT: Jane Collins, Maddyson Haddon, Anne McLaughlin, Anne-Maree Hunter, Terri Brander, Gina McDonald.

Newcastle Studio Potters & Back to Back Galleries Terra Obscura: Three Dungog Artists explore obscure terrains. Until July 23. 

Watt Space Student Gallery Bundled & Bound – Works by Fiber-Textile Students; The Temporal Length of Existance – Danielle Minett; Selfie Factory: Individual and Collective – Ralph Kenke; Visceral Bond – Donna Jorna.

Cooks Hill Galleries What Lies Beneath. Until July 17.

Acrux Art Gallery Warm & Cosy. 

Timeless Textiles The Map Project: Where I Live. Until July 16.

Disney is a Wish Your Heart Makes A lively look at Disney musicals, with 28 songs from films including Snow White, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King and Frozen. Maitland Musical Society. Club Maitland City, Saturday, at 7pm, and Sunday, at 2pm. 

Legally Blonde: the Musical Jr A high school graduate follows her boyfriend to university to study law. Pantseat Performing Arts, at the Civic Playhouse, Newcastle. Saturday, 2pm and 7pm.

Peter Pan Three children fly with the title character to Neverland, where they encounter lost boys, fairies, Viking women warriors and pirates; adapted by Craig Sodaro from J.M. Barrie’s novel. Maitland Repertory Theatre, at its theatre. Saturday at 2pm and 7.30pm. Sunday at 2pm.

Singin’ In The Rain Jr Romantic musical set in Hollywood in the late 1920s when talking films were first made, calling for actors with good voices. Hunter Drama, at St Phillip’s Christian College Theatre, Waratah. Saturday at 2pm and 7.30pm.

Wallycom Novocastrian Maureen O’Brien’s technology-related musical comedy looks at a buyer’s attempts to get aid to fix an expensive new computer. Adamstown Uniting Church’s Dungeon Theatre. Saturday at 2pm.

5 Sawyers Saturday, Devultra. Sunday, Sundays Record Duo.

Adamstown Uniting Church Saturday, Hey Universe, Looseleaf IV, Kieran Wicks.

Anna Bay Tavern Saturday, Soulplay.

Australia Hotel Cessnock Saturday, Allstar.

Bar On The Hill Saturday, Horrorshow.

Bar Petite Saturday, GW Freebird.

Battlesticks Bar Saturday, Robbie Long. Sunday, Tim Rossington.

Bay Hotel Saturday, C2Air Studio 54, Gen-X.

Belmont 16s Saturday, The Rumour, Melody Feder. Sunday, Bloom.

Belmont Hotel Sunday, Chad Shuttleworth.

Belmont Sporties Sunday, Darren Rolling Keys.

Belmore Hotel Saturday, Evergreen.

Beresfield Bowling Club Saturday, Rubber Bullet. Sunday, Red Dirt Country Band.

The Bradford Saturday, Sass And The Boss Trio.

Burwood Inn Saturday, DJ Surian.

Cambridge Hotel Saturday, Tom Ackroyd, Ryan Moon, Tomek, Luke Massey, B2B, Ben Pailas.

Cardiff RSL Club Saturday, GenR8.

Catho Pub Saturday, John Larder. Sunday, DV8.

Caves Beachside Hotel Saturday, The Ruiins. Sunday, Ava.

Central Bar Saturday, Jacob & Laura.

Central Charlestown Leagues Club Saturday, Pete Gelzinnis.

Central Hotel Stroud Saturday, Greg Bryce.

Cessnock Leagues Club Saturday, Rendezvous.

Charlestown Bowling Club Saturday, Mick Jones.

Clarendon Hotel Saturday, Max Jackson.

Club Kotara Saturday, Chase.

Club Lemon Tree Saturday, Jon Matthews.

Country Club Hotel Saturday, Troy Kemp.

Criterion Hotel Carrington Saturday, Kristy James. Sunday, Todd Schmoo.

Customs House Saturday, Dave Owen. Sunday, Max Jackson.

Cypress Lakes Saturday, Anyerin.

D’Albora Marina Saturday, Bonny Rai. Sunday, Matt McLaren.

Denman Hotel Sunday, Loren Ryan.

Duke Of Wellington Saturday, The Levymen.

East Maitland Bowling Club Saturday, Loose Bazooka. Sunday, Norm Bakker.

East’s Leisure & Golf Club Saturday, Joel Oakhill.

Edgeworth Bowling Club Sunday, Klassic Blak.

Edgeworth Tavern Saturday, Ash Mountain.

The Edwards Sunday, Joe Pug (US), Courtney Marie Andrews (US), Ben Leece.

Exchange Hotel Saturday, Big Night Out.

FogHorn Brewhouse Saturday, Jessica Cain.

Gateshead Tavern Saturday, Junior and Luana. Sunday, The Hitpit.

George Tavern Saturday, Misbehave.

Grain Store Saturday, Beth Gleeson. Sunday, JJ King.

Grand Junction Hotel Sunday, The Slowdowns.

Great Northern Hotel Teralba Saturday, Kaylah Anne.

Gunyah Hotel Saturday, Overload. Sunday, Blues Bombers.

​Hamilton Station Hotel Sunday, Adam Gibson, NRWD, Dog Dirt, Aitäh. 

Harrigan’s Pokolbin Saturday, Kevin O’Hara, Hellrad. Sunday, Kellie Cain.

Hexham Bowling Club Saturday, Counterpart. Sunday, Bluewater Cowboys.

Honeysuckle Hotel Saturday, Prestige Inc. Sunday, Mike Vee, CrocQ.

Hotel Delany Saturday, The Fedz.

Iron Horse Inn Saturday, Eye On You.

Jewells Tavern Saturday, Loko.

The Junction Hotel Saturday, Mike Vee.

Kent Hotel Saturday, The Smarts. Sunday, The Jungle Kings.

Lake Macquarie Tavern Saturday, Paparazzi.

Lake Macquarie Yacht Club Sunday, Jamie Martens.

Lass O’Gowrie Saturday, Safehands, Stockades, Suburban Haze. Sunday, Pucko & Friends.

Lizotte’s Saturday, Mental As Anything, Daniel March. Sunday, Van The Man.

Lucky Hotel Saturday, Matt McLaren.

Mark Hotel Saturday, The Remedy.

Mary Ellen Saturday, Phase III. Sunday, Mark Wells.

Maryland Tavern Saturday, The Gaudrys.

Mavericks On The Bay Saturday, Todd Schmoo. Sunday, Mick Jones.

Mavericks On Darby  Saturday, Jordan Fleming.

Mayfield Ex-Services Saturday, Darren Rolling Keys Duo.

Merewether Surfhouse Sunday, Jerome.

Metropolitan Hotel Maitland Sunday, Marriah.

Mezz Bar at Wallsend Diggers Saturday, Love That Hat. Sunday, Tailgate Drive.

Murray’s Brewery Sunday, Nano.

Nags Head Hotel Saturday, Reg Sinclair.

Neath Hotel Saturday, Sami.

Nelson Bay Diggers Saturday, Kim and Mik. Sunday, Bobby C.

Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club Sunday, Jason Bone.

Northern Star Hotel Saturday, Little Cents.

Pedens Cessnock Saturday, Sundays Record Duo.

Pippis At The Point Saturday, Redline. Sunday, Bonny Rai.

The Pourhouse Saturday, Shawn Lidster.

Premier Hotel Saturday, Mark Wells Trio. Sunday, Bounty Hunters.

Queens Wharf Hotel Saturday, Ryan Daley, The Big Bang. Sunday, The Years, Wharf Life.

Royal Federal Hotel Branxton Saturday, Hummingbirds.

Royal Hotel Singleton Sunday, Jackson Broadway.

Royal Motor Yacht Club Toronto Sunday, Beau Hatch.

Rutherford Hotel Saturday, Jared Taylor.

Seabreeze Hotel Sunday, Kelly Hope.

Shenanigans at the Imperial Saturday, John Larder. Sunday, Nicholas Connors.

Shortland Hotel Saturday, Russell Snape.

Snake Gully Hotel Saturday, Higher Ground.

Soldiers Point Bowling Club Saturday, Summerland Kings.

South Newcastle Leagues Club Saturday, Luke Smith.

Stag and Hunter Hotel Saturday, The Autumn Hearts, The Marquis, Lenny Tranter & The Bagism Revalation. 

Stockton RSL Club Saturday, The Sun Rockets.

Swansea Hotel Sunday, Ashley Knight.

Swansea RSL Club Saturday, Echo’s Of The Sixties.

Tea Gardens Hotel Saturday, Brendan Murphy.

Telarah Bowling Club Sunday, Karen O'Shea.

Tilligerry RSL  Saturday, Deborah Sinclair.

Toronto Diggers Saturday, 40 Up Club.

Toronto Workers Saturday, Chad Shuttleworth Duo. Sunday, Zane Penn.

Town Hall Hotel Saturday, Lauren Ryan.

Victoria Hotel Hinton Sunday, Luke Smith.

Wangi Hotel Saturday, Jamie Martens.

Wangi Wangi RSL Club Sunday, Reg Sinclair.

Wests Cardiff Saturday, The Pink Chevys.

Wests New Lambton Saturday, Phonic Trio.

Wickham Park Hotel Saturday, Chikarma, Kisstory. Sunday, Phoenix Pritchard, Compadre Diablo.

Windsor Castle Hotel Saturday, Pete Hibbert.

Across The Universe (PG) The music of the Beatles and the Vietnam War form the backdrop for the romance between an upper-class American girl and a poor Liverpudlian artist. (Regal)

A Dog’s Purpose (PG) A dog looks to discover his purpose in life over the course of several lifetimes and owners. (Regal)

Baywatch (M) Follows devoted lifeguard Mitch Buchannon as he butts heads with a brash new recruit. Together, they uncover a local criminal plot that threatens the future of the Bay.

Cars 3 (G) Lightning McQueen sets out to prove to a new generation of racers that he's still the best race car in the world.

Churchill (M) A ticking-clock thriller following Winston Churchill in the 24 hours before D-Day. (Tower)

Despicable Me 3 (PG) Balthazar Bratt, a child star from the 1980s, hatches a scheme for world domination.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (PG) Greg convinces his family to take a road trip to attend his great grandmother’s 90th birthday, so he can attend a nearby gamer convention.

Galaxy Quest (PG) The alumni cast of a space opera television series have to play their roles as the real thing when an alien race needs their help. (Regal)

Going In Style (M)  Three senior citizens in their 70s decide to rob a bank. (Lake Cinema)

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. (Regal)

MOM (CTC) Devki, a loving wife and mother of two beautiful daughters seemingly has a perfect happy family, yet somehow true happiness of being a mother eludes her. (Tower)

Monsieur Chocolat (CTC) The history of the clown Chocolate, the first black circus artist in France, which has a great success in the late 19th century. (Tower)

My Cousin Rachel (PG) A young Englishman plots revenge against his mysterious, beautiful cousin, believing that she murdered his guardian. (Tower)

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (M) Jack Sparrow feels the winds of ill-fortune blowing when deadly ghost sailors escape from the Devil’s Triangle. (Lake Cinema)

Spider-Man: Homecoming (M) A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging superhero.

The House (MA) A dad convinces his friends to start an illegal casino in his basement after he and his wife spend their daughter’s college fund.

Their Finest (M) A British film crew attempts to boost morale during World War II by making a propaganda film after the London bombings. (Regal)

Transformers: The Last Knight (M) Humans are at war with the Transformers, and Optimus Prime is gone. The key to saving the future lies buried in the secrets of the past and the hidden history of Transformers on Earth.

Una (M) When a young woman unexpectedly arrives at an older man’s workplace, looking for answers, the secrets of the past threaten to unravel his new life. (Tower)

Viceroy’s House (PG) Lord Mountbatten is tasked with overseeing the transition of British India to independence. (Regal)

Wonder Woman (M) An Amazon princess leaves her island home to explore the world and, in doing so, becomes one of the world's greatest heroes.