SATURDAY
Dungog Rodeo 11am, Dungog Showground. Watch riders test their skills in a variety of events including bull ride, saddle bronc, steer wrestling, ladies and junior events, the comedy clown and more.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Easter Blues & Brews Festival Saturday to Monday, from 11am, Murray's Brewery, Bobs Farm. Live music, kids activities and Murray's special Hot Cross Bun and White Chocolate Easter Egg beers.
Easter Fun Day 9.30am to 1.30pm, Hunter Wetlands, Shortland. Hop on over to the Wetlands for face painting, jumping castle, Easter craft and the star of the show, the Easter Bunny will be there too. Meet the Easter Bunny at 10am, 11am or 12 noon. To top it all off, there's the Wetlands' latest dinosaur exhibition.
Easter Saturday Teddy Bears Picnic Saturday, 10am to 2pm, Hunter Valley Horse Riding, Lovedale. There will be pony rides, tractor hay rides, jumping castle, egg hunt and face painting.
Giant Easter Egg Hunt Saturday & Sunday, 9am to 5pm, Hunter Valley Gardens, Pokolbin. Get involved in the delicious Easter egg hunts held on the hour from 10am to 3pm or enjoy the gardens, Mega Creatures and family friendly rides.
Gresford Billy Cart Derby 8.30am, Park St, East Gresford. For 20 years billy carts have raced in East Gresford at scary speeds. Off the track there's gumboot throwing, spit the dummy, bet where a horse will drop its patty, shop at numerous stalls, drool over classic cars, eat exotic foods or enjoy the famous RFS BBQ.
Harness Racing 5.50pm, Maitland Harness Racing Club. The eight-race program includes the $10,000 colts and geldings heat.
Hunter Valley Easter Fest Saturday & Sunday, 10am to 4pm, Dalwood Estate. Check out the motocross, unlimited rides, kids activities, Easter egg hunts, an extreme games zone, music, animal nursery, art, markets, delicious foods and wine.
Inflatables On The Green Saturday to Monday, 10am to 2pm, Club Charlestown.
SUNDAY
Easter Eggstravaganza at the Hunter Ice Skating Stadium 11.30am to 2.30pm, Warners Bay. There will be a giant Easter egg hunt, plus a visit from a special guest.
MONDAY
Easter Eggstravaganza at Honeysuckle Hotel 11am to 3pm, There will be face painting, a jumping castle, Easter egg hunt, a petting zoo, live music and even a visit from the Easter Bunny.
Easter Monday Family Funday 10am to 4pm, Sydney Junction Hotel, Hamilton. Enjoy an Easter egg hunt, jumping castle, kids disco and more.
Horse racing 12-4pm, Muswellbrook Race Club. The Lone Pine Charge returns with a seven-race program, plus free kids entertainment, Easter Bunny and chocolate egg giveaways.
SAVE THE DATE
Does anything sound like a greater match made in heaven than beer and barbecues? Well, on August 3 and 4 Hope Estate is celebrating the two Australian pastimes, with the Hunter Valley Beer and BBQ Festival. The event will stage sanctioned rounds of both the Steak Cookoff (Saturday) and Australasian BBQ Alliance Championship (Sunday), plus tastings, a kids zone, live music, beer masterclasses and wine.
MARKETS
Subject to cancellation at late notice due to weather conditions
Handmade in the Hunter Markets Saturday Sunday, 9am to 3pm, Kevin Sobels Wines, 5 Halls Road, Pokolbin.
Hunter Wine Country Markets Saturday, 9am to 3pm, De Bortoli Wines, 532 Wine Country Drive, Pokolbin.
Adamstown Lions Club Market Sunday, 7am to 1pm, cnr Brunker and Glebe roads, Adamstown.
Nelson Bay Legacy Markets Sunday, 9am, Fly Point Park, Nelson Bay.
Newcastle City Farmers Market Sunday, 7am to 1pm, Newcastle Showground, Broadmeadow.
Newcastle Food and Flower Markets Saturday, 8am to 2pm, Rural Drive, Sandgate.
Respect All Markets Cooranbong Sunday, 9am to 2pm, Cooranbong Park.
Sacred Tree Markets Saturday, 10am to 3pm, D'Albora Marina, Nelson Bay.
Stockland Indoor Mini Market Saturday, 9am to 5pm, Stockland Jesmond.
Warners Bay Markets Saturday, 8am to 7pm, The Esplanade, Warners Bay.
Wollombi Markets Monday, 7am to 1pm, Wollombi Sale Yards Payne's Crossing Rd, Wollombi.
ARTS
Swansea Library Jenni Goodman, who illustrated four children's books based on Colin Thiele's Storm Boy. Her works will be on display at Swansea Library as part of Launchpad@LakeMac until May 11. Also, Cats and Dogs, All at Sea, SEEN@Swansea.
Lovett Gallery, Newcastle Library The Many Story Treehouse Exhibition. An exhibition of Terry Denton's original illustrations, sketches and layouts from the Treehouse series developed with author Andy Griffiths. Until April 27.
Maitland Regional Art Gallery The Poetry of Space, by Tim Winters; Fond Illusion, by James Rhodes, until April 28. Charles Blackman: from the MRAG Collection, until August 11. Maitland International Salon of Photography, until May 26. Props, Masks Magic, by Andrew Antoniou, until May 19. Also, See Make Do school holiday activities daily.
Newcastle Art Gallery Sodeisha: connected to Australia, until May 19. Floribunda: from the collection, until April 28.
Watt Space Gallery FABLE: the Art and Heart of Storytelling, curated by Jodi Vial, until April 28.
Port Stephens Community Arts Centre 3 Themes - Artists Choice Movement, Animals Gardens and Plein Air Painters' Colour and Light, until May 7.
Timeless Textiles Articles of Ancestry, by Anne Kelly, until May 5.
The Lock Up Known ' Unknown, by Bleck, Toby Cedar, Rakini Devi Performance, John A Douglas, Amala Groom, Amrita Hepi, until May 26.
Cooks Hill Galleries Anti-Gravity, Understanding Brozone, by Steve Glassborow, until May 8.
Cessnock Regional Art Gallery Members Art Show, until May 5.
The University Gallery From the Mudbrick House: Dino and Lottie Consalvo, curated by Gillean Shaw and Ahn Wells, ends Saturday.
CStudios Divergent Interpretations, by Justin Lees and Kristy Elley, until April 27.
Newcastle Museum Underworld: Mugshots from the Roaring Twenties, until June 30. The Flora of the Hunter Region, until June 9.
THEATRE
The Gruffalo Mouse, searching for food, meets characters including cunning Fox and hears about the terrifying Gruffalo; musical adaptation of a popular children's book. CDP and Tall Stories, at Cessnock Performing Arts Centre. Tuesday, at 12pm and 2pm.
Madagascar: A Musical Adventure Jr Alex the Lion leads other animals in escaping from a zoo, and they are shipped to a madcap world in Madagascar; adaptation for young performers of a lively rock-style musical. Young People's Theatre, at Young People's Theatre, Hamilton. Thursday at 11am, Saturday at 11am and 3pm. Then 2pm and 7pm Saturday shows until May 25, plus a 2pm Sunday show on May 5.
Roald Dahl's Fantastic Mr Fox A trio of awkward and self-centred farmers try hard to get rid of a clever fox they see as a threat to their businesses; amusing comedy for all ages. Hunter Drama, at the Civic Playhouse, Newcastle. Wednesday and Thursday, April 24 and 25, at 7pm, Friday and Saturday, April 26 and 27, at 2pm and 7pm, Sunday, April 28, at 10am and 2pm.
MUSIC
5 Sawyers Saturday, DJ Urby, Sunday, Marissa.
Anchorage Port Stephens Sunday, Sarah Christine.
Anna Bay Tavern Saturday, Viagro. Sunday, Layth Gunn.
Argenton Hotel Sunday, Alias Duo.
Australia Hotel Cessnock Saturday, Early Daze.
Bay Hotel Bonnells Bay Saturday, The 3.
Beach Hotel Saturday, Misbehave. Sunday, The Humm.
Belmont 16s Saturday, Hornet, Karen O'Shea. Sunday, Bloom.
Belmont Hotel Saturday, Mardmax.
Belmore Hotel Saturday, Alias.
Beresfield Bowling Club Saturday, Gen-R-8.
Blackbutt Hotel Saturday, Associates.
Blueys Nelson Bay Saturday, Stu Morrison.
The Bradford Saturday, Sound Of Sunday Duo.
Burwood Inn Saturday, Austin Mackay.
Cambridge Hotel Saturday, The Story So Far (USA), Basement (UK), Endless Heights, Eat Your Heart Out (main room), Kookshill, Cooks Bakers, New Black Shades (warehouse). Sunday, Waax, Johnny Hunter, Bec Stevens, Pals, Raj Mahal, Austen, Concrete Surfers, Belle Badi, NTL Landmarks, Underachiever, Slap Jack, Roxferry.
Cardiff RSL Club Saturday, The V Dubs.
Catho Pub Saturday, Jamie Martens. Sunday, Steve Edmonds Band.
Central Leagues Club Saturday, The Andy Show.
Cessnock Leagues Club Saturday, The Big Bang.
Club Kotara Saturday, Love That Hat.
Club Lemon Tree Saturday, Gasolene. Sunday, Anthony Lee.
Club Macquarie Sunday, The Years.
Club Maitland City Saturday, Joel Procter.
Colliery Inn Sunday, Anyerin.
Commercial Hotel Morpeth Saturday, Simon King.
Croatian Wickham Sports Club Sunday, Latinova.
Customs House Sunday, Jackson Halliday.
Cypress Lakes Saturday, Emily Smith. Sunday, Tom Christie.
D'Albora Marina Saturday, Max Jackson. Sunday, Karen O'Shea. Monday, Anthony Lee.
Denman Hotel Sunday, Georgie James.
Duke Of Wellington Saturday, Dean Kyrwood Duo.
East Cessnock Bowling Club Saturday, Finnian.
East Maitland Bowling Club Saturday, Code Red. Sunday, Deborah Sinclair.
Edgeworth Bowling Club Sunday, Beau Hatch.
Edgeworth Tavern Saturday, Pat Vs Cat.
Family Hotel Maitland Saturday, The Bad and The Ugly.
Finnegans Saturday, Benny B MC Bones.
Gallipoli Legion Club Sunday, The Levymen.
Gateshead Tavern Sunday, Junior and Luana.
General Roberts Hotel Saturday, Layth Gunn.
George Tavern Saturday, Dos Eager.
Grain Store Sunday, J.J King.
Great Northern Hotel Newcastle Saturday, The Levymen. Sunday, Phonic Duo.
Gunyah Hotel Saturday, Felix Quinn Music Band. Sunday, Chad Shuttleworth Duo.
Hamilton Station Hotel Saturday, DEAD, Carnal Viscera, Jamie Hay, The Grounds. Sunday, Totally Unicorn, Tired Minds, Necessary Vengeance, Arse, Wicked Sisters.
Harrigan's Pokolbin Saturday, Kristy James, Pocket Aces. Sunday, Dreamcatchers.
Hexham Bowling Club Saturday, The Blue Water Cowboys.
Honeysuckle Hotel Saturday, Vogue. Sunday, Jason Bone.
Hotel Delany Saturday, Zac and Ben.
Imperial Hotel Maitland Saturday, The After Party Duo. Sunday, Troy Kemp..
Jewells Tavern Saturday, The Jungle Kings.
Kent Hotel Saturday, Stileto. Sunday, Greg Bryce Blues Band.
King Street Hotel Saturday, Digitalism (DJ set). Sunday, Enschway.
Lakeside Village Tavern Saturday, Steel City.
Lambton Park Hotel Saturday, Mike Vee.
Lass O'Gowrie Saturday, The Pits, Son of Coco.
Lucky Hotel Saturday, The Colonel's 2 Piece Feed. Sunday, Sunday Republic.
Mary Ellen Hotel Saturday, Mojo Bandits.
Mattara Hotel Saturday, Anthony Lee.
Mavericks On The Bay Saturday, Robbie T. Sunday, Zane Penn.
Mavericks On Darby Saturday, Jake Davey.
Merewether Surfhouse Sunday, Kylie Jane.
Mezz Bar at Wallsend Diggers Saturday, Gen-X. Sunday, Tyler John.
Morisset Country Club Sunday, Romney Watts.
Murray's Brewery Saturday, Nano. Sunday, The Blues Bombers.
Nag's Head Hotel Saturday, Greg Bryce.
Nelson Bay Diggers Saturday, Dr. Zoom Duo. Sunday, Tim Harding.
Nelson Bay Golf Club Saturday, Marissa.
Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club Sunday, Loko.
Newcastle Hotel Saturday, Space Cadet.
Northern Star Hotel Saturday, Paula Owen, Dan Mani.
Ocean View Hotel Dudley Sunday, Michael Wilks.
Pippis At The Point Saturday, The DuoTones. Sunday, Ben Travis.
Prince of Wales Hotel Saturday, Ryan Daley.
Queens Wharf Hotel Saturday, Loko. Sunday, Anthology.
Railway Hotel Cessnock Sunday, Crawfish Stew.
Raymond Terrace Bowling Club Sunday, Karen O'Shea.
Royal Federal Hotel Branxton Saturday, Phonic Trio.
Royal Motor Yacht Club Toronto Sunday, Loose Bazooka.
Rutherford Hotel Saturday, Brendan Watson.
Seabreeze Hotel Saturday, Overload. Sunday, Jamie Martens.
Shaft Tavern Saturday, Glen Harrison.
Shoal Bay Country Club Sunday, Casey Bellamy, Mick Jones.
Soldiers Point Bowling Club Saturday, Rave On.
Spinning Wheel Hotel Sunday, Max Jackson.
Stag and Hunter Hotel Saturday, Yes Commissioner. Sunday, Filthy Lucre, The Urban Chiefs.
Stockton Bowling Club Sunday, Sounds Of Sunday.
Stockton RSL Club Saturday, Dave Tavender.
Swansea Hotel Saturday, Kellie Ross. Sunday, The Newcastle Flyers.
Swansea RSL Club Saturday, Cover 2 Cover. Sunday, Sami Cooke.
Swansea Workers Club Saturday, Solid Gold Party. Sunday, Russell Hull.
Tilligerry RSL Saturday, Louis Burt.
Toronto Workers Saturday, The Rattlesnakes
Victoria Hotel Hinton Saturday, Daniel Arvidson. Sunday, Ryan Daley.
Vincent St Kitchen Bar Cessnock Saturday, Junior and Luana. Sunday, Murray Byfield.
Wangi Hotel Sunday, Simon King.
Wangi Wangi RSL Club Sunday, Ron Knight.
Warners At The Bay Saturday, Zane Penn Duo.
Westfield Kotara Saturday, Beth Gleeson.
Weston Workers Saturday, All Access 80s.
Wests Cardiff Saturday, The Snape Trilogy.
Wests New Lambton Saturday, The Years.
Wests NEX Saturday, Tim Harding.
Wickham Park Hotel Saturday, Brien McVernon The Rockets From Oz, Madelyn. Sunday, Fish Fry + Pow Wow, Hugh Gordon Friends.
Windsor Castle Hotel Saturday, Anyerin.
Wollombi Tavern Saturday, Tailgate Drive. Sunday, Andy Abra. Monday, Crawfish Stew.
MOVIES
A Dog's Way Home (PG) A female dog travels four hundred miles in search of her owner throughout a Colorado wilderness. (Lake Cinema)
Back Of The Net (G) A new student at a soccer academy is determined to beat her rival's team in the national tournament.
Bohemian Rhapsody (M) The story of the legendary rock band Queen and lead singer Freddie Mercury, leading up to their famous performance at Live Aid. (Lake Cinema)
Captain Marvel (M) Carol Danvers, a former US Air Force fighter pilot has her DNA fused with that of a Kree during an accident, leading her to question her past when Earth is caught in a galactic war between two alien races.
Dumbo (PG) A young elephant, whose oversized ears enable him to fly, helps save a struggling circus. But when the circus plans a new venture, Dumbo and his friends discover dark secrets beneath its shiny veneer.
Five Feet Apart (M) A pair of teenagers with life-threatening illnesses meet in a hospital and fall in love.
Green Book (M) The story of a working-class Italian-American bouncer who takes on a job as a chauffeur for a highly-educated African-American classical pianist. (Lake Cinema)
Guess How Much I Love You - An Enchanting Easter (G) When Little Nutbrown hare leads an expedition to find a pure white fawn, the friends don't really believe one exists, but when they do find her they are reminded the world is full of wondrous creatures.
Hellboy (R) Based on the graphic novels by Mike Mignola, Hellboy, caught between the worlds of the supernatural and human, battles an ancient sorceress bent on revenge.
Little (PG) A woman is transformed into her younger self at a point in her life when the pressures of adulthood become too much to bear.
Missing Link (PG) Mr. Link recruits explorer Sir Lionel Frost to help find his long-lost relatives in the fabled valley of Shangri-La. Along with adventurer Adelina Fortnight, this trio of explorers travel the world to help their new friend.
Pet Sematary (MA) Based on the seminal horror novel by Stephen King, Dr. Louis Creed, who, after relocating with his wife Rachel and their two young children from Boston to rural Maine, discovers a mysterious burial ground hidden deep in the woods near the family's new home.
Shazam! (M) We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson's case, by shouting out one word - SHAZAM! - this streetwise 14-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult superhero.
Storm Boy (PG) When Kingley starts to see images from his past that he can't explain, he is forced to remember his long-forgotten childhood, growing up on an isolated coastline with his father. (Lake Cinema)
The Aftermath (M) Post World War II, a British colonel and his wife are assigned to live in Hamburg during the post-war reconstruction, but tensions arise with the German who previously owned the house.
The Chaperone (PG) The life of a Kansas woman is forever changed when she chaperones a beautiful and talented 15-year-old dancer named Louise Brooks to New York for the summer.
The Curse of the Weeping Woman (M) Ignoring the eerie warning of a troubled mother suspected of child endangerment, a social worker and her own small kids are soon drawn into a frightening supernatural realm.
The Lego Movie 2 (PG) The Second Part reunites the heroes of Bricksburg in an all new action-packed adventure to save their beloved city.
Us (MA) A family's serenity turns to chaos when a group of doppelgngers begin to terrorize them.
Wonder Park (PG) Wonder Park tells the story of a magnificent amusement park where the imagination of a wildly creative girl named June comes alive.