L!vesites

Newcastle L!vesites is a cultural events programme taking place in public spaces in the heart of Newcastle including: Newcastle Mall, Harbour Square, Honeysuckle Promenade, Civic Park and Wheeler Place. Each year, L!vesites produces over 100 days of events and provides over 700 days of arts employment.

Outdoors performance, installations, concerts, open air cinema and mass public dance classes - the programme is diverse and varies from month to month with events happening constantly all around the city -sometimes in several venues at once! Events are mostly free of charge and include a variety of cultural activities and entertainment to attract a broad range of people.

Newcastle L!vesites' vision is to enliven the city making it a vibrant, exciting and safe place in which to live, work and play.

Markets

Newcastle City Farmers & Craft Market
Where: Cattle Pavilion, Newcastle Showground, Brown Road, Broadmeadow
When: Most Sundays (refer to website for actual dates)

Time: 8am - 1pm
Contact: Kevin Eade on (02) 4930 5156 or www.newcastlecityfarmersmarket.com.au

The Olive Tree Markets
Where: The Junction Public School, Union Street, The Junction
When: First Saturday of each month (except December & January), Twilight markets November & December (dates to be confirmed)

Time: 9am - 3pm
Contact: Justine Gaudry on 0439 649 058

The Great Bar Bazaar
Where: The Great Northern Hotel, corner Scott & Watt Streets, Newcastle
When: Third Saturday of each month

Time: 11am – 4pm
Contact: The Great Northern Hotel on (02) 4927 5728

Hunter Street Markets
Where: Hunter Street Mall, Newcastle City Centre
When: Every Thursday, Friday & Saturday

Time: 9am – 4pm
Contact: Organic Food Markets on (02) 9999 2226 or www.organicfoodmarkets.com.au

Hamilton Family Fun Markets
Where: James Street Plaza, corner Beaumont & James Streets, Hamilton
When: Second & fourth Saturday of each month

Time: 8am – 3pm
Contact: Kerrie Beer on 0404 409 260

Adamstown Lions Markets
Where: Corner Glebe & Brunker Roads, Adamstown
When: Every Sunday

Time: 7am - 12noon
Contact: Info Line on (02) 4952 2133

Islington Markets
Where: Wickham Park, Albert Street, Wickham
When: Last Sunday each month, except December
Contact: Brian Maher on (02) 4952 8654

Cultural Feast Multicultural Market
Where: 2a Platt Street, Waratah (opposite the Waratah train station)
When: Third Saturday of each month

Time: 4pm – 8pm
Contact: events@eccnhr.ngo.org.au

Wallsend Rotary Community Markets
Where: Wallsend Park (Wal Herd Park), Cowper Street, Wallsend
When: Third Saturday of each month

Time: 8am – 1pm
Contact: Phil on 0411 402 810

MAJOR EVENTS

JANUARY

National Maritime Festival 2011
Date: 26 January 2011
Venue: Maritime Centre

Contact: Maritime Centre Newcastle on (02) 4929 2588 or the Event Manager, Erica Townsend on 0411 461 075. ou can visit the website at www.maritimecentrenewcastle.com.au

The festival will be a harbour focused extravaganza - complete with a lights spectacular on the evening of the 25th - that will not only be a new and special event for locals but will draw tourists to Newcastle to celebrate our extraordinary and unique working harbour. In no other city in Australia can you be so close to huge ships, it is an incredible and spectacular feature of Newcastle.

MARCH

Surfest
Date: 9 – 20 March 2011
Venue: Merewether Beach

Contact: Warren Smith on (02) 4929 5833 or www.surfest.com (Full program announced closer to the date)

Burton Toyota Surfest is Australia's largest surfing lifestyle festival and the only Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) international men’s surfing competition in NSW.

The festival is held at Merewether Beach, home of festival patron and Australia's most accomplished male professional surfing champion, four time World Champion Mark Richards.

Newcastle is the 3rd leg of 6 stops on the Australian pro surfing tour and plays host to 12 days of non-stop surfing action in one of Australia's most beautiful cities.

Established in 1985, Surfest is Newcastle's only annual international sporting event. It presents eight professional and amateur surfing events over 12 days and attracts more than 650 surfers, with many coming from around the globe, including the United States, Hawaii, Brazil, Japan, South Africa, New Zealand and France.

The Honour roll of the main event the Burton Toyota Mark Richards Pro is a 'who's who' of professional surfing including world champions Barton Lynch, Damian Hardman, Tom Curren, Tom Carroll, Mick Fanning and ten-time world champion Kelly Slater.

The event is more than a great surf competition - it is a celebration of a city and its people and their special relationship with Australian beach culture.

Make sure you check out the variety of supporting events, including the Art and Surf Culture Festival at Jefferson Park, Merewether Beach on 19 & 20 March 2011.

Newcastle Show 2011
Date: 18 - 20 March 2011
Venue: Newcastle Regional Showground, Entertainment Centre & Exhibition Centre, Broadmeadow

Contact: Newcastle Show on (02) 4961 2085 or www.newcastleshow.com.au

Cost: All tickets $10 (adults at children’s prices)

Visitors to Newcastle Regional Show will be blown away by the animals, agricultural displays, nightly entertainment, stage presentations, pavilion exhibits and overall ambience of the largest regional Show in NSW.

Since its inception in 1902 Newcastle Regional Show has had a history of attracting a large number of visitors each year, making this event the largest regional show in the State.

As part of our ongoing commitment to the people of the Hunter, we have continued to evolve and change every year in order to keep pace with what the public want and yet still maintain the traditions that make the Show unique. We aim to showcase our region, its people and its products and give the public an experience they won't forget with good value for their money.

Please check our website for the latest updates www.newcastleshow.com.au

The Newcastle Regional Show is organised by the Newcastle Agricultural, Horticultural & Industrial Association Inc.

MAY

Darby Street Chocolate and Coffee Festival

Date: 29 May 2011

Venue: Darby Street, Cooks Hill

Contact: Stacey Anderson on 0447 441 259

Sample a variety of local, organic and national coffees & styles. Taste morsels of chocolate decadence. Sip teas with a difference. Three stages full of entertainment, roving musicians, street performers, rides, face painting and market stalls showcasing local designers.

SEPTEMBER

Spring Racing Carnival September 2011

Cameron Handicap Raceday

Traditionally Ladies Day, the fillies on the lawns vie for great prizes worth over $5000

Tooheys New Gold Cup Raceday

Join NJC in celebrating the Gold Cup with the countrys finest horses, jockeys and trainers.

So gather your friends and family and head to beautiful Broadmeadow for a day of exhileracing!

Click the link below for more information about the Newcastle Jockey Club and other race day events

OCTOBER

Mattara Festival October 2011

A celebration of, and by the people of Newcastle and the Hunter, through a diverse range of skills and performaces, at the picturesque Newcastle Foreshore. Dance, theatre, sculpture, art, food, music and environmental awareness is all on display in a fun atmosphere.

The word MATTARA, meaning hand, was inspired by the language of the Awabakal Aboriginal Dialect used by former natives of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie areas. Mattara was selected as the title for the festival, denoting the hand of friendship that Newcastle extends to visitors as well as the Citys hand of industry.

Thousands of people attend the Festival annually, carrying the festive spirit through out the entire duration of Mattara. Key attractions include the inaugural Outdoor Art Exhibition and the Mattara Street Parade. Look out for these and other attractions:

o       Face Painting

o       Defence Force Display

o       Pet Parade

o       Carnival Rides

o       Market Stalls

o       Mattara Parade

o       Live Entertainment

Mattara Hill Climb October 2011

Considered one of the most challenging Hillclimb courses in Australia, King Edward Park has been a picturesque hill climbing venue since 1951. Newcastle MG Car Clubs premier annual event has been run on the historic King Edward Park course every October since 1963. The course record for the 1.094 kilometre hillclimb is 38.05 seconds, set by Eric Barnes on October 11, 1999.

The event has become so popular that it is now conducted over two days - with the New South Wales Hillclimb Championship held on a Sunday in October, whilst the Monday features the Tri-Challenge series between Newcastle, Tamworth and Kempsey Sporting Car Clubs. The outstanding success of this event, held as part of the Mattara Festival, is achieved through the efforts of many dedicated people.

A feature of the weekend is the large historic car display in the adjacent parkland, usually attracting special interest classic and sports cars from other car and motorcycle clubs in the district.

DECEMBER

Boxing Day Races 26 December 2011

"Girls and boys come out to play its NJC Boxing Day".

They come to play on the horses, they come to socialise, and they come to party with their friends and to meet new ones. The social event not to be missed.

Gather your friends and family and head to beautiful Broadmeadow for a day of exhileracing!

Click the link below for more information about the Newcastle Jockey Club and other race day events