Ditch the hustle and bustle and immerse yourself in the charm of rural life at a regional show, fair, or festival! From horse events and billy cart derbies to brick throwing competitions and Dachshund dashes, prepare for an exciting day, or weekend, bursting with activity and fun for the whole family. Pig races? You bet!
The following fun events in the Newcastle and Hunter region offer a delightful and entertaining escape, celebrating the heart and soul of our regional communities.
Maitland Show
In 2025 Maitland Show will be in its 165th year. Incorporating Maitland Rodeo, families are guaranteed a full weekend of fun with three days and two nights of action, entertainment, attractions, food, competitions, rides and amusements. You’re guaranteed an array of different farm animals at Maitland Show with a farmyard nursery, poultry judging, horse events and reptile shows on the program every year.
Date: Every February
Location: Maitland Showground
Website
Minmi Hotel Pig Races
For a unique and entertaining day out, get together with family and friends and enjoy the annual Minmi Hotel Pig Races, supporting the charity Beyond Blue. Besides the pig races, past events have included raffles, a mechanical bull, petting zoo, face painting, sausage sizzle, live music and more.
Date: February
Location: Minmi Hotel
Website
Newcastle Show
The theme for the 2025 Newcastle Show is Experience Extraordinary. Held every March at Newcastle Showground, it’s one of regional Australia’s most iconic agricultural and horticultural events. With so much for families to see and do including animals, rides, show bags and entertainment, the Newcastle Show promises a blend of thrilling attractions, family-friendly entertainment, and a celebration of community spirit, all while showcasing the agricultural heartbeat of the region. Read more about the Newcastle Show.
Date: February/March
Location: Newcastle Showground
Website
Gresford Show
The Gresford Show offers classic country entertainment, from woodchopping and campdrafting competitions to horse ring events. Animal lovers will enjoy the poultry, rabbits, and the pet parade. Inside the pavilion, exhibits include local farm produce, jams and cooking, and art, craft, and photography.
Date: March
Location: Gresford Showground
Website
Kurri Kurri Nostalgia Festival
Experience the vibrant spirit of the 1950s and 60s at the annual Kurri Kurri Nostalgia Festival! This popular free event transforms Kurri Kurri town centre with rock ‘n’ roll music, classic cars, hot rods, and retro fashion, drawing visitors from across Australia. Enjoy a “Show and Shine” for vintage vehicles, browse market stalls, and catch live music and dance demonstrations. Don’t miss the nightly rock ‘n’ roll and rockabilly dances at local venues. While entry to the festival is free, tickets for indoor shows can be purchased online or at the Kurri Kurri Visitor Information Centre.
Date: March
Location: Kurri Kurri town centre
Website
Gresford Billy Cart Derby
Get trackside for the exciting Gresford Billy Cart Derby. This free family-friendly event sees kids from just 10 years of age and adults who are young at heart, race homemade billy carts down the steep main street of the picturesque rural village of Gresford, just one hour from Newcastle.
Other entertainment includes a gumboot tossing competition, market stalls, raffles, vintage cars and delicious food for everyone to enjoy. The Gresford Billy Cart Derby is a project of the Rotary Club of Dungog and plays a crucial role in raising funds for the community, supporting local schools, community groups, and sports clubs.
Date: April
Location: Gresford
Website
Stroud Show
For over a century, the Stroud Show has celebrated its roots as a ‘real country show’. Our family love the smaller scale and the close-knit community vibe of the Stroud Show. Held annually on the weekend following Easter, expect to be impressed by the horse events and enjoy cheering on all the good boys at the dog show. There’s also cattle judging, produce, handicrafts, a scarecrow competition, demolition derby, fireworks and more to keep families of all ages entertained. The wacky and popular wife-carrying contest is always fun as well!
Date: April
Location: Stroud
Website
Tocal Field Days
Established in 1984, Tocal Field Days proudly celebrates 41 years in 2025. This three-day agricultural event at Tocal Agricultural College has lots of fun things for families to do, whether you’re from the city or the bush. Held every year on the first weekend in May, visitors can enjoy 340+ exhibitors bringing all the latest in farming techniques and technologies, machinery, remote devices, solar energy and award winning livestock as well as local food and wine, demonstrations and a boat load of fun. Read more about Tocal Field Days.
Date: May
Location: Tocal Agricultural College
Website
Harvest Festival
Take a farm tour, feed adorable farm animals, pick your own pecans, mandarins and oranges, give archery a go, enjoy CWA scones, and learn all about platypuses! These are just a few of the family-friendly experiences waiting for you at the Harvest Festival presented by Central Coast Council. There are 30+ event experiences open throughout the weekend, across the picturesque Central Coast hinterland, offering a wide mix of food, music, nature, art, and farm experiences. Read more about the Harvest Festival.
Date: June
Location: Various locations on Central Coast
Website
Festival of the Fleeces
Head to Merriwa in the Upper Hunter on the June long weekend to experience country life and the running of sheep. For over 30 years, the Festival of the Fleeces has proudly celebrated the rich history of agriculture and sheep farming in Merriwa. The feature event is the Grand Parade, led by the famous Running of the Sheep. Festival of the Fleeces is a fun family-friendly festival with markets stalls, street entertainers, dog high jump, working sheep dog demonstrations, shearing demonstrations, fireworks and more. Read more about the Festival of the Fleeces.
Date: June long weekend
Location: Merriwa
Website
Port Stephens Winter Festival
The annual Port Stephens Winter Festival, held over 9 packed days, features the popular Port Stephens Car Show, the annual Human Whale event, and Taster’s Trails. Full of family activities, food, festival fun and more! Plus great foodie options for the adults only.
Date: July
Location: Port Stephens
Website
Peek into the Past at Tocal Homestead
If you feel like some retro fun head to Tocal Homestead in July for their Peek into the Past event. It’s a fun day out for the whole family. Check out the blacksmiths, working horses, heritage tractors, and scones baking in the old wood stove. Kids can try their hand at traditional bush games and watch rope making and glass blowing. There’s plenty of animals to see including donkeys, pigs, chickens and llamas. Keep an eye out for the ‘redcoats’ of the soldiers of the 73rd Regiment of Foot as they fire their muskets and march through the site – keeping law and order and the King’s peace. Visitors are able to wander around their encampment and chat to them about what they do. Read more about Peek into the Past at Tocal Homestead.
Date: July
Location: Tocal Homestead
Website
Medieval Fair at Hunter Region Botanic Gardens
Hunter Region Botanic Gardens join forces with LARP (live action role play) groups – Battlecry Morisset and Swordcraft Newcastle for their Medieval Fair. Expect armour and sword fights, knights and battles. Visitors can enjoy music, games and medieval fare – toffee apples, baked potatoes, corn on the cob, roasted nuts, sausage sizzle and more. Try your hand at the bow range, throwing axes, band guns and sword battles.
Date: Sunday 10 August 2025
Location: Hunter Region Botanic Gardens, Heatherbrae
Website
Hunter Valley Highland Games
Celebrate Scottish heritage in Australia and the deep connection between Australia and Scotland by attending the Hunter Valley Highland Games in beautiful Hunter Valley Wine Country. Some of the sporting and creative events held at the games include Open Stone Put, Husafell Stone Carry, Caber Toss and Keg Toss. This spirited event goes beyond feats of strength, offering Haggis hurling, delicious food, and a chance to experience all things Scottish, from music and dance to the very way of life.
Date: Saturday 23 August 2025
Location: Saltire Estate
Website
Vacy Country Carnival
Vacy Country Carnival is an annual event in Vacy Village that is full of country fun! Country cooking, Jack Russell and Dachshund races, pony and camel rides, market stalls, and country food. Sheep dog trials and Team Penning exhibitions, Blacksmithing and other traditional country crafts on show.
Date: Sunday 14 September 2025
Location: Gresford Road, Vacy
Website
Living Smart Festival
The Living Smart Festival, held annually, is one of Australia’s largest sustainability events, with a mission to encourage people to learn about and embrace everyday sustainability practices. A range of workshops, stalls and presenters covers all things sustainability, while a multicultural zone invites people from around the world to showcase practices, traditions, dancing, music and cooking from their home countries.
Date: Saturday 20 September 2025
Location: Speers Point Park
Website
King of the Ranges – Stockman’s Challenge and Bush Festival
Experience a living tribute to the Stockmen and Women of Australia at the King of the Ranges Festival held in Murrurundi. The best way to experience the King of the Ranges festival is by purchasing a camping ticket, allowing you to camp and enjoy the festival all weekend long.
Each year, skilled horses and their riders are put to the test over an exciting and intense 3-day ‘Stockman’s Challenge’ to find the King of the Ranges. Competitors fiercely battle it out over 7 challenges to accumulate points in cattle work, packhorse work, bareback riding, target whip cracking, horseshoeing and cross country jumping. The finalists are then tested further, displaying skill and courage in catching and leading a wild horse and riding a buckjumper to determine the overall winner.
The Bush Festival is all about famous folklore, long tales and crazy fun. Kids will love watching the Kids Billy Goat Cart Races, the Junior Whipcrack Clinic and Competition and the dedicated Kids Corner with games, craft and disco. Expect Bush Poetry, Bush Markets, Heavy Horses, Camp Oven Cook Off, Sheep Shearing Demos, Live Music and more.
Date: Friday 26 – Sunday 28 September
Location: Murrurundi
Website
Singleton Show
Head to the Singleton Show in September to enjoy pavilion displays of cooking, handcraft, lego, fine art, photography, woodwork, horticulture and poultry. The Singleton Show is held over three consecutive days and includes live music and entertainment for the whole family on Friday and Saturday with a horse show on Sunday. Singleton Show has also been home of the Australian Wife Carrying Titles since 2005. The event has grown to become a major highlight of the event calendar for the Hunter with teams from all over Australia battling it out for the title.
Date: Friday 26 – Sunday 28 September 2025
Location: Singleton
Website
Dachshtober Longdog Festival
Held every October, the Dachshtober Longdog Festival was initiated to raise awareness and funds for the research of IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease) which is prevalent in the Dachshund breed. It is a fun family event that aims to bring together sausage dog owners and lovers from all over. Visitors can enjoy The Longdog Dash, fancy dress competitions, doggie-themed stalls, information and education as well as food and beverages.
Date: Sunday 19 October
Location: Newcastle Harness Racing Club, Broadmeadow
Website
Old Bar Beach Festival
The Old Bar Beach festival is the ultimate destination for kombi enthusiasts! Established in 2005, the festival now attracts people from all over the world every October long weekend. From car enthusiasts and families to music lovers, foodies, and art supporters, there’s something for everyone. But for kombi fans, the undisputed highlight is the festival’s impressive display – Australia’s largest gathering of Volkswagen vehicles. This festival is one of a kind! Our family have enjoyed it a number of times over the years and would recommend it for a day trip combined with a play on beautiful Old Bar Beach or as part of a long weekend stay. Visit the Old Bar Beach Festival Website for accommodation options.
Date: October long weekend
Location: Old Bar
Website
Karuah Oyster and Timber Festival
Pop along to the annual Karuah Oyster and Timber festival where you’ll be able to see world class axemen compete in a range of timber sports, eat world class oysters, and browse quality markets. Don’t forget the famous duck race on the picturesque Karuah River. A day not to be missed.
Date: Saturday 18 October
Location: Lionel Morton Oval, Karuah
Website
Morisset Lake Macquarie Agricultural Show
The Morisset Lake Macquarie Agricultural Show offers agricultural community charm with rides, local produce, and traditional show attractions. Expect to see goats, poultry and eggs, goats, dogs and horses as well as a bike show and fireworks.
Date: Saturday 18 – Sunday 19 October 2025
Location: Various locations around Lake Macquarie
Website
Dungog Show
Held on the second Friday and Saturday of November, Dungog Show is one of Australia’s oldest country shows. Families can experience poultry, horses, dogs and camels as well as wood chopping, art and photography. Lawnmower races, fireworks and live music round off the entertainment. As well as celebrating and promoting local local produce, talent and agriculture The Dungog Show promotes the involvement of youth by holding competitions for young people. Youth are encouraged to participate in the livestock judging competitions and more.
Date: second Friday and Saturday of November
Location: Dungog
Website
Stroud Brick and Rolling Pin Throwing Competition
Each year Stroud Showground comes alive with market and food stalls, activities and entertainment for the whole family for the Stroud Brick and Rolling Pin Throwing Competition. This annual event is held between four townships of Stroud around the world – Stroud in Gloucestershire, England, in Oklahoma, U.S.A., in Ontario, Canada, and here in New South Wales, Australia. Join in the fun and sign up to throw a brick, hurl a rolling pin or fling a rubber chook in this annual test of skill and strength. Entertainment for the kids includes face painting, a tug-of-war and a street parade.
Date: Saturday 15 November 2025
Location: Stroud Showground
Website
Is there a show, fair or festival we’ve missed? Let us know so that we can add it to the list!
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What’s On Month by Month in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter