Looking for what’s on in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie or the Hunter Valley this August? You’ll find the best family-friendly events right here — from festivals to shows, free community events and everything in between.
Events are listed by date so you can easily plan your week or weekend, whether you’re heading out during the week, or just looking for something fun to do with the kids on the weekend.
🔖 Bookmark this page — we update it throughout the month so you can easily find what’s on in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter.
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August at a Glance
- Throughout August — Orange Picking at Cedar Farm
- Until 15 August — Young People’s Theatre Presents: The Sound of Music
- 1 August — WinterHeat Festival
- 4 August — Pre-school Art School
- 5 August — Story Explorers
- 7-15 August — Come From Away
- 9 August — ART PLAY at MAP mima
- 10 August — The Sound of Picture Books
- 16 August — ARTSPACE: Free Family Artmaking at MAC yapang
- 20 August — Digitales: Storytime and Art
- 20-23 August — Hunter Drama Presents: Clue
- 22 August — Hunter Valley Highland Games
- 23 August — Hunter Science Festival
- 28–30 August — Newcastle Outdoor Adventure & Lifestyle Expo
- 28–30 August — 37th Newcastle Jazz Festival
- 29 August — Crafternoon at The Lockup
- 30 August — Edgeworth Trains
August Events
Orange Picking at Cedar Farm
Want a fun day out? Go fruit picking with your family. Late June is the start of the navel orange picking season. Wander through 15 acres of orchards at Cedar Farm which is home to 3000 orange trees, that are a mix of mostly navel oranges.
Date: Every weekend until closing in late August.
Time: 10am to 4pm
Location: Cedar Farm, Dooralong
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Free entry. You’ll pay $2.50 a kilo this year for farm fresh navel oranges that you’ve personally picked
Website
Young People’s Theatre Presents: The Sound of Music
One of the most beloved musicals of all time comes to Hamilton’s Young People’s Theatre this July and August, performed by a cast of local young performers alongside the Lindsay Street Players.
Date: Runs until 15 August 2026
Location: Young People’s Theatre, Hamilton
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Ticketed – check website for prices
Website
WinterHeat Festival
Newcastle’s long-running free winter festival lights up Pacific Park with fire sculptures, live music, roving performers, street food, kids’ face painting and a silent disco hill.
Date: Saturday 1 August 2026
Time: 5 – 9pm
Location: Pacific Park, Newcastle East
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Free
Website
Pre-School Art School
An expert tour guide leads little ones through the latest exhibition at the Museum of Art and Culture, Lake Macquarie, followed by story time and a craft activity inspired by the artwork. A great way to spend the morning getting creative with the youngest artists in the family.
Date: Tuesday 4 August 2026
Time: 10 – 11am
Location: Museum of Art and Culture, yapang, 1A First Street, Booragul
Age Group: suited to ages 0 – 6
Cost: Free, bookings preferred but not required
Website
Story Explorers
Join Newcastle Museum for stories and adventures on the first Wednesday of each month, during school terms, exploring different items in the Museum collection.
Date: Wednesday 5 August 2026
Time: 11.15am – 12pm
Location: Newcastle Museum
Age Group: Aimed at ages 3-5 years, but all ages welcome!
Cost: Free, no bookings needed, just drop-in!
Website
ART PLAY at MAP mima
A free monthly art session at the Multi-Arts Pavilion in Speers Point, ART PLAY starts with a guided look at the current exhibition before families get hands-on with a different art activity each month. No experience needed, just curiosity and a willingness to get a bit creative together.
Date: Sunday 9 August 2026
Time: 10-11.30am
Location: Multi-Arts Pavilion (MAP mima), Speers Point
Age Group: Families with children of all ages
Cost: Free, bookings required
Website
The Sound of Picture Books with Matt Ottley and Tina Wilson
Award-winning author, illustrator and composer Matt Ottley joins fellow author and illustrator Tina Wilson OAM for an evening exploring how words, pictures and music come together in picture books. This one is more suited to older kids and adults with a love of books and creativity, but makes a great night out for bookish families.
Date: Monday 10 August 2026
Time: 6 – 8pm
Location: Newcastle City Library, 15 Laman Street, Newcastle
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Ticketed – check website for prices
Website
Come From Away
Come From Away tells the true story of when 7,000 people from across America and around the world landed on the doorstep of Gander, Newfoundland… and the people of Gander… “put the kettle on”.
Date: 7 – 15 August 2026
Location: Civic Theatre
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Ticketed – check website for prices
Website
ARTSPACE: Free Family Artmaking at MAC yapang
This free monthly program at the Museum of Art and Culture Lake Macquarie is a lovely outing for young families. Sessions start with a guided look at a current exhibition before kids get hands-on making their own artwork inspired by what they’ve seen.
Date: Sunday 16 August 2026
Time: 10 – 11.30am
Location: Museum of Art and Culture (MAC yapang), Booragul
Age Group: Young children and families
Cost: Free, bookings required
Website
Digitales: Storytime and Art
A lovely indoor activity for little ones. Digital stories projected on the big screen followed by hands-on artmaking and shadow play, run by Lake Mac Arts at the Multi-Arts Pavilion, MAP mima.
Date: Thursday 20 August 2026
Time: 11am – 11.45am
Location: Multi-Arts Pavilion, mima, Speers Point Park, Speers Point
Age Group: 2 – 5 years
Cost: Free, bookings required
Website
Hunter Drama Presents: CLUE
On a dark and stormy night, six unique guests, plus a butler and a maid, assemble for a dinner party at the home of Mr. Boddy. When their host turns up dead, it is clear that no one is safe! Based on the popular board game and adapted from the cult classic film.
Date: 20 – 23 August 2026
Location: Civic Theatre Playhouse
Age Group: Recommended for ages 10+
Cost: Ticketed – check website for prices
Website
Hunter Valley Highland Games
Pipe bands, Highland dancing, caber tossing, Jacobite reenactments and a kids’ activity area set against the vineyards of Saltire Estate in Lovedale, about 50 minutes from Newcastle. There are food stalls and market vendors on site too, so you can make a full day of it.
Date: Saturday 22 August 2026
Time: 9am – 4pm
Location: Saltire Estate, 113 Wilderness Road, Lovedale
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Ticketed – check website for prices
Website
Hunter Science Festival
Newcastle’s biggest science celebration takes over the Newcastle Museum for a free day of hands-on activities. Robot races, solar car building, the HMRI Poo Palace inflatable, science shows and talks from local scientists.
Date: Sunday 23 August 2026
Time: 10am – 3pm
Location: Newcastle Museum, Honeysuckle
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Free entry. No bookings required for most activities, some shows have free tickets available on the day.
Website
Crafternoon at The Lockup
A monthly hands-on art-making session for kids and families at The Lock-Up in Newcastle, Crafternoons are inspired by what’s currently showing in the gallery, so each one is a little different. A good option if your kids like making things and you want something with a bit more substance than a standard craft activity.
Date: Saturday 29 August 2026
Time: 10.30am – 12.30pm
Location: The Lock-Up, 90 Hunter Street, Newcastle
Age Group: Families with children
Cost: Ticketed – check website for prices
Website
Newcastle Outdoor Adventure & Lifestyle Expo
Three days of caravans, camper trailers, 4×4 vehicles, camping gear, live entertainment and activities at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre. A good one for families who love the outdoors or are planning a road trip.
Date: Friday 28 – Sunday 30 August 2026
Time: Friday and Sunday 8.30am – 4pm; Saturday 8.30am – 5pm
Location: Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Broadmeadow
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Ticketed – check website for prices
Website
37th Newcastle Jazz Festival
Enjoy three days of live jazz across four rooms at Newcastle City Hall. Traditional, swing, blues, contemporary, big band and more, with 55 hours of music across the weekend.
Date: Friday 28 – Sunday 30 August 2026
Time: Friday 6pm; Saturday 10am, 1.30pm and 6pm; Sunday 10am and 12.30pm
Location: Newcastle City Hall
Age Group: All ages (accompanied under-18s free)
Cost: Ticketed – check website for prices
Website
Emma Memma’s Jungle Picnic Tour
Emma Memma brings her Jungle Picnic album to life on stage at the Civic Theatre, with dancing, singalongs and sign language woven throughout. A great pick for toddlers and preschoolers. Every session includes an Auslan interpreter, and babes in arms under 12 months are welcome.
Date: Sunday 30 August 2026
Time: 10am
Location: Civic Theatre, Newcastle
Age Group: All ages (babes in arms welcome under 12 months)
Cost: Ticketed – check website for prices
Website
Edgeworth Trains
Ride on a miniature train at Lake Macquarie Live Steam Locomotive Society’s monthly public ride day. There’s a variety of miniature trains such as steam and diesel and different rail routes (both elevated and ground-level) so you can easily spend a couple of hours watching and riding trains.
Date: Sunday 30 August 2026
Time: Trains from 12.30pm – 3.30pm (weather permitting); park open from 9.30am
Location: Velinda Street, Edgeworth
Age Group: All ages
Cost: $3 per train ride. Children under 2 years old are free.
Website
What’s On Next Month?
Looking for more events in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter? Check out our What’s On Guide with information about events all year long. The guide provides a list of local family-friendly events organised by month.