What’s on in February? Here’s the month’s top events in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & The Hunter specially selected for families. There is a mix of ticketed and free events for parents, grandparents and carers to enjoy some family fun.
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Newcastle’s Lost World Exhibition
The sand at Newcastle’s Canoe Pool hides the secrets of a vanished map of the world. A unique pool was built in 1937 for children. It disappeared over time and today is remembered by many names: the Young Mariners’ Pool, the Map Pool and the World Pool. This exhibition resurfaces the lost world and its place in Newcastle’s history. Although the World Pool disappeared decades ago, it still sparks people’s imaginations. Generations of Novocastrians have wondered about the World Pool. Where did it come from? Why did it disappear? And what if digging here could uncover a lost world?
Date: Runs until 15 February 2026
Time: Newcastle Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday 10am – 5pm. It’s open 7 days a week during NSW school holidays and Public Holidays.
Location: Newcastle Museum
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Free entry
Website
Stockton Island Triathalon Festival
Kick off the weekend with the Stockton Sunrise Run. Formerly the Friday night Sunset Run, it’s now on Saturday morning. Choose from 5km, 10.5km, or Half Marathon distances and enjoy the flat and stunning foreshore views. The profile is very flat and the event is conducted on mostly concrete paths along the Foreshore of Stockton. Sunday is Triathlon Day! Take on the Standard, Sprint, or Short Course triathlons, or opt for the Aquathlon.
Date: Saturday 31 January & Sunday 1 February 2026
Time: From 6.30am both days
Location: Griffith Park, Stockton
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Entry fees from $25 (child), $45 (Adult)
Website
Music in the Podium
Music in the Podium returns to Warners Bay Foreshore and runs until March 2026. The program, hosted by Lake Macquarie City Council will feature popular local musicians every Friday evening.
Date: 6, 13, 20 & 27 February 2026
Time: 6 – 9pm
Location: Warners Bay Foreshore
Age Group: All ages welcome
Cost: Free
Website
Friday Chill
On Friday nights through summer Soul engages local artists to perform chilled out tunes in a family-friendly setting. Food trucks and kids’ performers/activities add to the festival environment. Soul Hub would like to invite their friends and community to come along and join them for a picnic in the park! BYO picnic food and beverages or take advantage of the gourmet food served by a selection of local food vendors.
Date: 6, 13, 20 & 27 February 2026
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Location: Pacific Park, Newcastle East
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Free entry
Website
Girls Day Out Women in Sport – Newcastle
The Girls Day Out Women in Sport 45-minute mini-clinics offer young girls of all abilities a high-energy introduction to local sports, featuring instruction from professional athletes and coaching staff. These dynamic sessions provide hands-on skill development, followed by Q&A sessions where athletes share their journeys and inspire young minds.
Date: Saturday 7 February 2026
Time: TBA
Location: TBA
Age Group: 5-16 years
Cost: Tickets on sale 18 January 2026.
Website
Girls Day Out Women in Sport – Muswellbrook
The Girls Day Out Women in Sport 45-minute mini-clinics offer young girls of all abilities a high-energy introduction to local sports, featuring instruction from professional athletes and coaching staff. These dynamic sessions provide hands-on skill development, followed by Q&A sessions where athletes share their journeys and inspire young minds.
Date: Muswellbrook dates TBA
Time: TBA
Location: TBA
Age Group: 5-16 years
Cost: Tickets on sale 18 January 2026.
Website
Press Play Program at MAP Mima
Kick off an unforgettable weekend at the Multi-Arts Pavilion mima (MAP mima) with the Silent Kids’ Disco, part of the vibrant Press Play program. This family-friendly celebration is the perfect way to start a weekend of art activities and games, packed with music, art, and fun for all ages. On Saturday, enjoy Wonder Through the Senses: A Sensory Day and on Sunday enjoy Sensory Art for the whole family.
Date: Friday 13 – Sunday 15 February 2026
Time: 10 – 11.30am
Location: Multi Arts Pavilion (MAP) mima, Speers Point
Age Group: Silent Kids’ Disco suitable for ages 5-12 years, Wonder Through the Senses: A Sensory Day most suitable for children aged 3–12 years, Sensory Art suitable for all ages.
Cost: Free, but bookings essential
Website
Maitland Show & Rodeo
The 164th Maitland Show will be held on Friday 13, Saturday 14 & Sunday 15 February 2026. Get along to see cattle, colouring-in, cooking, dogs, donkeys, goats, handicraft, honey, horses, horticulture, flora & produce, photography, poultry, rodeo, scarecrow, woodchopping and woodwork. There’ll be lots of live entertainment, attractions and educational activities for the whole family.
Date: Friday 13 – Sunday 15 February 2026
Time: TBA
Location: Maitland Showground
Age Group: All ages
Cost: TBA
Website
Edgeworth Trains
Ride on a miniature train. Lake Macquarie Live Steam Locomotive Society hosts monthly public ride days. 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. Their public ride days run on the last Sunday of each month excluding December.
Date: Sunday 22 February 2026
Time: Trains running from 12:15pm till 3:30pm (weather permitting). The park is open from around 9:30am.
Location: Velinda Street, Edgeworth
Age Group: All ages
Cost: It costs $3 per train ride. Children under 2 years old are free.
Website
Newcastle Show
The Newcastle Show is the Hunter’s largest annual ticketed event, happening across three days. The theme of this year’s Newcastle Show is ‘It’s Newcastle, On Show’. In 2026, Newcastle’s first-ever Comic-Con, Newy-Con, is landing at the Newcastle Show, and it is going to be EPIC! Also expect rodeo, fireworks and events and activities for the whole family including carnival games, rides, petting zoo, equestrian events, showbags and much, much more!
Date: Friday 27 February – Sunday 1 March 2026
Time: Fri & Sat 9 – 10pm, Sunday 9 – 3pm
Location: Newcastle Showground
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Tickets from $15 (child 5-17, concession), $25 (adults 17+), FREE (Under 4), Family passes available
Website
Maitland Roller Disco
Roll into a night of music, food and fun at the Maitland Roller Disco. Groove to live DJ tunes, enjoy tasty treats from food trucks. BYO skates. No bookings required – just bring your skates, your energy and your best moves!
Date: Saturday 28 February 2026
Time: 5 – 8pm
Location: Harold Gregson Reserve
Age Group: All ages
Cost: 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.