Looking for what’s on in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie or the Hunter Valley this November? 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.
For our Christmas events and acivities, see our Ultimate Guide to Christmas 2026.
🔖 Bookmark this page — we update it throughout the month so you can easily find what’s on in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter.
For more ideas, subscribe to our newsletter for weekly picks and last-minute events.
Look for this icon showing our Featured Events this month!
November at a Glance
- 3 November — Pre-school Art School
- 4 November — Story Explorers
- 5-7 November — Hunter Drama Presents: Radium Girls
- 7 November — Darby Street Festival | The Wiggles Sparkle! BIG SHOW 2026 | High Tea on the Harbour
- 8 November — ART PLAY at MAP mima
- 13 & 14 November — Dungog Show
- 14 November — Murrook Festival 2026: Under the Stars
- 15 November — My Kids Market | ARTSPACE: Free Family Artmaking at MAC yapang
- 19 November — Digitales: Storytime and Art
- 21 November — MV Calmer: Cruisin’ Country Hoedown on the Harbour Cruise
- 22 November — Peter and The Wolf and Other Tales
- 25 – 29 November —Beauty & The Beast Jnr
- 28 November — Crafternoon at The Lockup
- 29 November — Yoga on the Water Sunrise Wellness Cruise | Edgeworth Trains
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 3 November 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 4 November 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
Hunter Drama Presents: Radium Girls
In the 1920s, hundreds of young women found work in factories painting luminous watch dials, but when their bodies began to fall apart, they were met with silence, denial, and a powerful company determined to protect its reputation. Based on true events, Radium Girls is a searing and heartbreaking play about courage in the face of corporate greed.
Date: Thursday 5 – Saturday 7 November 2026
Location: Civic Theatre Playhouse
Age Group: Recommended for ages 10+
Cost: Ticketed – check website for prices
Website
Darby Street Festival
Darby Street shuts to traffic for the day and turns into one big street party, with live music, market stalls and extended trading hours at the local cafes and shops. It’s an easy one for families, with plenty to eat and browse and no set schedule to work around.
Date: Saturday 7 November 2026
Location: Darby Street, Cooks Hill
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Free to attend (individual stalls and food may vary)
Website
The Wiggles Sparkle! BIG SHOW 2026
The Wiggles are bringing their all-new Sparkle! BIG SHOW to Newcastle Entertainment Centre, with three sessions across the day so you can pick the time that suits nap schedules and little ones’ energy levels. Expect big singalongs, favourite characters like Dorothy the Dinosaur and Wags the Dog, and plenty of chances for kids to get up and dance.
Date: Saturday 7 November 2026
Time: Sessions at 10am, 1.30pm and 4.30pm
Location: Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Broadmeadow
Age Group: Toddlers to primary school age (littlest ones under 12 months free on a lap)
Cost: Ticketed – check website for prices
Website
High Tea on the Harbour Cruise
Step aboard MV Calmer and enjoy a beautiful afternoon on Newcastle Harbour, surrounded by sparkling water, stunning views, and the timeless charm of our take on a classic high tea. Gather your friends and family, celebrate a special occasion, or simply treat yourself to an day out on the water.
Date: Saturday 7 November 2026
Time: 12pm – 2:30pm
Location: Queen’s Wharf Terminal, Newcastle
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Ticketed – check website for prices
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 8 November 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
Dungog Show
One of the region’s oldest country shows, the Dungog Show is well worth the drive for a proper agricultural day out, with cattle displays, pavilion entries, post splitting competitions and plenty for kids to take in.
Date: Friday 13 & Saturday 14 November 2026
Time: 8am – 12 midnight
Location: Dungog Showground, Dungog
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Ticketed – check website for prices
Website
Murrook Festival 2026: Under the Stars
Murrook Culture Centre’s annual festival returns with an evening of live music, dance, storytelling and food under the stars. It’s a relaxed, family-friendly night out with free parking and bus transfers laid on, so it’s easy to get to even with little ones in tow.
Date: Saturday 14 November 2026
Time: 5pm – 9pm
Location: Murrook Culture Centre, Williamtown
Age Group: All ages, family-friendly
Cost: Ticketed – check websitte for prices
Website
My Kids Market
A great place to snap up quality pre-loved baby and kids gear without the full-price tag. Stalls are packed with clothing, toys, equipment and more.
Date: Sunday 15 November 2026
Time: 9am – 12pm
Location: Newcastle Showground Exhibition Centre, Broadmeadow
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 15 November 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 19 November 2026
Time: 11 – 11.45am
Location: Multi-Arts Pavilion, mima, Speers Point Park, Speers Point
Age Group: 2 – 5 years
Cost: Free, bookings required
Website
MV Calmer: Cruisin’ Country Hoedown on the Harbour Cruise
Get the whole family up and line dancing on Newcastle Harbour, with instructors on board teaching easy steps for total beginners. Grab boots and a hat if you’ve got them, and know that under 18s need to be with a parent or guardian.
Date: Saturday 21 November 2026
Time: 11am to 1.30pm (check in from 10.30am)
Location: Queens Wharf Terminal, 242-258 Wharf Road, Newcastle
Age Group: All ages (under 18s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian)
Cost: Ticketed – check website for prices
Website
Peter and the Wolf and other tales
Join brave Peter and meet the instruments in the orchestra in this enchanting musical journey! A magical introduction to the symphony orchestra and a joyful journey through beloved favourites.
Date: Sunday 22 November 2026
Time: 2 – 4pm
Location: Warners Bay Theatre
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Ticketed – check website for prices
Website
Beauty & The Beast Jnr
Newcastle’s own What Theatre Company brings this Broadway-based Disney musical to the Playhouse, with a young local cast telling the classic tale of Belle and the Beast. It runs a tight 70 minutes with no interval, so it’s an easy watch for younger kids, and there are two casts alternating across the season.
Date: Wednesday 25 November – Sunday 29 November 2026
Location: Playhouse, Civic Theatre, 375 Hunter Street, Newcastle
Age Group: Recommended for ages 7+
Cost: Ticketed – check website for prices
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 28 November 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
Yoga On The Water Sunrise Wellness Cruise
Start a Sunday with sunrise yoga across three levels of MV Calmer, rotating between three instructors and styles as the sun comes up over Newcastle Harbour. It’s suited to ages 12 and up, so a great one for teens and parents. BYO yoga mat.
Date: Sunday 29 November 2026
Time: 6am to 8am (boarding from 5.45am)
Location: Queens Wharf Terminal, 242-258 Wharf Road, Newcastle
Age Group: Ages 12+
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 29 November 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.