Looking for what’s on in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie or the Hunter Valley this September? 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 school term, the September/October school holidays, or just looking for something fun to do with the kids.
🔖 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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September at a Glance
- Throughout September — Mr Squiggle and Friends Exhibition
- 1 September — Pre-School Art School
- 2 September — Story Explorers | Little Bang Discovery Club
- 3 September — The Bugalugs Bum Thief
- 5 September – High Tea on the Harbour
- 6 September — A Taste of Ireland
- 9 September — Little Bang Discovery Club
- 13 September — Lake Mac Run | Broke Village Fair & Vintage Car Display | Vacy Country Carnival
- 13 September — ART PLAY at MAP mima
- 16 September — Little Bang Discovery Club
- 17 September — Digitales: Storytime and Art
- 19 September — Living Smart Festival
- 19 – 20 September — Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show
- 20 September — ARTSPACE: Free Family Artmaking at MAC yapang
- 23 September — Little Bang Discovery Club
- 25 – 27 September — Singleton Show
- 25 September – 4 October — New Annual 2026
- 25 September — Burn the Floor: Luminous
- 26 September — Crafternoon at The Lockup
- 27 September — Edgeworth Trains
- 28 September — Film: Chicken Run
Mr Squiggle and Friends Exhibition
Newcastle Museum has a new exhibition for the school holidays, and it is a nostalgic one. Mr Squiggle and Friends: The Creative World of Norman Hetherington has opened as the first stop on its national tour, and it is packed with puppets, props and plenty of reasons to bring the whole family along.
Date: Saturday 4 July – 1 November July 2026 (closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Open 7 days in school holidays)
Location: Newcastle Museum
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 1 September 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
Little Bang Discovery Club
A gentle introduction to science for preschoolers, this four-week program at Newcastle Museum has little ones noticing, sorting and experimenting alongside a carer. Bookings are only needed for children, so grandparents and carers can tag along free.
Date: Wednesdays 2, 9, 16 and 23 September 2026
Time: 10.15am – 11.15am
Location: Newcastle Museum, Newcastle
Age Group: 3–5 years, with a carer
Cost: $25 total per child for all four sessions, carers free
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 2 September 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
The Bugalugs Bum Thief
The Bugalugs Bum Thief takes audiences on a whimsical journey through the imaginative world created by Australian author and National Treasure, Tim Winton. This literacy-based play with music, vividly brings to life the colourful characters and quirky adventures from Winton’s beloved book.
Date: Thursday 3 September 2026
Location: PACC Cessnock
Age Group: All ages
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 5 September 2026
Time: 12pm – 2:30pm
Location: Queen’s Wharf Terminal, Newcastle
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Ticketed – check website for prices
Website
A Taste of Ireland
A high-energy celebration of Irish music and dance, this long-running show is a good one for older kids who enjoy live performance, with lively traditional music and big ensemble dancing. A Sunday afternoon start time makes it an easy family outing.
Date: Sunday 6 September 2026
Time: 4pm
Location: Civic Theatre, Newcastle
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Ticketed – check website for prices
Website
Lake Mac Run
One of the longest-running fun runs in NSW, this scenic foreshore course is mostly flat and a great one for families wanting to get active together. Kids will love the 4km Family Scamper, while the keen runners in the family can tackle the 10.5km or the half marathon.
Date: Sunday 13 September 2026
Time: 7am – 12pm
Location: Lake Macquarie Foreshore, The Esplanade, Warners Bay
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Ticketed – check website for details
Website
Broke Village Fair & Vintage Car Display
A proper old-school country fair, this one’s been running since 1984 and still has all the charm. Kids will love the jumping castle and roaming entertainers, while the grown-ups can wander rows of beautifully restored vintage cars and grab a free tour of the Bulga Open Cut mine.
Date: Sunday 13 September 2026
Time: 9am – 2pm
Location: McNamara Park, Broke
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Gold coin donation
Website
Vacy Country Carnival
A classic country day out, the Vacy Country Carnival brings together Jack Russell and Dachshund races, pony and camel rides, market stalls, country cooking and more in the small village of Vacy.
Date: Sunday 13 September 2026
Time: 9am – 4pm
Location: 792 Gresford Road, Vacy
Age Group: All ages
Cost: TBA
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 13 September 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
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 17 September 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
Living Smart Festival
One of Australia’s largest sustainability festivals returns to Speers Point, with free workshops, market stalls, live music and a dedicated kids’ zone. Past years have drawn well-known science and gardening guests, so keep an eye on the program closer to the date.
Date: Saturday 19 September 2026
Time: 9am – 3pm
Location: Speers Point Park
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Free
Website
Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show
Bluey’s Big Play is back in Australia and heading to the Civic Theatre. It’s a great pick for Bluey fans of all ages, especially little ones. The show features brilliantly made puppets bringing the Heeler family to real life, with an original story and new music from the show’s creator and composer.
Date: Saturday 19 September – Sunday 20 September 2026
Time: Saturday 9.30am, 12.30pm & 3.30pm, Sunday 9.30am
Location: Civic Theatre, Newcastle
Age Group: All ages (children under 24 months require a free Babe in Arms ticket)
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 20 September 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
Singleton Show
Three days of classic country show fun, with pavilion displays of cooking, handcraft, woodwork and produce alongside live entertainment, a horse show and the famous Australian Wife Carrying Titles.
Date: Friday 25 September – Sunday 27 September 2026
Time: Friday 8am – 11pm, Saturday 8am – 10pm, Horse Show Sunday from 8am
Location: Singleton Showground
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Ticketed – check website for prices
Website
New Annual 2026
Newcastle’s flagship arts and culture festival is back for ten days across the CBD, with public art, live performance and family-friendly events woven throughout.
Date: Friday 25 September – Sunday 4 October 2026
Location: Newcastle CBD
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Mix of free, low-cost and ticketed events
Website
Burn the Floor – Luminous
A dazzling night out for anyone who loves dance, Burn the Floor brings together world champion ballroom dancers for a high-energy show that has wowed audiences on Broadway and in the West End. Expect stunning costumes, live musicians and vocalists, and choreography that pushes well beyond the ballroom.
Date: Friday 25 September 2026
Time: 7.30pm
Location: Civic Theatre, Newcastle
Age Group: Recommended for ages 6+
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 26 September 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
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 27 September 2026
Time: Trains from 12.15pm–3.30pm (weather permitting), park open from 9.30am
Location: Velinda Street, Edgeworth
Age Group: All ages
Cost: $3 per ride; children under 2 free
Website
Film: Chicken Run
A school holiday screening of the claymation classic Chicken Run, perfect for a rainy day matinee with the kids. Grab the family ticket if there are four or more of you, it works out cheaper than individual tickets.
Date: Monday 28 September 2026
Time: 10 – 11.25am
Location: Performance Arts Culture Cessnock, 198-202 Vincent Street, Cessnock
Age Group: All ages, great for school holidays
Cost: Ticketed – check website for prices
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.