Good morning Newcastle, and welcome back to the Newcastle Digest.

I want to start by acknowledging the tragic events in Bondi over the weekend. It’s been a heavy few days, and our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and everyone affected.

As we head into the final stretch before Christmas, now just eight days away, it feels like a timely reminder to hold our people a little closer.

We’re testing a few NEWY merch ideas

We’ve put together a small set of NEWY merch concepts and want to see if there’s genuine interest before taking it any further.

If this is something you’d actually wear or use, let us know below. No commitment, it just helps us decide what to pursue.

I usually stick pretty closely to Newcastle and Lake Mac, but I’ve realised there’s a solid number of Newcastle Digest readers in the Maitland area too. So I thought it was time to head up the road and spend a day checking out a few food spots around town.

We based the day around food, starting with lunch at Acacia Dining. We sat upstairs indoors with views over the river, which set the tone straight away. I ordered the Croque Monsieur toastie with Lorn Butchery’s glazed ham, vintage cheddar, béchamel, and seeded mustard, alongside a tiramisu iced latte. We also shared the garlic prawn linguine and a glass of white wine. Everything felt well put together and thoughtfully done, the kind of place that works just as well for a long lunch as it does for a quick stop.

For dinner, we headed to Salt Chilli and Lime, a seafood restaurant in Maitland with a large menu, plenty of specials, and a strong drinks list. After a big lunch we kept things light, ordering a fish burger and battered barramundi with hand-cut chips. The seafood was fresh, simply cooked, and exactly what you’d want to finish the day.

Blue Kahunas and Bar Mellow have announced they will be closing their doors, ending the run of two established Newcastle venues.

Co-owner Prudence Farquhar said the decision came after a long period in the industry and a point where stepping away felt necessary. The closures highlight the ongoing pressure on venues that rely heavily on Newcastle’s night-time economy, as well as broader changes in how people choose to socialise and spend their time.

Both venues will cease trading in the coming period, with no replacement businesses announced at this stage.

Saturday Morning Pilates with TOOSH

We’re planning a Saturday morning beachside Pilates session with TOOSH in the New Year and want to gauge interest before locking in the final details.

It’ll be a relaxed, BYO mat class with capped numbers, planned for mid January, followed by coffee afterwards. At this stage, the date isn’t confirmed.

If this is something you’d be keen on, you can join the waitlist via the link below. There’s no commitment and no charge. You’ll be notified first once the date is confirmed and tickets are released.

👉 Join the waitlist

Rutherford Lolly Run – Telarah Area, Rutherford | 19 December from 4.30pm
Annual Fire & Rescue NSW lolly run with Santa and festive treats for the community.

Newcastle Brick Market – Lambton-Waratah Scout Hall, 8 Elder St, Lambton | 20 December 9.30am – 1.30pm
LEGO brick market featuring new, rare and retired sets, loose parts and minifigures. More info.

A ‘WOW’ Christmas in Wallsend – Rotunda Park & Nelson St, Wallsend | 1–20 December
Three weeks of free festive fun including Santa’s arrival, carols, kids parties, roaming Santa visits and a 9-metre Christmas tree. More info.

Lambton Park Carols – Lambton Park | 21 December from 5pm
Community carols with picnic, food trucks, amusements, live music and fireworks finale. More info.

Christmas Family Fun Day – Kahibah Sports Club, Kahibah | 21 December 12pm – 5pm
Christmas craft workshops, face painting, free putt putt, live music and drink specials for adults. More info.

Pete Murray – The Exchange Hotel, 125 Denison St, Hamilton | 18 December
Pete Murray brings his iconic sound to The Exchange for a live performance. Cost: $66–71

A Christmas Carol (Live) – The Grainery, 11 Murray Dwyer Cct, Mayfield West | 18–20 December
Live stage performance of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, following Ebenezer Scrooge on a heartwarming festive journey. More info.

Kinky Boots – Civic Theatre, Newcastle | 18–21 December
Chookas Entertainment presents the global hit musical Kinky Boots following their productions of Annie, Legally Blonde and Chicago. More info.

Out of Office Party – The Exchange, 125 Denison St, Hamilton | 19 December
Festive Friday party with happy hour from 4–6pm, DJs from 8pm, $6 vodkas and $10 cocktails. More info.

Friday Night Sounds - Newcastle Art Gallery | 19 December
Tune in to your weekend with our first Friday Night Sounds back in the Gallery! The first Friday Night Sounds features: Local singer and songwriter Nina Romeru, Pop-up gin bar courtesy of Earp Distillery, ‘Wild’ life drawing workshop with local artists. More info.

A Christmas Concert – Christ Church Cathedral, 52 Church St, Newcastle | 20 December
Newcastle Chamber Choir presents a festive evening of carols and contemporary choral works. More info.

Bandcamp 2000s Party – Shoal Bay Country Club, Shoal Bay | 20 December from 9pm
A night of dancing and nostalgia with Bandcamp’s 2000s Party. More info.

The Xmas Takeaway – 57 Bull St, Cooks Hill | 5–21 December
Two showrooms of handcrafted pottery and ceramic works by Newcastle Studio Potters for Christmas gifting. More info.

Curated Christmas Blending Class – Earp Distilling Co., 41A Darling St, Carrington | 21 December
Blend Christmas botanicals into vodka, gin or rum and take home a 200mL bottle. More info.

Christmas Lunch, Raffles & Fun – Shorty Hotel, 269 Sandgate Rd, Shortland | 21 December
Three-course Christmas lunch with ham raffle, face painting and a visit from Santa. Cost: $39.50

Christmas Singalong – The Gladdy, 36 Mitchell St, Stockton | 21 December from 4pm
Festive singalong with community lunch and Christmas raffles.

The Greatest Christmas Show – Civic Theatre Newcastle | 23 December
Family Christmas show featuring illusions, cirque aerial acts, live vocals and a visit from Santa. More info.

90s & 00s Party – Queens Wharf Hotel, Newcastle | 20 December from 8pm
Throwback party celebrating the biggest hits of the 90s and 2000s. Cost: Free

Bonvilla Estate Pop-Up Cellar Door – Cooks Hill Surf Club, Bar Beach | 21 December
Pop-up cellar door featuring Bonvilla Estate’s single-vineyard wines in a beachside setting.

Newy Night Ride for Christmas – Honeysuckle Marina | 20 December from 7.30pm
Family-friendly festive night ride through Newcastle with decorated bikes, slow pace and social vibes. More info.

Human Design Play Day – Hemporium Wellness Centre, Carrington | 20 December 1pm – 3pm
First Human Design Play Day in the Hunter, exploring authenticity, self-expression and connection. More info.

Sunshine – The Lass O’Gowrie, Newcastle | 21 December 2pm – 8pm
Day-to-night outdoor dance party featuring vinyl-only deep house, funky house and disco. More info.

Olive Tree Market Christmas Edition – Civic Park, Newcastle | 20 December 9am – 2pm
Over 120 stalls featuring local artists, designers, makers and gourmet food producers.

Warners Bay Foreshore Markets – Warners Bay Foreshore, The Esplanade, Warners Bay | 20 December 9am – 2pm
Monthly markets held on the third Saturday with homewares, arts, crafts, fashion, plants, baked goods, preserves, dog treats, food, coffee and more.

Christmas Twilight Market – Rowlands Park, The Junction | 20 December 4pm – 8pm
Twilight market with handmade and design stalls, street food, live music and entertainment. More info.

Speers Point Christmas Market – Speers Point Park | 21 December 9am – 1pm
Lake Mac’s largest Christmas market with local makers, food, coffee and kids entertainment. More info.

Pelican Foreshore Twilight Market – Lakeview Parade, Pelican | 21 December from 4pm
Twilight market by the water with stalls, food and evening atmosphere.

Do you want me to share an event in the Newcastle Digest?

Here are a few things to look forward to over the summer school holidays.

If you’re staying local these School Holidays, plenty is happening around Newcastle to keep the holidays ticking along. From hands-on programs and shows to easy outdoor days, here’s a solid mix worth bookmarking.

Many holiday programs and shows require bookings and January fills fast. If something stands out, it’s worth locking it in early.

I’ll be saving this as a standalone page and will keep adding to it as more events and activities come up over the holidays.