Good morning, Newcastle! Welcome back to the Newcastle Digest.

Hope you have had a good start to your week. This week, I have added in a little survey in the food section. If you have a place you would like to recommend me to try, please fill it out and I will endeavour to try them all.

I don’t have anything to feature this week when it comes to food. I am taking the opportunity to hear from you. Do you have a place around town that you love or is underrated and you think should be featured? Please recommend them by clicking the button and filling in the survey.

Ballimore Farms Creamery - 159 Darby Street

Ballimore Farms Creamery is officially open on Darby Street. Serving up their jersey cow and goat milk gelato, sweet cheese and fresh dairy made locally in Seaham. Open Wednesday-Sunday, 11 am till late.

Burrito Bar Charlestown - 178 Pacific Highway, Charlestown

Taking over the old Vegos spot in Charlestown, Burrito Bar will offer Newcastle another Mexican option, serving up a variety of items from Mexican classics to ribs and wings and even desserts. The opening date is still unknown, but they have populated their Uber Eats page, so it won’t be too long.

Dracula – Civic Theatre, Newcastle | 17 – 18 September
Driven by masterpieces from Tchaikovsky, Bach, Stravinsky and Rachmaninov — this haunting retelling unleashes a collision of desire, torment, and immortality. This ballet is destined to be love at first bite. More info.

Spring Flower Arranging Workshop – Picture Point Studio Gallery, 311 Hillsborough Road, Warners Bay | 17 & 20 September
Celebrate spring with a hands-on flower arranging workshop using fresh, vibrant blooms. Cost: $85–95. More info.

Volksfest Australia – Swansea Lakeside Holiday Park, Swansea | 19 – 21 September
Classic Volkswagens, live music, food, rides, markets and family fun on the shores of Lake Macquarie. A festival for car lovers and good vibes seekers alike. More info.

Intro to Watercolour Landscapes – The Kotoda, 131 Hill Street, Carrington | 20 September 2pm – 5pm
A 3-hour guided beginner workshop with artist Tab Tworek. All materials included. More info.

HTRF Glow Walk – Starting at Nobbys Beach, Newcastle | 20 September
Dress in your brightest and walk 2.4km to raise money for transplant research. Family-friendly with entertainment and views. More info.

AREC’s New Hospital Open Day – Animal Referral and Emergency Centre, 11 Perth Rd, Broadmeadow | 20 September
Hospital tours, giveaways, cheesy toast, Big Dog appearance, pet fashion parade and spider venom program. More info.

Living Smart Festival – Speers Point Park, Park Road, Speers Point | 20 September
Australia’s largest sustainability festival with workshops, stalls, food and family fun. More info.

2025 NRLW Elimination Finals: Knights vs Titans – McDonald Jones Stadium, Broadmeadow | 20 September
Catch the Knights take on the Titans in this high-stakes Elimination Final. More info.

Tooheys NEWRL Grand Final Day – McDonald Jones Stadium | 21 September from 9:45am
Finals footy kicks off with Under 19’s and goes through to the Denton Cup finale at 3:30pm. Juniors under 12 are free (ticket required). More info.

Grand Masters of Comedy on the Harbour – All Event Cruises, Queens Wharf Ferry Terminal, Wharf Rd, Newcastle | 19 September
An all-star night of laughs aboard MV Calmer. Expect sweeping views, flowing drinks, and side-splitting sets. Early bird tickets from $57. More info.

Drink & Draw – LEDA Gallery, 2/850 Hunter Street, Newcastle | 19 September 6pm – 8pm
A nude life drawing experience to loosen up and create freely, BYO sketching energy. More info.

Midtown History Crawl – Meet at Charlie's Rooftop, 529 Hunter Street, Newcastle | 20 September 5pm & 6pm
A walking tour exploring Chinatown’s lost past, shanghai stories, and unsolved Newcastle mysteries — with drinks along the way. More info.

Newcastle Bun Run – Various bakeries around Newcastle | 20 September
Part run, part pastry crawl — a social fitness event combining kilometres and carbs. More info.

Maltnhops Birthday Party – Maltnhops Taphouse, 26 Balook Dr, Beresfield | 20 September
Celebrate with live music, new beers, spit roast BBQ, and birthday specials. Free entry. More info.

Cocktails & Ceramics – Bar Mellow, Ground Floor, 744 Hunter St, Newcastle West | 20 September
Enjoy two cocktails, one arrival drink and a ceramic-making session in this popular sell-out event. Cost: $125pp. More info.

The Champion Rubies – The Gladdy, 36 Mitchell St, Stockton | 20 September
Live Irish music paired perfectly with Guinness on tap. More info.

Tails & Ales Trivia Night – Thirsty Messiah Brewery, 140 Lambton Rd, Broadmeadow | 20 September
Pet-themed trivia night supporting animals in need. Cost: $25. More info.

Tommy Little – I'm Not Proud – Civic Theatre, 375 Hunter Street, Newcastle | 20 September
Outrageous stories, high-energy banter, and non-stop laughter from comedy favourite Tommy Little. More info.

Bad Boys Afloat on Newcastle Harbour – All Event Cruises, Queens Wharf Ferry Terminal, Wharf Rd, Newcastle | 20 September
The ultimate ladies night cruise with dinner, drinks and a raunchy show. All-inclusive tickets: $97. More info.

Frente – Regional Trio Tour – Warners Bay Theatre, baramayiba, 39 Lake Street, Warners Bay | 20 September
The beloved trio perform their biggest hits — and some misses — live in Warners Bay. More info.

Hoedown Throwdown – The Exchange, 125 Denison St, Hamilton | 20 September
Country music night with boots, beers, and bangers on the dancefloor. More info.

Ladies Day at Newcastle Racecourse – Newcastle Racecourse | 20 September
A full day of racing action capped off by a live tribute to John Farnham by Whispering Jack. More info.

Randy Feltface – Work in Progress – Civic Theatre, Newcastle | 21 September
Ol’ Randy returns to Newcastle with a brand-new hour of puppet-powered comedy. More info.

In Conversation with Emma Myers and Georgina Woods – NUspace Building, Room X101, Hunter St & Auckland St, Newcastle | 22 September 6pm – 7:30pm
Award-winning writers Emma Myers and Georgina Woods return to their alma mater for a conversation on creative writing and “Writing for Social Change,” in dialogue with Associate Professor Trisha Pender. More info.

September Twilight Market – Rowlands Park, The Junction | 20 September 3pm – 7pm
Twilight markets with handmade goods, food stalls and live music under the palms outside Junction Fair. More info.

Flea Market – Rosie and Shell, 3/10 Regent St, New Lambton | 20 September
Treasure hunt for pre-loved goodies while fuelling up with coffee and bites. More info.

Homegrown Markets Maitland – Harold Gregson Park, Maitland | 21 September 10am – 2pm
Handmade, food, entertainment and community vibes in Maitland’s newest Homegrown Market. More info.

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

The future of Newcastle's iconic waterfront is taking shape, with the City of Newcastle leading a significant revitalisation project for the Queens Wharf precinct. This area, a cornerstone of our city's history, is set for a major transformation aimed at creating a vibrant and accessible public space.

At the heart of the plan is the proposed demolition of the Queens Wharf West building. This building, which has been largely unused since a fire in 2020, is no longer fit for purpose and does not meet current building codes. The City has identified its removal as a critical first step to unlock the precinct's potential. The goal is to clear the space to create a new, open-air public promenade and a destination that better connects the harbour to the city's East End.

This isn't just about knocking down a building; it's part of a larger, long-term vision for Newcastle's foreshore. While the western building is the immediate focus, the project sets the stage for future improvements that could reshape how we use and enjoy our harbour. The adjacent Queens Wharf Hotel will remain and continue its operations as part of the revitalised precinct.

This project presents a unique opportunity to reimagine one of our city's most important public spaces. It's a chance to build something that reflects our community's needs and aspirations.

What are your thoughts on this project? Read more about the project.