Good morning, welcome back to the Newcastle Digest.

It’s a busy long weekend around town. Let’s get into it.

Three Monkeys is one of those Newcastle cafés that’s been around long enough to feel familiar, but still busy for a reason. Sitting on Darby Street, it’s a reliable option whether you’re stopping in for a quick coffee or settling in for something more substantial.

We went for coffee and breakfast and sat out on the balcony, which is a great spot for people-watching along Darby Street. I ordered the breakfast burrito, which was tasty and filling, and the coffee was solid. The menu does sit a little on the higher side price-wise, but the quality matches it.

There’s plenty of seating across the venue, with options outside in the courtyard, indoors, and upstairs, so it usually works even when things are busy. A consistent choice on Darby Street and still worth a visit.

Our first Newcastle Digest event is officially done. Despite a high tide forcing us off the sand and onto the grass at Dixon Park, we rolled with it and got the session in anyway.

A big thank you to everyone who came along and made the morning what it was. It was a relaxed start to the day, exactly how we’d hoped it would feel.

Huge thanks as well to Bonnie from TOOSH for running the session and being flexible with the last-minute change of setup. Couldn’t have asked for a better way to kick things off.

This was the first of many, and I’m already looking forward to the next one.

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Young Architects – Maitland Regional Art Gallery | 22 January 2pm – 4pm
Hands-on architecture and design workshop for ages 12–16 with artist Jen Denzin and an architecture student from the University of Newcastle. Free, bookings required. More info.

Acquist – Civic Park, Newcastle | 22 January – 24 January 6.30pm – 7.45pm
Free outdoor contemporary dance performances by Catapult Dance Choreographic Hub, blending movement with water, weather and site-specific design. More info.

Create Your Own Lake Creature Workshop – MAC yapang, Booragul | 22 January
Clay workshop for ages 12–16 with artist Kate Dorrough, creating a stuffed lake creature inspired by local legends. More info.

Friday Chill – Pacific Park, Newcastle | 23 January 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Free live music evening hosted by Soul Hub with BBQ and ice cream. More info.

Lake Mac Festival – Lake Macquarie | 23 January – 26 January
Australia Day long weekend festival featuring live music, markets and community events across Lake Mac. More info.

Newy Summer Chillout – Lambton Park, Newcastle | 23 January 3pm – 9pm & 24 January 12pm – 9pm
Free family festival with rides, shows, markets, food stalls and live entertainment across two days. More info.

Twilight Fridays – MAP mima, Booragul | 23 January & 30 January 5pm – 8pm
Friday night events celebrating local talent with music, food and family-friendly activities. More info.

Newcastle Jets vs Wellington Phoenix – McDonald Jones Stadium, Broadmeadow | 23 January 7.35pm
Newcastle Jets take on Wellington Phoenix in Round 14 of the ISUZU Ute A-League Men’s season. More info.

Newcastle Beach 5s Festival – Nobbys Beach | 24 January – 26 January
Free three-day festival blending sport, live music and community celebrations by the beach. More info.

Valentine Bowling Club Family Fun Day – Valentine Bowling Club | 25 January 3pm – 6pm
Free family event with live music, jumping castles, face painting and a visit from Fire & Rescue NSW. More info.

Family Fun Day Sundays – Kahibah Sports Club | 25 January from 12pm
Weekly family-friendly afternoons with kids activities, mini golf and drink specials for parents. More info.

Australia Day Newcastle Harbour Swim – Stockton Ferry Wharf | 26 January
30th anniversary harbour swim with 700m and 1400m courses starting from Stockton. Enter or cheer from the foreshore. More info.

Sip Into Summer: Wine Fairy’s 4th Birthday – The Press Bookhouse, Newcastle | 23 January
Summer wine tasting celebrating Wine Fairy’s fourth birthday. More info.

O-Week Party – The Exchange, Hamilton | 23 January from 8pm
Newcastle’s biggest O-Week party with free entry, drink specials, prizes and two levels of DJs. More info.

Akmal – Warners Bay Theatre, baramayiba | 23 January
Akmal returns with his hit stand-up tour following a spiritual journey to India. Cost: $56.90, group discounts available. More info.

Coffee and Claytime Workshop – Grounded By Designs, Carrington | 24 January, 29 January & 31 January 10am – 12.30pm
Relaxed pottery workshop combining coffee and hand-built ceramics. More info.

Nobbys 2 Newcastle Ocean Swim – Newcastle Beach | 24 January 7:00am
2km point-to-point ocean swim from Nobbys Lighthouse to Newcastle Beach. More info.

Australia Day Long Weekend Legends Race Day – Newcastle Racecourse, Broadmeadow | 24 January
Trackside racing, DJs and summer food with free entry for the only Saturday race day of the year. More info.

UB40 – Civic Theatre Newcastle | 24 January
The voice behind UB40’s biggest hits performs as part of the Big Love World Tour.

Red Hot Summer Tour – Speers Point Park, Lake Macquarie | 24 January
Paul Kelly headlines alongside Missy Higgins, The Cruel Sea, The Cat Empire, Kasey Chambers and Jess Hitchcock. More info.

Pride on the Harbour: Summer Party Edition – Newcastle Harbour | 24 January 7:00pm
Inclusive Pride cruise with DJs, performers and harbour views. More info.

Aus Day Eve – The Exchange, Hamilton | 25 January from 7pm
Two levels of DJs, Tre Soul live from 8pm, free entry and open until 2am. More info.

Carrodise Music Festival – Earp Distilling Co., Carrington | 25 January
Boutique coastal music festival featuring The Preatures, Crooked Colours and local acts. More info.

Ngarrama – King Edward Park, Newcastle | 25 January
Free cultural gathering honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, stories and performances. More info.

The Beach Party – Dixon Park | 24 January 4.30pm
Community beach and park gathering with a swim option and $5 pizza dinner. More info.

Divorced Dad Rock Party – Hamilton Station Hotel | 25 January from 8pm
2000s dad rock party with DJs, prizes for best Dadcore outfit and ticketed entry. More info.

See Made in Australia – Miss Porter’s House Museum, Newcastle West | 25 January – 26 January 1pm – 4pm
Celebrate Australia Day weekend inside a heritage Edwardian home with special displays of Australiana and Australian-made household items from the early twentieth century. Cost: Adults $12, Concession $10, Family $34, NT members and children under 5 free.

Newcastle Hunter Jazz Club January Concert – Wallsend Diggers Club, Wallsend | 25 January 2pm – 4.30pm
Traditional jazz afternoon featuring classic standards and improvisation by the New Orleans Ramblers.

Merewether Markets – Dixon Park Playground | 24 January 9am – 2pm
Local makers market with live music, food stalls and face painting. More info.

Marina Market - Nelson Bay Foreshore | 24 January, 4:00pm - 8:00pm
Local-made retail, delicious street food, live tunes & face painting! Every Wednesday & Saturday from 4-8pm throughout January

Newcastle City Farmers Markets – Broadmeadow Showground, Griffiths Rd, Broadmeadow | 25 January
Shop direct from local farmers and makers in a classic community farmers market.

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

MHS Leo’s Club is running a Back-to-School Support Initiative this January, aimed at helping local students and families who may be doing it tough with back-to-school costs.

The initiative provides free school supply packs to families across the Newcastle area who are experiencing financial or access-related challenges. It’s a simple idea with a real impact, especially at a time of year when expenses can add up quickly.

The program runs until 30 January, and families who need support can register via the form below.

🔗 Back-to-school support form

If you know someone who might benefit, it’s worth passing this on.