THE easing of COVID-19 restrictions means that life is slowly returning to normal.
Here's 20 things to do during the summer school holidays.
Feeling Festive
1. Take a trip into Newcastle to check out the giant Christmas tree installed on Market Street Lawn. The 11-metre tall tree adorned with thousands of lights and hundreds of baubles is hard to miss, but if you need directions, head toward the Signal Box restaurant on Wharf Road and you'll find it there.
2. Hunter Street Mall is offering free beach-themed Santa photo sessions at 145 Hunter Street until December 22 from 9am to 5pm on weekdays and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays. It's also the final day to get free Santa photos in Maitland at The Levee today. Meet Santa at The Riverlink for your picture between 9am and 1pm.
3. Make a night of driving around to see the Christmas light displays at homes around Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter. Plan your trip by checking out the map via christmaslightsinthehunter.com.au.
4. Hunter Valley Gardens is a one-stop shop for Chrissy lights galore. The annual Christmas Lights Spectacular runs every day except Christmas Day until January 26 with 3 million lights on display, including the walk-through Santa's Castle display. Tea cup rides, ferris wheel and carousel rides are operating this year. Book online at huntervalleygardens.com.au.
5. Catch a Christmas flick on the big screen at Civic Theatre Newcastle. Festive favourites screening in the lead up to December 25 include The Polar Express on December 21 at 3pm; Elliot The Littlest Reindeer on December 22 at 11am, followed by Elf at 3pm; and an encore screening of The Polar Express on December 23 at 11am.
New Year's Eve and Day
1. No fireworks again this year at Newcastle Foreshore, so a series of pool parties, picnics and market events around the suburbs have been planned to ring in 2021. Picnic In The Park will be held at Dixon Park and Lambton Park, on New Year's Eve from 3pm to 8pm. The pop-up picnic events will offer produce stalls, food trucks and roving entertainment.
2. On New Year's Day, a day market will be held at Richley Reserve in New Lambton from 10am to 4pm. The event will include produce stalls, food trucks and roving entertainment, as well as an inclusive sensory zone. Pool parties will be held at Beresfield, Mayfield, Stockton and Wallsend pools on New Year's Day from 10am to 4pm with inflatables, food trucks and entertainment.
3. Enter the world of HogWatts on New Years Eve for a Harry Potter-themed dining experience at 48 Watt Street. The event includes a three-course dinner and drinks package. From 6pm to 10pm. All-ages event and tickets range from $105.39 to $157.54 online at eventbrite.com.au.
4. Run away with the circus on New Year's Eve at Babylon when the Hunter's Circus Avalon perform live. Tickets include quality drinks and canapés from 7.30pm to 12.30am, (venue open until 2am). Tickets $195 online at babylonnewcastle.com.au.
5. The team at Dashville host a three-day event over New Year's, kicking off on December 31 with a concert series dubbed A Fresh Start. Held on the grounds of bushland property Dashville in Lower Belford, all tickets include on-site camping. The family-friendly event will include the Splashville waterpark, and workshops and activities throughout the day ahead of the evening concerts. Artists include Wagons, William Crighton, Hat Fitz and Cara, and more. Book online at dashville.com.au.
Fun For Kids
1. Join sand sculptor Steve Machell in a 30-minute sand sculpting workshop before putting your skills to the test in a sand sculpting competition at Blacksmiths Beach on January 16. The event is free and open to all ages. Bookings at eventbrite.com.au.
2. Little Sandpiper is Westfield Kotara's new indoor play centre. The two-level space is filled with a giant ball pit and adventure playgrounds, as well as arcade games (many included in the entry price) and a cafe. Open daily from 9am.
3. A stage version of the much-loved story The Gruffalo's Child comes to Cessnock Performing Arts Centre on January 21 for two shows at 10am and 2pm. Tickets cost $25 or free for kids under three. Bookings at cessnockperformingartscentre.com.au.
4. Newcastle Museum's exhibition Colour runs until January 31. Developed by Questacon, the hands-on scientific exhibition is for all ages. Sessions every day from 9.30am to 5pm. $10 adults, $5 for kids or free for kids under three. Bookings on trybooking.com.
5. Children's art making program Art Cart runs every Saturday and Sunday at Newcastle Art Gallery with two sessions at 10.30am and 11.30am. Free but bookings essential on trybooking.com. The Museum of Art and Culture at Booragul also hosts free kids art workshops every Sunday from 10.30am. Bookings essential.
Entertainment
1. Relive the memories of a sweaty rock show at the Newcastle Art Gallery's rock photography exhibition, We Can Be Heroes, featuring hundreds of images by leading Australian music photographers Charlie Hardy, Maclay Heriot, Sophie Howarth and Luke Kellett.
Open seven days during the holidays from 10am to 5pm.
2. Comedian Tommy Little, a panelist on The Project, brings his show I'll See Myself Out to Civic Theatre on January 23 at 7pm. Bookings on 4929 1977 or online.
3. Take a peek into the past on a walk with Dark Stories Newcastle's True Crime Tour. Meeting at the corner of Scott and Watt streets near Customs House, take part in an investigation into the city's crime history. Tours on December 26, January 18 and 25. Bookings at darkstories.com.au.
4. Tap into your creative side at The Museum of Art and Culture at Booragul during Sundays Sessions at MAC. Live music and art-making. Tickets $30, include a drink with cheese and all art supplies. The event is January 10 from 2pm (and February 7 & March 7). Bookings 4921 0400.
5. Works at The Station in Newcastle have been completed, so watch for more events, including Friday Night Feast on January 8 and January 22. Open 5pm to 9m. Free entry.
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