School Holidays: 23 September - 8 October 2023
Newcastle is the place to be for the September school holidays!
The springtime break coincides with New Annual, the city's 10-day festival of art, culture and creativity offering a jam-packed program of fun and entertainment for the whole family.
With everything from circus acts, dance and live music to creative workshops, art trails and food stalls, there's something for every member of the family to enjoy - and that's just scratching the surface!
Check out our guide below for some of our top school holiday suggestions both inside and outside of the New Annual program, and be sure to explore what else is on in Newcastle for even more inspiration.
Chalk the Walk
23 September - 1 October
Various locations around Newcastle
FREE
Chalk the Walk is the ultimate school holiday activity.
See the streets of Newcastle transformed into concrete canvases with optical illusions and mind-bending artworks. Adventure through the city exploring the 3D artwork trails and snap a pic as you become part of these incredible artworks.
View the map and start plotting your journey now!
Civic Cinema: Greatest Showman Singalong
23 September
Civic Theatre
It's your time to shine at the Civic Cinema: Greatest Showman Singalong!
Get dressed up in your showiest outfits and sing along to the movie's show-stopping tunes with the help of the lyrics up on screen. Have fun, sing loud and Come Alive.
What Will Have Been: Circa
22-23 September
Christ Church Cathedral
What do you get when you bring daring circus artists and a live violinist together in the incredible Christ Church Cathedral? An absolutely unforgettable experience, that's what.
Recommended for ages 12+, this explosive production is sure to wow the whole family and bring you to the edges of your seats.
NOISE: Dancenorth
29-30 September
Newcastle Museum Park
FREE
School holidays are the perfect time to make a little noise - or in this case, a lot of noise!
Join Dancenorth and a horde of local drummers for this dynamic and powerful celebration of sound, rhythm and dance as 100 local volunteer drummers thump out a scintillating live score in this community driven performance.
Catch the action as part of This Land on Friday night, or a part of Global Gathering on Saturday.
Global Gathering
30 September
Newcastle Museum Park
FREE
Gather the whole fam together for this one - you won't want to miss Global Gathering!
Fill your day with food, dance and music at this free and inclusive family friendly event, celebrating the community, culture and diversity of our city. This colourful showcase of culture and creativity is sure to spark the imagination of the kids (and the parents too!).
The Great Teddy Bear Hunt
Hunter Wetlands
27 September & 4 October
We're going on a bear hunt! Want to join?
Bring your trusty teddy bear sidekick to the Hunter Wetlands this school holidays and join the crew as they explore the wetlands, hunt for bears, do some teddy bear craft and even encounter some reptiles!
Super Smash Bros™ Ultimate Knock Out
29 September
Wallsend Library
FREE
Calling all gamers, both casual and competitive - get ready to smash your way to victory at the Super Smash Bros™ tournament! Unleash your favourite Nintendo characters' signature moves and combos in the ultimate gaming showdown.
Under Pressure! Science Shows
3-4 October
Newcastle Museum
FREE
Come and see scientist Catherine launch rockets, fire marshmallows and crush cans, all with the power of SCIENCE! These fun, free, interactive science shows for all ages are sure to be a hit these school holidays.
LEGO® Challenge: LEGO® Frenzy
3 & 4 October
Wallsend Library and Newcastle Library
FREE
The LEGO® Challenge is on again! Are you feeling energetic? Use LEGO® and your imagination to build wild, weird, and wonderful creations this school holidays at Wallsend Library on 3 October and Newcastle (City) Library on 4 October.
Sharing Culture Storytime
7 October
Wallsend Library
FREE
Join Uncle Amos Simon from Muurrung Marai as he generously shares Awabakal and Gathung language and culture through song, dance, puppets, guitar and yadaki (didgeridoo).
Bookings are essentials - secure your space now!