October in Newcastle: top events in your city this month
That was October. November's picks are here.
Newcastle has its own page on Keen now, and it picked a good month to get one: the Knights are in their first grand final since 2001, on a long weekend, and Strummingbird brings Tyler Childers to the Foreshore. These are the thirty-odd we'd actually message the group chat about.
Every pick below links to its live page on Keen, with dates, prices and the ticket link. The links retire once an event is done, so if one tells you it's been and gone, that's the truth doing its job. For the always-current version, what's on in Newcastle is rebuilt from the catalogue nightly.
Knights v Roosters: where to watch
Sunday 4 October, kick-off 7:30pm at Accor Stadium, and the whole town will be watching somewhere. The clocks go forward that morning, so it's 7:30 on the new time, and Monday is the Labour Day holiday, so the recovery is built in. These are the best rooms we found; the full list is on where to watch the Grand Final in Newcastle.
Grand Final at The Beach Hotel
Merewether · Sunday 4 October, from 3:55pm
The Beaches is going all in: the NRLW decider first, then the big one, then live music from 10pm, win or lose. Tables are full, but they're holding space for walk-ins, so get there early.
DockFest at the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club
Wickham · Sunday 4 October, from 2:30pm
Live music on the harbour all afternoon, then the game on a big outdoor screen. General entry is open to everyone; the Moët lounge is for the show-offs.
Grand Final on the big screen at Tower Cinemas
King Street · Sunday 4 October, 7pm session
The Knights' first grand final in 25 years, on a proper cinema screen. $25 gets you a drink and a small popcorn, and food comes to your seat.
Grand Final at Wests New Lambton
New Lambton · Sunday 4 October Free
Every Wests club is showing it free, and New Lambton is the flagship, with Steely and the Knights Dance Squad doing the rounds. No booking, so get in early.
Grand Final at the Hamilton Station Hotel
Islington · Sunday 4 October · 18+ Free
The Hamo screens it free, then DJ Rachel Maria Cox takes the afterparty. Their poster says it best: our town, our team, our time. RSVP through the venue.
Grand Final at The Kent
Beaumont Street, Hamilton · Sunday 4 October, from 4pm
Rox the Piano Man warms the room up from 4pm, then pints for schooner prices during the game and $1 wings all day.
Grand Final at The Great Northern
Newcastle · Sunday 4 October
The game on the big projector with $22 jugs, $16 burgers and $1 wings while it's on. Book a table online.
Grand Final at the Honeysuckle Hotel
Honeysuckle · Sunday 4 October, from 4:30pm
The big screen on the deck, right on the harbour, with $10 pints until kick-off.
Grand Final at The Belmont Hotel
Belmont · Sunday 4 October, from 2pm
Live music from 2pm, both deciders, cheap drinks from 6pm and a courtesy bus till late. Lake Macquarie is sorted.
Knights Grand Final Night at Adamstown Bowlo
Adamstown · Sunday 4 October, from 6pm
Come in red and blue for $5 schooners and $10 pizzas from 6pm. Get in early for a seat, and possibly a hug from a stranger.
Big days out
Strummingbird
Foreshore Park · Saturday 17 October
A full day of country by the harbour, with Tyler Childers in one of only two Australian Strummingbird shows, plus James Johnston and a big supporting bill.
Oktoberfest in the Gardens
The Station, Newcastle · Saturday 24 October · 18+
Bier halls, bratwurst and oompah at The Station for the afternoon and into the night.
Grainfed Brewery Sausagefest
Lambton · Saturday 10 October
Craft-butcher sausages, German beers and games and prizes on the hour, best dressed included. Your ticket gets you a stein to keep, with the first fill on them.
Gigs and good nights
The Grogans
The Beach Hotel, Merewether · Friday 2 October
The Melbourne three-piece open the long weekend with the old favourites and their new one, Reasons, live for the first time.
Tina Turner's Simply the Best
Warners Bay Theatre · Saturday 3 October
Rebecca O'Connor does Tina, and does her properly. Everyone in the room will be singing Proud Mary, including the ones who said they wouldn't.
Candlelight: Queen vs The Beatles
Adamstown Uniting Church · Friday 9 October
Bohemian Rhapsody and Yesterday traded back and forth by candlelight. Pick a side before you go.
Jazz at MAP mima
Speers Point · Friday 9 October
The Benny Rowdy Quartet playing swing, bossa and funk inside full-circle visuals that answer every note.
SONIDO
Warners Bay Theatre · Saturday 24 October
One of Australia's longest-running Latin American folk groups, with charangos, panpipes and a lot of joy.
Terence Koo: Postcards from Eternity
The Conservatorium of Music · Sunday 25 October
An album launch on a Steinway concert grand: Beethoven, Satie and Studio Ghibli, played to animated visuals.
Katy Steele: This Is Me, Undressed
Warners Bay Theatre · Saturday 31 October
The Little Birdy voice, stripped back to a duo and nothing to hide behind. The quiet Halloween option.
Comedy, talks and film
Isaac Butterfield: Armageddon
NEX, Newcastle West · Sunday 11 October
His biggest tour yet, and a brand new hour of saying the things everyone else is too scared to.
Peter FitzSimons: The Race to the Top of the World
Warners Bay Theatre · Friday 30 October
Mallory, Hillary and the race for Everest, told by a storyteller who knows exactly where the pauses go.
Manhattan Short Film Festival
Warners Bay Theatre · Friday 2 October
Ten short films from around the world screening the same week on six continents, and you get a vote. Argue about the winner over dinner.
On the harbour
In the Air Tonight: Phil Collins on the Harbour
Queens Wharf · Saturday 3 October
A Phil Collins and Genesis tribute on a harbour cruise. You know the drum break is coming; so does everyone else on board.
Old School Dayclub on the Harbour
Queens Wharf · Sunday 4 October, from midday
Three hours of 90s and 2000s dance anthems on the water, back on dry land in plenty of time for kick-off.
DALE! Latin Boat Party
Queens Wharf · Saturday 17 October, from midday
A live Latin band, salsa, bachata and reggaeton, cruising the harbour on a Saturday afternoon.
Drag Kylie: Kylie on the Harbour
Queens Wharf · Saturday 17 October
Three queens, every Kylie era and a lot of costume changes. Can't get it out of your head, as intended.
Free and a bit different
Pagode de Newy
The Lucky Hotel, Newcastle · Sunday 4 October, from 1pm Free
Samba and pagode filling the Lucky on the long weekend Sunday. A very good warm-up for a very big night.
The Curiosities and Creators Expo
Newcastle Showground, Broadmeadow · Sunday 11 October Free
A dark little wonderland of oddities, vintage finds, witchy apothecary goods and alternative art. Weirdly wholesome.
Glenrock walking tour with Uncle Amos Simon
Yuelarbah Trail carpark, Whitebridge · Saturday 31 October
Cultural stories, bush tucker and medicine and a yidaki performance through the Glenrock bushland, as part of the History Illuminated Festival. $20 for adults.
The part where you actually go
That's the list. The gap between reading it and standing in one of those rooms is the same as ever: someone has to pick a date and make the call.
That's the job Keen does. The quickest way in is Find a time: pick two or three dates that could work, add an idea or two from this page, and drop one link in the group chat. Everyone answers from their browser, no app and no account needed. You see which date wins, tap once, and it's a real plan with RSVPs and a chat of its own.
And once your mates are on Keen too, it starts doing the noticing for you: everyone marks the nights they're free, and when yours line up, Keen tells you, along with what's on that actually suits the crew. The Labour Day long weekend (3 to 5 October) is the obvious place to start.
October's thirty-odd best excuses are above. Pick one, name a night, and send the message.
Start closer in. See what's on in the next few days, pick a night, send the link.
What's on in Newcastle this weekendGet Keen free on the App Store or Google Play.
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