Maitland will light up this New Year’s Eve with an evening of fun, family orientated activities along the river.
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The festivities will open at 6pm with a DJ spinning family friendly tracks to get everyone in the mood.
The kids will be catered for with a number of rides and activities in the Galtons car park – including their own DJ.
A charity duck race will be held from about 6pm with all proceeds going to Maitland Hospital.
Between 7pm and 9pm The Do Riders will entertain revellers at the eastern end of the River Walk.
“There will be food stalls and entertainment but by all means families can bring a blanket and a picnic and enjoy the atmosphere over a wine,” event organiser Rachel MacLucas said.
“We’re hoping to get a similar crowd to last year – about 8000 people – which was a fun, incident free night.”
The Fireworks Factory, a Maitland-based company, will co-ordinate two shows: one at 9pm and the other at midnight to kickstart the new year.
“The best show will be from the Maitland side of the river,” Ms MacLucas said.
“But there are other good vantage points around the city like Stockade Hill at East Maitland.”
* Where: Maitland City Centre River Front
Time: 3pm
Come and join all the Waterworld and Foreshore Fairground fun at Camp Shortland (Nobbys car park), Newcastle Foreshore. Open from 10am on New Years Eve. Don’t forget Newcastle Foreshore is an alcohol free zone. A family friendly free concert by the harbour (on Wharf Road), will start at 6pm and end at midnight.
Experience fireworks displays over the Nobbys Lighthouse (in the east) and Dyke Point (in the west), synchronised to music at 9pm and midnight. Nobbys lighthouse boardwalk will be closed from 7pm.
* Where: Newcastle Foreshore – Camp Shorland (Nobbys car park)
Time: From 10am
Celebrate the start of 2013 with entertainment, amusement rides, fireworks display and the Lights Spectacular at the Hunter Valley Gardens. There will be a fireworks display at 9pm and entertainment from 6.30pm.
* Where: Hunter Valley Gardens, Pokolbin
Time: From 6.30pm
d’Albora Marinas on the waterfront at Nelson Bay will host a family friendly, alcohol-free event. Fireworks at 9pm and midnight. Live bands and entertainment from midday. There will be no camping on the foreshore area and a large police presence with a no tolerance policy. Soldiers Point Marina will also have a display midnight only.
* Where: Nelson Bay Marina
Time: From midday
Council will temporarily close some streets in Maitland to vehicles during the celebrations on the riverbank, from 3pm Monday to 1am Tuesday.
This will take in the eastbound lane of High Street from Belmore Road to just west of Church Street; the westbound lane on High Street from just west of Church Street to Little Hunter Street (egress to Belmore Road will be maintained via Little Hunter Street); St Andrews Street, north of St Andrews Street car parks to the riverbank; and Stillsbury Lane from High Street.
