International stars head up sizzling summer of events in Newcastle

Newcastle has launched into a sizzling summer of events, with 150 of the state's best rowers taking to the waters of Throsby Creek today ahead of a busy period of music, sport and culture.

The Central Districts Sprint Championships hosted by Newcastle Rowing Club are part of a stacked calendar of events supported by City of Newcastle, which will see everyone from global music superstar Elton John to some of the world's best surfers descend on the city during the next four months.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Newcastle has become an events powerhouse, attracting nationally and internationally renowned acts and events to entertain audiences across the city.

"Newcastle has a vibrant calendar of major and community events, which continues to grow off the back of a strategic focus and investment by City of Newcastle," Cr Nelmes said.

"City of Newcastle is proud to support events at every level in Newcastle, from community-led activations to the attraction of major events of international renown, which offer invaluable benefits including increased visitation and a significant boost to the local economy.

"We've recently delivered another highly successful New Annual festival, including an extended season of the blockbuster Van Gogh Alive experience, which attracted more than 84,000 people to Newcastle in its first visit to a regional area in Australia.

"But this is only the beginning of a busy period on our events calendar, and I encourage everyone to get out and enjoy what's on offer across our city in the coming months."

The summer schedule got off to a supercharged start on Saturday night when a 20,000-strong crowd packed into McDonald Jones Stadium for the 2022 Australian Supercross Championship.

The events calendar will kick into a different gear on Sunday 4 December when more than 10,000 motorcycle riders and enthusiasts from across the east coast gather for the 45^th annual Bikers for Kids Newcastle Toy Run and community fun day at Carrington.

Festive fun in Wheeler Place, New Year's Eve along the Foreshore and the sweet sounds of the 76th Australian Jazz Convention at City Hall will wrap up the revelry for 2022.

There will be plenty of sporting action to kick off 2023 with national and international events including Surfest, Beach 5s Rugby, Australian Water Polo League matches, the Summer of Cricket festival and the opening round of the Supercars championship.

Elton John's incredible Yellow Brick Road tour and smash hit Broadway musical Come From Away will provide plenty of star power for the city's cultural events calendar, with the sizzling summer schedule following on from the success of the city's springtime events including the New Annual festival.

New Annual, City of Newcastle's flagship cultural event, attracted almost 40,000 people to more than 140 performances and activities across the city.

The 10-day event involved more than 530 artists and over 400 staff, crew and volunteers, and was recently awarded $400,000 over two years from the NSW Government as part of its Major Festival and Events grants program through Multicultural NSW.

Upcoming events supported by City of Newcastle

27 November 2022: Central Districts Rowing Association Sprint Championships, Throsby Creek

4 December 2022: Bikers for Kids Newcastle Toy Run, Stockton to Connolly Park, Carrington

10,11, 17, 18 December 2022: City of Newcastle Christmas Tree, Santa selfies and pet pawtraits in Wheeler Place alongside free live music

26-31 December 2022: 76^th Australian Jazz Convention, Newcastle City Hall

31 December 2022: City of Newcastle New Year's Eve, Harbour Foreshore

7 January 2023: King of Concrete, Bar Beach (Empire Park)

8, 10 January 2023: Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road tour, McDonald Jones Stadium

26 January 2023: Cross Harbour Swim, Newcastle Harbour

26-29 January 2023: Beach 5s Rugby, Nobbys Beach

4-5 February 2022: Australian Boardriders Battle, Newcastle Beach

3-5 February 2023: City of Newcastle Island Triathlon and Oceania Paratriathlon, Stockton

10-12 February 2023: The Great Australian Pub Fishing, Newcastle Harbour

18 February - 5 March 2023: Come From Away, Civic Theatre

10-12 March 2023: Newcastle 500, Newcastle East and Harbour Foreshore

18-19 March 2023: Money Bowl Australian Skateboarding Community, Empire Park

25-26 March 2023: Surfest (finals weekend), Merewether Beach

To stay up-to-date with all the events happening across Newcastle visit https://whatson.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/