What’s on This Winter. The Full List of Things to do on the Central Coast.

What’s On this Winter on the Central Coast

Yes, winter is biting at our toes Coasties!  But don’t let the chilly weather be a reason to stay in, winter on the Central Coast has so much on offer and so many things to do.  There are plenty of ways to keep warm, with what’s on, on the Central Coast this July. Keeping the kids entertained (you can thank us later!) will be easy with the broad range of fun, energetic and creative activities and workshops during these school holidays. 

Not to mention the plethora of exceptional winter deals happening at so many local restaurants, hotels and retail stores. And, of course, being winter it’s the perfect season to take in the arts with live performances at our vibrant theatres and contemporary exhibitions, showcasing local and national artists.

The Makers Studio Central Coast Dress Code: Behind the Seams | Gosford Regional Gallery, East Gosford | Saturday 6 July – Sunday 11 August

Gosford Regional Gallery introduces: “Dress Code: Behind the Seams”.  This exhibition delves into the environmental impact of fast fashion and clothing on our society and world. Explore the intricacies of society via threads that weave our world together. Peel back layers to unravel the complexities of cultural values and power struggles between genders and expectations.

Using the rich textiles and printing this thought-provoking exhibition examines the hidden stories ‘behind the seams’ of social norms. One not to be missed.  For more info visit here.

July School holidays (2024) on the Central Coast 

Coastwide | Monday 8 – Monday 22 July

Winter school holidays will be here before you can say boo. We’ve got you covered with all the fun activities around the Central Coast that will keep the boredom at bay. Check out this link 

for some fun school holiday ideas and turn the school holiday into an action-packed two weeks. From animal encounters to cake making to classes for budding artists, actors and gamers. The kids will be learning, exploring and creating! 

Heaps of the activities are free to attend or have great holiday savings and deals on offer.  The July school holidays make for the perfect time for families to visit the Central Coast.  As well as for local families to enjoy. With so much on, the holidays will speed by in a flash!  We promise. 

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | Laycock Community Street Theatre, Wyoming | Tuesday 9 – Saturday 13 July

An all-time classic and kids’ fave, Roald Dahl’s Charlie and Chocolate Factory comes to life at the Laycock Community Street Theatre this July. Book your golden ticket here and enter a world of pure imagination!  

The story of Charlie Bucket and the four other golden ticket winners is a sweet and life-changing experience in Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. A mysterious factory where the children come face to face with a curious army of Oompa Loompas, nutty squirrels, chocolate waterfalls and of course, the great glass elevator! A scrumptious journey for young and old. 

Book now. 

Central Coast Kids Day Out | Narara Valley High School, Narara | Sunday 28 July

Returning to the Central Coast after inclement weather caused upheaval in May and meant the CCKDO needed to postpone.  This is the Central Coast’s biggest family friendly day out. 

Families can look forward to a full day packed with adventures. There will be carnival rides, interactive demonstrations, pony rides, a petting zoo, circus entertainment, storytime and delicious food! 

Bluely and little sister Bingo plus Elmo and Cookie Monster will be in attendance and making dreams come true. Plus, there’s the iconic treasure hunt as you go around the event, to complete. As well as a range of educational stalls, workshops and more.   Check it all out right here. 

We can’t wait. 

What’s On this Winter on the Central Coast

Winter is fast approaching here on the sunny Central Coast. With winter the events calendar is filled with exploring our extensive hinterland as well as our coastlines. Our annual Harvest Festival weekend is a celebration of our local producers and farmers throughout our hinterland. From fruit picking to coastal walks and runs along the waterways, not to mention a host of creative talents showcased in our vibrant theatre and gallery scene. The biggest question being, just how will we find time to fit everything in?

The Snow Queen – Victorian State Ballet | Laycock Community Street Theatre, Wyoming | Saturday 8 June

Get excited for the much-loved fairy tale classic by Hans Christian Anderson, The Snow Queen which is coming to the Central Coast. Showing at the Laycock Community Street Theatre and presented by the Victorian State Ballet. The heartwarming story of the young Gerda and her struggle against an evil and icy foe is beautifully portrayed, with exquisite sets, splendid costumes and elegant artistry and ballet.  The performance is a magical one and suitable for all ages to enjoy.  And, we can just sense it, every budding dancer out there will be daydreaming for days after the show, of when it’s their turn to be up on stage!

Learn more here.

Harvest Festival | Various locations around the Central Coast Hinterland |Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 June

Every June Long Weekend on the Central Coast the Hinterland truly has its moment in the sun. The always-popular Harvest Festival takes over the area and welcomes visitors to over 30 vibrant hubs across 9 rural suburbs during the two-day event. The festival is a foodie celebration of the abundant harvest our incredible farmers and farms.

Locals welcome the crowds, giving you a glimpse behind the farm gates so you can experience farm tours, fruit picking and the food and wine fair. Taste the local produce, listen to live music, join the fun at Glenworth Grazing Festival and discover historic villages along the way.

Harvest Festival is not to be missed.  Plan your weekend right here.

Taste of Wyong and Toukley | Wyong Town Park, Wyong and Toukley Village Green, Toukley | Saturday 8 June (Wyong) and Saturday 22 June (Toukley)

More foodie-oriented events are up next with the Taste of Wyong and Toukley. Both Wyong and Toukley get celebrated during these family-friendly mornings of food, fun and entertainment. There is nothing quite like getting to taste your way around these vibrant towns.  Both of which have in recent years levelled up their dining scenes in a big way.  Local restaurants offer seasonal menus with tasting boxes and you get to sample delicious cuisine as you cruise about.

With tummies full, stroll around the local parks, precincts and laneways enjoying the roving entertainment, getting up and close with the animals at the petting zoo and having your face painted, for the kids that is!

Find out more about Taste of Wyong here and Toukley here.  But, our hot tip, just do both!  You know you want to.

Bay to Bay Running Festival | Locations between Gosford and Woy Woy | Sunday 16 June

Celebrating its 20th year Bay to Bay Running Festival expects record runner numbers and support crews aka the mums or dads and kids and/or friends that are cheering their runner mates and family on from the sidelines (word on the street is that these guys have the hardest job on the day…).

A charity run, Bay to Bay raises funds to support local charities. It includes a kids 2km run, a 5km or 12km fun run and the 21km half marathon. Heading off along the waterways of Woy Woy around to Industree Stadium in Gosford makes this not only  the Central Coast’s most iconic running festival but also one of the most scenic of Coast runs,

So, grab your running shoes, bring the whole family and gather your friends, you can run it, walk it, push someone or hold hands with someone, this event is for everyone!

What’s on Central Coast Events

RELATED: The Quirky Landmarks of the Central Coast

Karla Dickens, Embracing Shadows | Gosford Regional Gallery, East Gosford | Saturday 22 Jun – Sunday 11 Aug

Wiradjuri artist Karla Dickens brings her Embracing Shadows exhibition to The Gosford Regional Gallery. Her 30 year career is widely celebrated and Dickens has been the recipient of many artist residences both nationally and internationally.   This exhibition explores two themes centred around her reflections on Australian culture as a woman and First National person in post-colonial Australia. Mostly her work has a focus on the female identity and racial injustice.  It is honest and profound.

Find out more here.

5 Lands Walk | Macmasters Beach to Terrigal | Saturday 22 June

Join the fun of the 5 Lands Walk community festival.  It is all about connecting people to people and people to place. ⁠

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Join the event and walk the 10km of glorious coastline from Macmasters Beach to Terrigal.  Or why not spend a day out doing the 10km walk as a self-guided adventure and take the route at your own pace?

⁠You will follow along the coastline, bush tracks and back roads as you pass through five beachside villages (or lands).  At each headland is an immersive experience, where you can enjoy live music and culture from local Indigenous Peoples as you follow (if you’re lucky enough to spot them) the annual whale migration as they head north to warmer waters.  Creative sculpture installations, performing artists and marine wildlife talks are also happening on the day.

If you’re interested to know where food and drink pit stops are too, then just pop over to our full 5 Land Walk guide.

Click here for more info on the 5 Lands Walk Community Festival

What’s On in Winter on the Central Coast

Sydney Writers Festival Livestream | Central Coast Libraries | Dates: 23, 24 and 25 May

The world’s finest authors and thinkers come together for insightful conversations and discussions at The Sydney Writers Festival. This year the program will be livestreamed to Central Coast libraries for literary lovers who can’t (or don’t want to) make the trip to Sydney.

Look forward to an immersive celebration of stories and ideas from Australia’s most beloved writers. Over the three days, watch and hear from national and international authors and journalists, and hear panel discussions on the world’s most urgent issues live from the stage at Carriageworks.

To find out more visit this site.

Shana O’Brien, Inner Landscapes | Gosford Regional Gallery, East Gosford | 25 May – 30 June  

Inspired by the land First Nations artist and dancer Shana O’Brien explores the ways that we connect to the land and each other.  Exploring emotional landscapes as a form of storytelling, Shana hopes to take the viewer’s eyes on a journey.  Intricate shapes, colours and patterns in her works invite you to really look deeper and notice how movement is incorporated into her work like a kind of dance.

The works give insight into her inner world and the deep exploration of her emotions, as well as her connection to her ancestors through Indigenous knowledge systems held in blood memory.  To find out more and visit this powerful exhibition head on over here.

Words on the Waves Writers Festival | 29 May – 3 June

Returning to the Central Coast this Autumn and always making our list of things to do is the incredibly popular and successful Word on the Waves Writers Festival.

A festival of wonderful words, captivating stories and exhilarating ideas. Festival goers can attend a number of events that are to be held Coastwide and look forward to author talks, thought-provoking panels, creative writing workshops, local author book launches and more.

Many of our picturesque Central Coast locations will play host to a diverse range of quality literacy events for literature lovers and curious minds of the Central Coast. Find out more here.

Things to do this Winter on the Central Coast

The days may be gently cooling down on the Central Coast, but the month of May is delivering some of our hottest events, Coasties! From a spicy festival to a literary lovers festival. From lost hearts to emotive landscapes, the region’s What’s On scene is set to sizzle.

So you know what to do, gather the troops and head on out to support these incredible events. For all event info don’t forget to visit Love Central Coast’s site.

Central Coast Kids Day Out | Narara Valley High School, Narara | Sunday, May 5

The first cab out of the rank is the ever-popular Central Coast Kids Day Out. What we know for sure is that the kids will be up early and eager to get out the door to go to this day out!

Get ready for the Coast’s biggest family-friendly event. Embark on a vibrant day enjoying carnival rides, interactive demonstrations, a petting zoo, market stalls and local entertainers. Meet everyone’s favourite blue heeler, Bluey and sister Bingo too! Engage with early childhood educators and attend informative lectures and workshops.

Check out all of the fun right here.

**** POST UPDATE, Wednesday, May 1, 2024: Unfortunately due to inclement weather, the Central Coast Kids Day Out has made the tough decision to postpone the event until later in the year. Keep an eye out on their socials for more updates.

Highway of Lost Hearts | Laycock Community Street Theatre, Wyoming | Saturday, May 18

Here’s a little preview of what’s in store from the play that is determined to make you ponder matters of the heart. Mot wakes up one morning to find that her heart is missing from her chest. She can breathe; she has a pulse—but she feels… nothing. So, she decides to go and look for it. With her dog enlisted as co-pilot, Mot heads down the Highway of Lost Hearts: into the deepest core of the Australian outback.   A road trip through country towns and red dirt landscapes takes Mot to places she never imagined. Along the way, she encounters other lost souls who are also in search of their own missing pieces as well.

Highway of Lost Hearts by Lingua Franca, in association with Arts On Tour, will be presented at Laycock Community Street Theatre.

Book tickets here

Central Coast Chilli Festival | Memorial Park, The Entrance | Sunday, May 19

The Central Coast will be sizzling this month with fiery fun for all chilli lovers at the Central Coast Chilli Festival which is taking place at The Entrance Memorial Park this May. There will be chilli-infused foods, spicy chilli products and of course, what is a Chilli Festival without a chilli-eating competition?

This will without a doubt be the hottest day on the Coast.  Not a chilli lover?  For our non-chilli enthusiasts there will be food trucks serving non-spicy foods too, plus live music to keep the party alive and everyone entertained and market stalls to browse. One thing is for sure, it will be a red-hot fiesta!

All the hot goss can be found here.

Five Epic Things To Do On The Central Coast This April 2024

The events calendar on the Central Coast just keeps levelling up. There are so many amazing things to do and ways to keep yourselves and your family entertained.  This April, Central Coast locals can look forward to a plethora of variety on offer.

So, what are you waiting for, let’s dive right in.  Here at Coasties Mag we’ve teamed up with Love Central Coast to bring you the very best of what’s on in our region.  So, let’s see what’s on this month on the Central Coast.

Grace Agnes Art | Toukley Village Green | 1 April – 28 June

The incredibly talented Grace Agnes will round out the Creative Spaces program which has seen the Gallery Container in Toukley host revolving artists since September last year.  The container has seen a range of celebrated local makers and creators spotlighting their artistic talents and wares.

Taking up residence from April through to June Grace will be showcasing and creating a series of alluring paintings, pet portraits and photography. Within her time in the gallery, Grace will also delve into hosting workshops, installations, book readings and mini art markets.

Click here for more info.

Happy-Go-Wrong | Laycock Street Community Theatre | Saturday, April 6 

Laycock Street Community Theatre in North Gosford has well and truly joined the culture swell on the Central Coast.  They have an epic artillery of shows on offer this season!  Including the comedy, Happy-Go-Wrong.  This is an unflinchingly honest (read true story) and gut-punching show about Andi Snelling’s fight for life after a tick bite plunges her into death’s grip.

Winner of “best theatre award” at Adelaide Fringe, the show is a remarkable solo physical theatre performance that celebrates the human spirit.

To book and for more info head here.

RELATED: Laycock Street Community Theatre Levels Up Their Programming

Origami – Folding Light and Sound | Gosford Regional Gallery | Saturday, April 13

Join our friends from Naughty Noodle Haus who in collaboration with the Gosford Regional Gallery and Edogawa Commemorative Garden bring back this unique music and art garden festival on dusk – Origami.  Expect a tactile, audio-visual feast! Ignite your senses across multiple immersive spaces.  You can dance inside the traditional Japanese teahouse, stroll the meandering pathways, take in the live music at the pavilion or simply sit in nature, connect with friends and enjoy this experience. Either way, it’ll be an experimental journey of performing art, projection, music and food and we know you’ll love it.

Find out all the deets here.

Outdoor Movie Nights | Central Coastwide | 12-20 April

Coinciding perfectly with the April school holidays, outdoor movie nights will see the Disney classic, Lilo and Stitch be shown across these four picturesque locations – Memorial Park, The Entrance (Friday, April 12), The Village Green Toukley (Saturday, April 13), Kibble Park, Gosford (Friday, April 19) and The Chapman Lawn, Wyong (Saturday, April 20).

Pack the picnic rug, grab the kids and head out to experience an evening under the stars watching the big screen.  Be sure to share the love and support local by popping into one of the surrounding local eateries to grab a takeaway dinner.  As if the movie wasn’t enough, there will also be a variety of roving entertainment before the show starts to keep those kidlets entertained.

More Info here.

KEEP READING: Explore Laneways of the Central Coast