August in Lake Macquarie is shaping up to be an exciting month filled with soulful sounds, cutting-edge art, hands-on science, powerful performance, and legendary music.
Whether you’re into jazz, dance, theatre or STEAM-powered learning, there’s something happening to brighten the final days of winter.
Here’s your ultimate guide to what’s on across the city this August.
Jazz @ MAP mima
WHEN: Friday 8 August 2025 | 6pm–8pm
WHERE: Multi-Arts Pavilion (MAP mima), Speers Point
Enjoy an intimate night of smooth, sophisticated jazz inside the immersive 360-degree projection space at MAP mima. Local favourites Round Midnight will breathe new life into classic and contemporary tunes with their signature style. From timeless ballads to modern standards, this is an atmospheric evening for music lovers of all ages.
STEAM Week: Lake Mac Full STEAM
WHEN: Saturday 9 August 2025
WHERE: Windale Hub, bilyabayi
Celebrate National Science Week with Lake Mac Full STEAM — a fun-filled day of discovery, creativity, and curiosity for all ages. This family-friendly event features Mad Science Inventions with The Pretty Amazing Jono, insights into Australia’s agricultural identity from an Aboriginal perspective, an exploration of how peacocks get their rainbow feathers, sustainability workshops with artist Jenni Goodman, hands-on activities in the Fab Lab, and engaging physics demonstrations from University of Newcastle experts. Don’t miss this interactive celebration of science, innovation, and imagination.
John Waters: Radio Luxembourg
WHEN: Friday 15 August 2025 | 8pm–10:10pm
WHERE: Warners Bay Theatre, baramayiba
Stage and screen icon John Waters takes audiences on a nostalgic musical journey with Radio Luxembourg, celebrating the rebellious radio broadcasts that brought pop and rock to the UK in the 1960s. With a six-piece band and a voice full of soul, Waters pays tribute to the British Invasion with classics from The Beatles, The Kinks, The Moody Blues, The Who and more. Expect storytelling, unforgettable tunes and plenty of rhythm — a show that’s impossible to sit still for.
TRICIA FLANAGAN: Landrelations & Brigalow Belt
WHEN: Exhibition Dates: Saturday 16 August – 12 October 2025
WHERE: Museum of Art and Culture, yapang (MAC yapang) & Multi-Arts Pavilion, mima (MAP mima)
This powerful dual-site exhibition by artist Tricia Flanagan explores place, identity, and technology. Using textiles, installation, and performance, the exhibitions blend wearable cyborg creations with natural materials. It opens on 16 August along-side exhibition Billy Missi’n Wakain Thamai at MAC yapang. The launch event will feature a Maluilgal (Western cluster) Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait) Traditional Dance performance by Peggy Misi, followed by reflections on the life of late artist Billy Missi.
Impact Dance Festival
WHEN: Thursday 28 – Sunday 31 August 2025
WHERE: Warners Bay Theatre, baramayiba
The Impact Dance Festival returns for four days of bold choreography, expressive storytelling, and immersive performances, bringing together local and nationally recognised artists, including acclaimed choreographer Stephanie Lake. Highlights include artist talks, Triple Bill performances, and two curated showcases—Performance Program 1 and 2—making this an essential experience for dance enthusiasts and anyone seeking a fresh cultural perspective.
COMING UP IN LAKE MAC
Manhattan Short Film Festival
WHEN: 3 October 2025
WHERE: Rathmines Theatre, nawayiba
Join a global audience of over 100,000 film lovers for the Manhattan Short Film Festival, where you get to watch and vote on a selection of short films from across the world — all Oscar-qualified. Be part of the international jury in this one-night-only screening at Rathmines Theatre.
Maker-Con 25
WHEN: 10–11 October 2025
WHERE: Various Lake Macquarie venues
Tech meets creativity at Maker-Con 25, an event for makers, educators, and innovators of all ages. Featuring keynote speakers from MIT, Questacon, Sydney Quantum Academy and more, this two-day program includes hands-on workshops, demos and talks that inspire innovation and creative problem-solving.
