The countdown is on to Maitland's biggest cultural celebration

Maitland Riverlights, the city’s biggest celebration of culture, is just around the corner and festivities are kicking off early this year. 

Starting Tuesday 8 October, locals and visitors can immerse themselves in various workshops, performances and community events that showcase Maitland's rich cultural diversity, setting the stage for the main festival on Saturday 12 October.

‘We're excited to launch Riverlights week with a diverse lineup of activities that celebrate our community’s vibrant cultural tapestry,’ says Maitland City Council Coordinator City Events and Activation Adam Franks.

‘Our exclusive dining event with Riverlights Ambassador Adam Liaw on Friday 11 October at Maitland Town Hall, offers a special preview of the various cultures and flavours set to display at the main event on Saturday 12 October.

‘The festivities culminate on Saturday 12 October, with a live cooking demo by Adam Liaw at the Global Kitchen and over 40 cultures showcased at the Cultural Villages, Language Lounge and World Stage. The Riverlights finale is not to be missed, starting at 8.00pm with a lantern flotilla, live entertainment and a dynamic light show on the Hunter River.’

For more information and to book tickets for any of the upcoming Riverlights programming, visit maitlandriverlights.com.au. See below for more details: 

Tuesday 8 October 

• Lantern making | Maitland Regional Art Gallery | Free event
• Storytime and lantern making | Thornton Library | Free event, bookings required
• Indonesian language lesson | East Maitland Library | Free event, bookings required
• Intro to swimming and water safety | Maitland Aquatic Centre | Free event, bookings required
• Traditional Aboriginal weaving workshop | The Levee | Free event, bookings required
• Dynamic lighting installation | The Riverlink Building | Free event 

Wednesday 9 October 

• Lantern making | Maitland Regional Art Gallery | Free event
• Spin poi workshop | Maitland Regional Art Gallery | Free event, bookings required 
• Aqua Vibes | Maitland Aquatic Centre | Free event, bookings required
• Storytime and lantern making | East Maitland Library | Free event, bookings required
• Around the world trivia | Imperial Maitland | Free event 
• West African drum and dance workshop | The Levee | Free event
• Dynamic lighting installation | The Riverlink Building | Free event 

Thursday 10 October

• Lantern making | Maitland Regional Art Gallery | Free event
• Storytime and lantern making | Maitland City Library | Free event, bookings required
• Aqua Vibes | Maitland Aquatic Centre | Free event, bookings required
• Cultural sharing palm candle dance | The Riverlink Building | Free event, bookings required
• West African drum and dance workshop | The Levee | Free event
• Cultural Game Night | Good Games, The Levee | Free event, bookings required 
• Dynamic lighting installation | The Riverlink Building | Free event 
• Foreign movie night | Maitland Reading Cinema | Ticketed event 
• Pinot and Picasso ‘Sunset in Santorini’ | The Levee | Ticketed event 

Friday 11 October

• Lantern making | Maitland Regional Art Gallery | Free event
• Storytime and lantern making | Rutherford Library | Free event, bookings required
• Aqua Vibes | Maitland Aquatic Centre | Free event, booking required
• Flow Jam | The Riverlink Building | Free event, bookings required
• Dynamic lighting installation | The Riverlink Building | Free event 
• A Culinary Journey with Adam Liaw | Maitland Town Hall | Ticketed event 

Maitland Riverlights is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW and Multicultural NSW as part of the 2023-2024 Stronger Together Major Festival Local Council Grants.