Entries close October 13 at 5pm

Lithgow Tourism and Events team is partnering with SF3 for the third year to hold the Smartphone film competition. SF3 are the organisers of the SmartFone Flick Fest, Australia's international smartphone film festival and Lithgow Tourism and Events is delighted to be partnering with SF3 again to create the Lithgow Halloween Smartphone Film Competition in 2021.

The competition requires short suspense horror genre, up to a maximum of 10 minutes duration with a G-rating, to be shot on a mobile phone or tablet.

Films will be judged in 4 category areas; 'Most Creative', 'Best Performance' and 'Best Youth Film' There will also be a 'People's Choice' award and great prizes will be on offer.

To enter the competition and see the full details click here.

View promotional video here

September 22, 6.30-8.30pm

Open to all ages, the experts from SF3 - Australia's premiere International smartphone film festival - will teach you how to make a Hollywood style film using just your phone or tablet and your imagination. Whether you want to be the next Spielberg or Campion, or you want to make videos that go viral, come and learn all you need to make this happen. The free online workshop will run for approximately two hours over two days, Wednesday 22 and Wednesday 29 September at 6.30pm, and will culminate in a screening of the films we shoot in the workshop online and then we will show you how to enter the Lithgow Halloween Smartphone Film Competition.

Don't miss the opportunity to learn from the team at SF3, who have been at the forefront of the smartphone filmmaking revolution since their inception 7 years ago. This class will be full of fun and hands on learning so that you can go away and utilise these technologies to make incredible content that really stands out from the crowd.

To see more information on Smartphone Film making and SF3 go to https://youtu.be/nlu_S0iTh0s

To register your interest go to https://tourism.lithgow.com/lithgowhalloween2021

September 1 - December 31

Everybody is talking about Gang Gang Gallery and their NEW Virtual Gallery experience.

You can still visit your favorite gallery during the lockdown and enjoy the latest exhibition - SOUL. You can see the artworks, get an idea of their actual size since all works are to scale and then click on the info button to click through and purchase. Watch our video to get an idea of how it works and then click through to the gallery itself at https://gggallery.com.au/virtual-gallery-soul/. To enquire contact brad@braddiedrich.com

September 10 - October 30

The Lithgow Halloween Best Dressed Photo Competition returns to Lithgow Halloween Digital 2021 with over $4,500 in prizes to be won.

There will be multiple categories and plenty of prizes. Entries opening soon. Click here to see how to enter.

Entries will close midnight, October 30, judged by an independent panel, with winners announced in the first week of November.

September 19, 6.30pm-9.30pm

After 3 back to back years of selling out 100 + shows and over 75,000 tickets solds around the country, Soprano and Tenor powerhouse legends of Musical Theatre and Opera, Marina Prior & David Hobson embark on their Encore Tour, 'The 2 Of Us' in up close and personal mode for 2020. Brand new songs, back-stage and life stories, including the classics from their vast repertoire spanning 35 years. Accompanied by pianist David Cameron, in a 2 hour performance, Marina and David will perform their classics from productions such as The Phantom of The Opera,

Cats, Evita, Les Miserables, West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and La Boheme, as well as favourites from their award-winning albums.

Online waste workshops help educate residents on how to declutter, live sustainably and reduce waste to landfill.

Lithgow City Council's Waste Education Team will partner with professional organiser Susanne Thiebe from 'Less Mess' to present two online waste education workshops to Lithgow residents on October 12. These workshops are part of Council's waste education drive to improve resource recovery and reduce waste to landfill in the region.

The online format also allows residents from the regional waste network NetWaste to attend. NetWaste includes 26 Councils stretching from Blue Mountains to Bourke.

Each workshop is one hour in duration with a break in between sessions. Residents can do one workshop or both.

Workshop 1: Living with Less

Less is more: why we need minimalism in our lives. The ABC of decluttering, organising and sustainable living. Participants will learn the basics of how to tackle clutter and what to do with the oversupply.

Workshop 2: Meal Planning and Avoid Food Waste

The need for information around meal planning, cooking with leftovers, responsible disposal and avoiding shopping has risen since isolation, shopping restrictions and more time at home. This workshop looks at:

For more information and to register visit https://council.lithgow.com/waste-recycling/waste-education/

With surging COVID cases and lockdown in regional areas, Lithgow residents are encouraged to get tested for the virus.

The Lithgow COVID Clinic is a walk-in clinic located at Lithgow hospital and is open Monday to Friday 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10am-2pm.

Want to promote your event? Get in touch.

Given the latest lockdown on regional NSW, events have either been postponed or cancelled. The Lithgow Mercury will update you should anything change on the following events.

October 15

Quota Lithgow's Craft Fair will be held in the Civic Ballroom at Tony Luchetti Sportsground on Friday, October 15 at 7pm.

Light supper will be served with a cost of $10 per person.

Take the opportunity to do some pre-Christmas shopping from the stallholders. All profit raised by Quota's Craft Fair will go towards local community projects.

RSVP to Carol on 6355 0234 or 0418 694 650 or Joy on 0417 232 042 by October 8.

Amplifon have extended their locations for appointments to Lithgow Community Private.

They will be out monthly on the last Tuesday of the month.

Each appointment is 15 minutes where you get to spend time with a qualified Amplifon hearing technician that will go through a series of questions about your hearing and general health overall.

This service is free to the local community, Nursing Homes and Residential villages.

If further investigation is needed with an audiologist and you let them know you are a Lithgow Community Private client this will also be a free consultation.

This benefits the community to get their hearing tested and have a better quality of life if they need medical intervention such as a hearing aid.

Enrolments for Term 3 2021

With Term 3 just around the corner, JM Robson Aquatic Centre has invited enrolments for further 2021 Learn to Swim classes.

Learning to swim is a life skill and offers many benefits including making new friends and learning new activities. It also helps with growth and development. Many of the students progress through the varying levels of Learn to Swim programs, to then take up swimming as a sport with the local Swim Club or other water-based activities. In this way, the services offered by the centre can foster a lifelong passion for sport and activity.

The centre's Learn to Swim Coordinator is currently taking enrolments and there are limited spots available. Please call the centre on 6352 9160 or text 0484 604 004 for more details and to secure your spot.

Lithgow Library Learning Centre and Wallerawang Library have resumed Preschool Storytime programs.

Wallerawang storytime is 10.30am every Tuesday and Wednesday. Lithgow storytime is every Wednesday at 10.30am.

Preschool Storytime is a free weekly program and runs for approximately 30 minutes.

For more information on Storytime and other library programs head to the library website http://library.lithgow.com/ or on Facebook.

Situated on the outskirts of Lithgow is picturesque Lake Lyell.

If you're ever looking for a quick getaway with the family then this is the way to do it. Lake Lyell offers a range of boating, fishing, swimming and camping facilities.

There are activities for the kids as well as great cabin deals if you're not into pitching a tent.

So, pack the kids, the camping and boating gear into the car. You won't regret an adventure filled staycation situated right here in your home town. There's no better way to spend a weekend than with your family out on the stunning Lake Lyell.

Located in the Blue Mountains is the authentic, bush hideaway Turon Gates - a mountain retreat, tranquil and unspoilt. Turon Gates is spread out over 6000 acres and is pet friendly.

Turon offers a range of accommodation such as private rustic log cabins, glamping tents and luxurious cottages as well as camping. Wake up to the sounds of nature and enjoy the abound wildlife for a truly sensational Turon experience.

Discover the best of your Blue Mountains backyard at Megalong Valley Farm in the stunning wilderness bushland.

The Megalong Valley is the jewel in the crown of the Blue Mountains. On this staycation you can experience horse riding or bushwalking, see cattle and native wildlife and enjoy a rural lifestyle in the guesthouse or by camping.

There is a diverse array of accomodation ranging from a B&B Guesthouse, group lodges and low cost camping sites. Come and enjoy the serenity of a stay or a day in the quiet wilderness of the Megalong Valley.

Carefully situated between Wollemi national park and the Gardens of stone is the Emirates one&only Wolgan Valley, an ultra-luxury conservation based resort and wildlife reserve.

There are 40 individual suites in the resort, each with their own indoor and outdoor swimming pool and the main homestead offers distinctive dining and luxury facilities. There is also a range of activities on offer.

Immerse yourself in spectacular natural beauty on this staycation and experience a haven of wildlife in a natural sanctuary.

Soak up the rich heritage of our region along with natural, cultural and scenic values of the Wolgan Valley.

Escape with someone special. If you're looking for a staycation for you and someone important in your life, Eagle View Escape is the ultimate romantic getaway.

Situated near Lake Lyell, is a stunning 100 acre property. Eagle View Escape is the perfect romantic destination with their accommodation including different spa suites.

All cabins overlook the majestic views of Lake Lyell or the Cox's River and surrounding valley, so you're able to sit in your spa, sip on some wine and take in the scenery. Eagle View Escape is a truly breathtaking and magical experience.

The Blue Mountains Sparadise is the ultimate place to go if you're looking for some quick quality R&R.

Set in an exquisite Japanese garden this unique bath house is heaven on earth.

Enjoy spectacular views of green mountains, fresh air and clear blue lakes. Relax in a herbal steam bath and then venture to the Tea Room where you indulge in a simple Japanese meal and sip on organic herbal teas.

Sparadise is an enchanting corner of the earth where healthy living takes centre stage.