Lithgow City Council invites the community to a morning of events and activities at Lithgow Library to celebrate the International Day of People with disability 2023.

There will be a sausage sizzle by LINC's disability services team. Games and other activities will also be facilitated by local disability service providers.

International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is a United Nations observed day celebrated in early December each year. It is an opportunity to be part of creating an inclusive and diverse community for the 4.4 million Australians living with disabilities.

December 7, 5-8pm

The following businesses in the "top Block" of Main Street will be open late on Thursday, 7th December for your Christmas shopping needs.

There will be a lucky door prize for those who attend.

December 9, 2pm

Portland RSL invites their adult members* to a casual afternoon celebrating the holiday spirit with some live music, drinks, food and Christmas Cheers

*While we love our little ones, this afternoon is for our adult members, our children's Christmas Party is on Sunday 10th December

December 9, 3pm

Head to the Lithgow Workies to enjoy a relaxing afternoon for their Sunday Sessions in the Southern Gardens. Featuring live music from Shillelaghs.

December 9, 4pm

Head to the Foundations for its annual twilight market. There will be all your favourite stalls, great food and great music. With over 80 stalls, the Twilight Market is one of the largest in the region and you will be sure to find something that takes your fancy, or just head down for a bite to eat and some great fun!

December 9, 8pm

Iconic local duo Kel and Brendon will be keeping the energy going after the Twilight markets. Head to the Coro to continue and enjoyable weekend.

December 9, 7:30pm

After you've finished dinner at the Bistro, why not head to the main lounge at 7:30pm for a relaxing evening of live music.

December 10, 10:30am

Maximum fun and complete exhaustion possible!! Featuring the Fun with Franky and Wendy show.

Members get your free tickets to the Kids Christmas party, available now at club reception.

December 10, 10:45am

Dust off your SANTA HAT, grab your family and friends and head to the Hartley Historic Village. Gather and explore the village, then head over to the Old Hartley Post Office area at 10.45am for the official head count! Join us as we follow Archie (the pony) and his owner Wendy up the pathway to create another awesome photo of as many people and fur babies wearing Santa Hats at one time.

If you don't have a Santa hat, we've got you covered, you can purchase one on the day, along with some Santa hat treats and cookies, with profits going to Cancer Council Australia for cancer research.

Stay and relax, Christmas shop at the village galleries and enjoy all the village has to offer. Bring a picnic lunch or take a short stroll along the beautiful boardwalk down to the river. The village offers something for everyone!

I can't wait to see how many Santa Hats will be bobbing about the village this year?

Each year we offer a gold coin donation to assist Cancer research.

December 10, 3pm

Why not take a break from the busyness of Christmas preparations and enjoy Lithgow City Orchestra presenting their Summer concert at Notre Dame near Lithgow Hospital.

A varied program includes Finlandia by Sibelius, Elgar's Nimrod, from the pen of the illustrious J S Bach one of his Preludes, Dvorak's Largo, music from Bizet's Peer Gynt Suite, a Ukrainian hymn, Chocolat Passage of Time, Procol Harum's classic A Whiter Shade of Pale, Pirates of the Caribbean and more.

Free admission to LCO's Summer concert at Notre Dame concert hall. All are welcome.

December 10, 5pm

Family Christmas Carols at Hoskins - a night of community!

Including BBQ, face painting, sing a long carols & performances from local schools & groups.

Celebrating the season together.

Hope you can join us....

December 10, 2pm

Come and enjoy the afternoon and you could win some Toys.

December 10, 11am

Let the kids celebrate Christmas a little earlier this year with our Kids Christmas Party!

Children of all Financial Members of Portland RSL who will be 12 years of age and under as of 31st December will be eligible to attend.

The registration form must be returned to Portland RSL no later than Sunday 3rd December 2023.

All Children must be supervised by an Adult at all times.

December 14, 2:30-5pm

Gang Gang Farmers Market is coming together well with committed stalls, including:

We hope to see you come and get your locally grown fresh produce on Thursdays starting on the 14th December at the Gang Gang Gallery, in the outside area beside the gallery.

December 16

Paul McCovern, Rocking Down the Highway from 4pm in the Southern Gardens

Jed Zarb from 7:30pm in the Southern Gardens.

December 17, from 10:30am

Enjoy a heritage train journey with the big man in red. Santa will be on board, ready to share the holiday spirit with children of all ages. Bring your wish list and best holiday cheer because Santa can't wait to meet you!

Enjoy an adventure that your family will cherish forever. Remember to bring your camera to capture the special moment with Santa and Zig Zag Railway.

Bookings essential. Special event ticket pricing applies.

December 17, 3pm

Head to the Lithgow Workies to enjoy a relaxing afternoon for their Sunday Sessions in the Southern Gardens. Featuring live music from Hollowpoint.

December 17, 5:30pm

It's that time of year so move over adults, it's Kids night.

Come and join us for this year's kid's Christmas party - dinner, a movie and of course the Jolly man himself.

Bookings are essential, please contact Club Lithgow - Lithgow City Bowling Club

December 23, 7:30pm

After you've finished dinner at the Bistro, why not head to the main lounge at 7:30pm for a relaxing evening of live music.

December 24, 3pm

Head to the Lithgow Workies to enjoy a relaxing afternoon for their Sunday Sessions in the Southern Gardens. Featuring live music from Kel and Brendon.

December 25, 9:30am- 2:30pm

Do you find at this time of year that you begin to feel a little left behind as people prepare to spend a day of gift giving with family and friends. You may find yourself without family and friends, or feel unable to meet the expectations placed upon you to join those around you. In that case, Christmas may already be sorted for you. Christmas and Beyond is hosting a lunch and if you would like to join us, you are more than welcome. It will be at the Lithgow Bible Church Hall, 1 Col Drewe Drive, South Bowenfels.

If you need a lift or would like more information, please contact Craig at 0456 560 018

December 31, 6pm

Get ready for a party you'll never forget!

time to bring in the new year the right way.

stay tuned for more details!

get your tickets now for $35 in the link below

https://www.opentable.com/boo.../experiences-availability...

December 31, 9:30pm

Time to see 2023 out 80's style. Get that fluro out and tease that hair, Soundproofed is going to rewind back to the 80s, with all your favourite rock and pop 80's hits in one night.

December 31, 9pm

Head to the main lounge to see 2023 out with Sideshow Annie.

Mondays, 6:30pm

Looking for something to do tonight?!?

Why not bring your family and friends down to the Bowlo for our Monday Night Surf, Turf and Beer of the month special in Bistro 1919 and stay for some fun and laughs with Trivia from 6:30pm!

Saturdays, 9:30am

Our Art Group will be starting on Saturday at the Lithgow Library. Art materials will be available. It will be run by Sandy Conway-Powles and local artist Jeff Bretherton. It is free and no bookings are required. If you would like more information, contact Sandy at 0428081783.

Fridays during school term, 7am

Fit for Life is resuming at Lithgow PCYC. Open to all young people aged 10-18 years old.

Come and start the day right with some exercise and a nutritious breakfast, starting from 7am. We then provide transport to Lithgow High School and TAFE.

No cost involved but you do need to register.

Every second and fourth weekend

Come and support local signwriters, the Portland Wallnuts to fundraise for the renovation of their building.

Visit their headquarters in 19 Vale Street for the opportunity to grab yourself a bargain.

There will be a range of goods to choose from, including toys, crystal glasses, memorabilia and more!

Thursdays, 10-11:30am

Playgroup has returned at the Hoskins Uniting Church parish centre with a new day and time!

For a gold coin donation you can take your under 4's (Babies included) to enjoy some games, craft, story time and more!

Thursdays, 2:30-5pm

Gang Gang Farmers Market is coming together well with committed stalls, including:

We hope to see you come and get your locally grown fresh produce on Thursdays starting on the 14th December at the Gang Gang Gallery, in the outside area beside the gallery.

Fourth Sunday of the Month, 9am-1pm (From March 2023 onwards)

Take the opportunity to visit the picturesque Tarana for a chance to get your hands on some of the best locally grown or made produce.

Take in the scenery of the beautiful village, while you are peering at the stalls.

Mumma Snow's Country Kitchen and General Store will be open during the markets for your chance to grab a bite.

First Sunday of the Month (On Winter break, will return in Spring)

We have some exciting news for our market goers.

Our markets now have a new name and weekend.

Introducing CAPERTEE MAKERS MARKET. It will be held on the FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH. Making our first market for 2023, Sunday the 5th of March.

We will still be homed at the the Royal Hotel, Capertee

Watch this space for more information.

Ideal states and sacred places- Gang Gang Gallery

November 2-26

We carry with us, both internally and externally, physically and mentally, memories, learned experiences, cultural differences, spiritual values and expectations and through these we form ourselves.As a female, I look very much to the internalization of these complexities and my art is informed by my debate. There is something intrinsically humanly female about the need to make spaces which reflect the desire to make comfortable and safe places.The paintings and sculptures explore the notion of personae and cultural mythologies and the poetry of the spaces between the self and its manifestations. They are related through a common theme.The imagined towns and cities and ancient settlements manifest in the paintings and constructed within the safe confines of the cloches, are reminiscent of places remembered, experienced and dreamed of.The works are informed and shaped by cultural differences, which are heightened by the very nature of displacement, migration or journeying from one place to another. I have brought them into existence.They are of nowhere and yet they are everywhere.

Long exposure photography pop-up with Merridy Cairnduff

November 30- December 3

A breathtaking look at the beautiful landscapes around Wollemi, Gardens of Stone and beyond.Merridy has an amazing eye for detail and captures the colours and shapes of the Australian bush perfectly.

Lithgow City Council art collection

An exhibition showcasing a selection from Lithgow City Council's art collection will be open to the public to enjoy for free at the Seven Valleys Visitors Information Centre gallery from Saturday 1 July 2023.

The exhibition reveals some hidden gems from Council's art and ceramics collection, acquired or donated to Council over the past 50 years.

While some prominent local artist's names and signature styles may be familiar to local historians and art lovers, including John Barnes, Walter Brunner, Robert Cunningham, Stanley Ballard, Helen Hudson, Margaret Hunt, Maria Finnegan and Rick Slaven, others are less well known, but equally compelling.

The gallery is located downstairs at the Seven Valleys Tourist Information Centre, 1137 Great Western Highway Lithgow, and is open during regular opening hours, 9.00am - 5.00pm, 7 days a week.

The SES are looking at building their capability in flood rescue as well as new members.

If you feel you are fit and would like to be a part of helping your community and would like to join the team. Please get in touch via the NSW SES Portland unit Facebook page or you can visit the unit on a Monday night.

Every Weekend

Venture out to Portland this weekend and take a look at the weekly mini markets ran by the foundations. Each weekend a selection of local businesses and artists will be in the Annexe, with many of their products on offer.

Every Thursday, Drawn from 6:30pm

$2 at ticket of $5 for three tickets. Tickets can be purchased from 4pm on the day.

While you're there, be sure to grab a nice meal from the Kitchen, which is open from 6pm.

10am-4pm Each day.

All located in the beautiful Hartley Valley, only 15 minutes from Blackheath or Lithgow, the gardens of Highfields, Hartvale, Harp Of Erin, Wild Meadows and Gory'u offer something for all garden lovers.

The collection showcases cottage gardens filled with a riot of colour, Japanese gardens, prairie gardens, beautiful water features and rare plants, extensive perennial borders, rock walls, loads of great ideas for the home gardener plus historic buildings and truly spectacular views.

Spring is exceptional in Hartley and these gardens keep getting better and better each year. Richer soil, sunny days and wide open spaces support a greater variety of plants to flourish in this climate promoting an explosion of colour, texture and movement. Four out of the five gardens have been featured on Better Homes and Gardens TV show.

Food, drinks and plants will be for sale with the gardens showcasing various Hartley cottage industries; Hartvale will be offering artwork by Jennifer Edwards and metalart by renowned sculptor Henryk Topolnicki of Gallery H, Harp of Erin will offer the metalart of Scott Leonard and other local artisans. Gory'u Japanese Gardens will have all manner of cold climate trees for sale.

Picnics are welcome, so bring your friends and family and experience what it's like to be surrounded by the wonderful spring flowers and creativity of the Hartley Valley.

COST: $15 per person per garden (Hartvale $12, Harp of Erin, free of charge)

Children under 16 free of charge

For more information- Search 'Central Tablelands garden trail.'

Join the Garden Club

To all the garden-minded people out there Lithgow Garden Club is now meeting at Club Lithgow on the first Monday of the month at 2pm. Go along and see what they're about.

September-November

The sun is coming out and everything is beginning to blossom. It is the perfect time of year to take the opportunity to walk around the picturesque botanic gardens at Mount Tomah. Why not take an upcoming nature therapy walk or a guided walking tour?

Celebrate the arrival of Spring next week with a guided walk among 5,500 blooming tulips!

Join senior horticulturist Mat Murray to explore the colours and scents of our extensive bulb displays.

Calendar dates:

Girls and Leaders hold weekly Unit Meetings during school terms at: Katoomba Guide Hall, Station Street, Katoomba.

Junior Guides aged 6yo-10yo on Tuesdays from 4.30pm-6pm. Guides aged 10yo-13yo on Tuesdays from 6pm-8pm

Our Mission Statement is "Empowering girls and women to discover their potential as Leaders of their world".

We provide girls with opportunities to grow, learn and have fun in relevant and meaningful ways. We are a non-profit organisation.

Website: https://www.girlguides-nswactnt.org.au/

A unique experience

Scenic World's Beyond Skyway experience is offering the ultimate adventure that's truly globally unique.

The Beyond Skyway experience takes just four guests at a time out on the iconic Skyway cable car into the middle of the Jamison Valley. Suspended 270 metres above the ancient rainforest canopy below, guests accompanied by our rooftop crew, climb up through the hatch to spend time atop of the cable car. Once on the roof, with no glass or fences to restrict the 360-degree view, the immersive experience is both exhilarating and completely serene.

Tickets are extremely limited. A maximum of 16 people can experience Beyond Skyway each evening.

Bookings are essential at www.scenicworld.com.au/beyond-skyway. Each ticket includes complimentary refreshments on board the Skyway, digital photo files, and celebratory champagne, wine or beer in the Skyway cabin on the return journey.

In your own backyard

Why not look at what's on offer for a regional staycation? Lockdown has lifted and tourism spots have opened up. There's plenty on offer with camping at Lake Lyell or Turon Gates. Or if you want to get a little more fancy you could opt for a stay at Emirates One & Only Wolgan Valley who are offering a locals discount. Capertee Bubble Tents are also a fun and different option to get up close with nature, but in a glamping way of course. For the love birds Eagle View Escape is the ultimate romantic getaway and situated near Lake Lyell.

Visit their websites and get booking. Don't forget to visit your local cafes and restaurants. There's no better time than now to support your local businesses and local tourism.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: