Lake Mac Festival to bring wingfoils, live music and fireworks to Lake Macquarie over Australia Day weekend

newy.com.au – Fireworks, foiling, comedy, live music and markets will feature in Lake Macquarie City Council’s Lake Mac Festival from Thursday 22 January, ahead of Australia Day on Monday 26 January.

The program spans multiple suburbs across Lake Macquarie in the lead-up to the long weekend, with Mayor Adam Shultz encouraging residents to “celebrate the long weekend and enjoy the events on offer”. “There is such a great diversity of events right around Lake Macquarie, and this will be the last opportunity for many families to get out and enjoy time together before school holidays end,” he said.

Wangi Wangi will host the Australian Wingfoil Nationals ‘Down Under Foil Festival’ from Thursday 22 January to Sunday 25 January, with competition across skill levels. Wingfoils resemble windsurfers, but lift out of the water on a hydrofoil fin as speed builds.

Council manager arts, culture and tourism Jacqui Hemsley said the national titles would bring competitors from around Australia and provide a spectacle for locals. “It’s a test of skill, energy and friendly competition, but equally it’s a wonderful way to showcase our lake and introduce locals to an exciting and spectacular sport,” she said.

On Friday 23 January, Egyptian-Australian comedian Akmal Saleh will take his latest stand-up show to Warners Bay Theatre. The council release described Saleh as a published author and a movie and television performer whose credits include Thank God You’re Here and Have You Been Paying Attention.

Speers Point Park will host the Red Hot Summer Tour on Saturday 24 January, headlined by Paul Kelly and featuring Missy Higgins and The Cruel Sea, with other acts on the tour including The Cat Empire, Kasey Chambers and Jess Hitchcock. The event is being billed as one of the region’s biggest live music shows for 2026.

That night, Warners Bay Theatre will also host Newcastle Pro Wrestling’s ‘Fight Knight’, featuring championship matches and tag-team bouts.

Australia Day events on Monday 26 January include a citizenship ceremony at Rathmines Theatre where almost 100 people from 35 countries are expected to become Australian citizens, along with a free Valentine Lions Club community morning at Bennett Park from 9am to noon. The day will also include an Australia Day regatta at Wangi Wangi, a classic boat display at Rathmines, and the ‘Aussie Night Markets’ at Morisset Showground from noon to 10pm, ending with fireworks at 9pm.

Details of Lake Mac Festival events and timings are available on the council’s lakemac.com.au website.