Mattara Festival of Newcastle

Mattara - Festival of Newcastle is a celebration of, and by the people of Newcastle and the Hunter, through a diverse range of skills and performances, at the picturesque Newcastle Foreshore. Dance, theatre, sculpture, art, food, music, and environmental awareness are all on display in a fun atmosphere. The word Mattara, meaning hand, was inspired by the language of the Awabakal Aboriginal Dialect used by former natives of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie areas. Mattara was selected as the title for the festival, denoting the hand of friendship that Newcastle extends to visitors as well as the City's hand of industry. Thousands of people attend the festival annually, carrying the festive spirit throughout the entire duration of Mattara.