Residents of Cessnock City are invited to recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with a range of free local activities planned as part of 2025 NAIDOC Week celebrations.
On Saturday 5 July, Kiray Putjung Aboriginal Corporation will hold a NAIDOC Family Fun Day at the TAFE NSW Cessnock grounds from 10am to 3pm, with a flag-raising and Welcome to Country ceremony starting at 10am.
Little Yengo Gallery at Wollombi Cultural Centre will be open Sunday 6 July from 10am to 4pm.
Barkuma's NAIDOC Family Fun Day will be held on Tuesday 8 July from 10am to 2pm at Binarri Jinama-Gu, Sawyers Gully.
Wayapa Children's Storytime will take place between 10am and 11am at Cessnock Library on Tuesday 8 July and Kurri Kurri Library on Wednesday 9 July.
Also on 9 July, Cessnock Youth Centre and Outreach Service (CYCOS) will hold a workshop where people aged 11 to 18 can assemble and decorate their own traditional rain stick – an Aboriginal musical instrument. At Cessnock Library, from 5:30pm to 6:30pm, Uncle Warren Taggart will discuss his work documenting local sacred sites - Spirit of Place. Bookings are essential for both these events.
On Friday 11 July, Mindaribba's NAIDOC Family Fun Day will be held at Harold Gregson Park, Maitland, from 10am to 2pm each day during NAIDOC Week, Nicole Chaffey's exhibition Butjungbaaguwa will be on display at Performance Arts Culture Cessnock (PACC).
Cessnock City Mayor Daniel Watton encouraged everyone to make the most of these great opportunities to learn more about, and connect with, local Aboriginal culture and traditions.
"From community gatherings to immersion in stories and art, there are plenty of ways to get involved with this year's local NAIDOC Week celebrations," said Clr Watton.
Visit the event page here to download the full program of local events for NAIDOC Week 2025.
