Festivals and Events

Adelaide and South Australia are world renown for their festivals and internationally acclaimed events.  If you love the theatre, dancing to international music, listening to readings from the world's great writers, laughing at comedians, or enjoy visual arts, then come to South Australia; widely recognised for its rich artistic heritage and arts events

The Adelaide Festival of Arts is one of the world's great arts festivals. This is a large-scale multi-arts event of extraordinary diversity. The Adelaide Fringe is so popular; it's become an annual event. It's the second biggest Fringe in the world after Edinburgh. The Adelaide Fringe features theatre, comedy, dance, circus, spoken word, poetry, film and video, visual arts and more, from some of the finest independent artists from Australia and overseas.

The exciting Adelaide Film Festival is where you'll catch movie world premieres, film forums and more. It's the only Australian festival that both screens and finances films. It even offers the Natuzzi International Best Feature award valued at $25,000 - the first film festival award of its kind in Australia.

WOMADelaide is three nights and two days of dazzling music from around the globe. Set in the heart of the city at Adelaide's Botanic Garden, where the giant Moreton Bay Fig trees provide shady groves for performances, and the lawns provide plenty of room to dance.

The Cabaret Festival, as the name suggests, offers a dazzling assortment of cabaret acts. Enjoy a program of theatre, cabaret, comedy, film, forums, literature, dance, visual arts, and tourism, sporting and community events.

The Ashes - Australia vs. England(Around Australia), 25^th November 2010 – 7^th  January 2011
Australia will do battle with England over five Tests in 2010-11, with the opening stanza locked in for the Gabba from 25 – 29 November 2010.  Matches in Adelaide and Perth will follow, with Melbourne’s Boxing Day Test and Sydney’s New Year’s Test completing the series.  The ashes are a thrilling contest between world cricket’s biggest rivals Australia and England and are an event attended by many cricket fans.
www.cricket.com.au

Adelaide Events and Festivals in January -

• Tour Down Under 16^th –23^rd  January
  This 728km premier international cycling event takes cyclists through some of the most beautiful countryside and city precincts in South Australia.  The fittest cyclists on two wheels hit the streets of Adelaide and surrounds in a true test of endurance as these elite riders battle for the ochre jersey in the highest ranked international cycling event in the Southern Hemisphere.
  www.tourdownunder.com.au
• Kangaroo Island Gourmet Gallop22^nd January
  The day is a celebration of local food and wine, showcasing some of the island's magnificent produce, including olive oil, honey and superb cheeses. The island's eight winemakers will also be there to add even more enjoyment to the occasion. It's also a day of racing, with a live jazz band and loads of free entertainment.
  www.kangaroo-island-australia.com.au
• Australia Day(National) 26^th January -
  Australia Day is a time for Australians of all backgrounds to celebrate national unity. It is also a time to appreciate heritage and history; to take an active part in the community and to remember colonial pioneers.
  www.australiaday.com.au

Adelaide Events and Festivals in February -

• Big Day Out- music festival with thousands of fans trying to catch their favourite acts
• Carnevale in Adelaide- a free celebration of Italian food and lifestyle, featuring a lively parade along King William Street. Highlights include live musicians, a fashion show, rave party and traditional arts and crafts exhibits

Adelaide Events and Festivals in March –

• Santos Symphony Under the Stars - free outdoor concert by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, with fireworks
• Glendi Greek Festival - two-day celebration featuring live music, folk dancing, rides, food and wine stalls and fireworks. Over 40,000 people attend this event
• Medieval Festival - a fun event featuring all aspects of the medieval way of life including ancient sports, minstrels, jesters, theatre, pillory and blacksmith
• Adelaide Fringe Festival 18^th February–13^th March
  The Adelaide Fringe Festival is one of Australia’s largest arts events. The Fringe is renowned for fresh ideas, imagination, spontaneity and fun. Artists from across the globe participate alongside home-grown talent, in all art forms. For independent artists, it’s an inspirational environment.
  www.adelaidefringe.com.au
• WOMADelaide 11^th -14^th March
  Over three late summer days and nights, groove to global beats in the splendour of Botanic Park at WOMADelaide. Discover new music as artists from around the globe come together on six stages to discuss, teach and share their art. Explore the crafts on display at the WOMAD Global Village, indulge in delicious food or kick back on the lawn and soak in the party atmosphere.
  www.womadelaide.com.au
• Clipsal 500 Adelaide 17^th -20^th  March
  Full-blooded V8 action hits the city streets, as Adelaide combines Australia’s largest motor sport festival with four nights of concerts, spectacular air displays and non-stop on-track action at the Clipsal 500. Feel the rush as the cars roar by during the day, then party into the night with huge outdoor concerts.
  www.clipsal500.com.au

Adelaide Events and Festivals in April -

• Outbank Easter Racing Carnival - a weekend full of funfairs, picnics, camel rides and lots of horse racing
• ANZAC Day(National), 25^th April
  On ANZAC Day, Australians remember young lives lost and honour those individuals who have heroically served our country. In small communities, towns and cities people rise early for sombre dawn services. Later that day, veterans, descendants, returned service personnel and others march through the country and city streets to cheering crowds.

Adelaide Events and Festivals in July -

• Friends of Thomas the Tank Engine - fun for the whole family at Port Dock Station Railway Museum

Adelaide Events and Festivals in August -

• South Australia Living Artists - exhibitions and displays of up-and-coming arts

• Adelaide Marathon - marathon beginning and ending at Adelaide Gaol, there is also a half marathon and a 5 km / 3 mile race
• Festival of the Waters - Port Adelaide hosts this cultural event with live entertainment and displays at McLaren Parade. After dark there is a boat parade and a firework display

Adelaide Events and Festivals in September –

• Royal Adelaide Show - lots of agricultural and horticultural exhibits and plenty of entertainment
• Bay to Birdwood Run - first Sunday in September, over 1,600 classic cars take part in this 60 km / 37.5 mile one-day event
• City to Bay Fun Run - a 12 km / 7.5 mile race from King William Street in the city to the beach at Glenelg

Adelaide Events and Festivals in October -

• Glenelg Jazz Festival - outdoor weekend festival featuring jazz, food and dancing
• Adelaide International Rose Festival - a celebration of Adelaide's favourite flower

• Feast - this three-week annual gay and lesbian cultural festival features food and wine, culture, dancing, films, talks, walks, theatre and cabaret

Adelaide Events and Festivals in November –

• Mitsubishi Horse Trials - Olympic-level event, held in Adelaide city centre parklands
• Credit Union Christmas Pageant - an parade of floats and bands, with over 1,400 participants

Adelaide Events and Festivals in December –

• Bay Sports Festivals - a sports festival held at Glenelg beach and featuring numerous sports and a surf carnival
• New Year’s Eve Celebrations around Australia, 31^st December
  Different, unique and amazing celebrations take place across Australia to welcome in the New Year. Celebrate in a quiet rural town, by the sea, or even on an island to watch a spectacular display of fireworks and fun.
  www.newyearseve.com.au