As the cooler months approach, Adelaide is heating up with an incredible lineup of festivals to experience this winter. From immersive light displays to world-class music and arts celebrations, here are the can't-miss events lighting up the city:
Adelaide Cabaret Festival
Date: June 7-22 Location: Adelaide CBD
The Adelaide Cabaret Festival is an annual arts festival featuring cabaret held in the South Australian capital. It has been held in June each year since 2001, making it the biggest cabaret festival in the world. The festival showcases an eclectic program of classic and contemporary cabaret performances by outstanding local, national, and international artists. This year features acts such as Patti LuPone, Lisa Simone, Kate Miller-Heidke, Reuben Kaye and many more! With a reputation for highlighting exceptional talent, the Adelaide Cabaret Festival is a major event on the international arts calendar, offering audiences a vibrant celebration of cabaret over two weeks each June.
Adelaide Gin Festival
Date: June 21-23 Location: Adelaide Convention Center
The Adelaide Gin Festival 2024 is a three-day celebration of gin taking place from June 21-23 at the Adelaide Convention Center. It promises to be the ultimate gin exhibit, featuring tastings from over 40 distilleries across Australia. Highlights include masterclasses by Great Ocean Road Gin and Red Hen Spirits, where you can learn about their craft while sampling their products. With gin drinks included in the ticket price, a tote bag for purchases, and an anticipated sell-out event, the Adelaide Gin Festival is a can't-miss for gin enthusiasts.
Festival of Darkness
Date: June 22
Location: NOLA Adelaide
The Festival of Darkness is a one-day craft beer extravaganza celebrating the best in dark and independent brews. Held annually at NOLA in Adelaide on June 22nd, the festival features over 18 top Australian breweries offering unlimited tastings of stouts, porters, and more. Attendees can discover unique, limited-release beers while mingling with passionate brewers. Masterclasses allow you to deepen your knowledge from experts. With a lively atmosphere and rare bottles available, the Festival of Darkness is a beer lover's delight not to be missed.
Illuminate Adelaide
Date: July 4-21
Location: Adelaide CBD
Illuminate Adelaide 2024 promises to be a dazzling celebration of light, art, and technology. From July 4-21, the city will be transformed into an immersive wonderland with large-scale installations, vibrant projections, and cutting-edge experiences. Highlights include the breathtaking Fire Garden in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, featuring a digital paradise merging nature and technology. The free City Lights trail will also illuminate iconic landmarks with innovative works by local and international artists. With over a million visitors expected, Illuminate Adelaide 2024 is set to be a must-attend event.
Adelaide Beer and BBQ Festival 2024
Date: July 12-14
Location: Kaurna / Adelaide Showgrounds
The Adelaide Beer & BBQ Festival 2024 promises an epic weekend from July 12-14 filled with iconic Australian music acts. Friday features the Australian Rock Collective with members of Powderfinger, Spiderbait, You Am I, and Jet. On Saturday, see Bad//Dreems & Friends performing The Great South Australian Songbook, while Sunday offers family fun with Peter Combe. Beyond the stellar music lineup, attendees can indulge in the largest barbecue selection ever assembled and sample craft beers from local and international breweries. With activities galore, it's an unmissable event for music, beer, and food lovers.
Spin Off Festival 2024
Date: July 19
Location: Kaurna / Adelaide Showgrounds
Spin Off Festival is making a surprise return to Adelaide Showground on July 19, 2024. The one-day event boasts an impressive lineup headlined by indie pop sensation Conan Gray, Australian alt-pop star G Flip, and Norwegian singer-songwriter girl in red. Other notable acts include The Last Dinner Party, TV Girl, and Peach PRC. Despite its sister festival Splendour in the Grass being cancelled for 2024, Spin Off promises a stellar day of music across multiple stages for just $99. It's an unmissable event for fans of indie, pop, and electronic music.
Celler Door Fest: Winter Edit
Date: July 19-20 Location: Adelaide Convention Centre
Winter Edit is a two-day food and wine festival happening July 19-20. It transports the winery to the city, featuring South Australia's hottest food, wines, spirits, and live music. Festivalgoers can sample offerings from local producers all under one roof at the Adelaide Convention Centre. It's the ultimate winter warmer celebrating the best of the region's culinary and viticultural scene.
SALA Festival
Date: August 1-31 Location: Adelaide Convention Centre
The South Australian Living Artists (SALA) Festival is a statewide celebration of visual art held annually throughout August. In 2024, over 9,000 artists will participate by exhibiting their works across 600+ venues. Highlights include the SALA Awards, open studio events, art tours, and education programs. SALA provides opportunities for artists of all levels to showcase their talents and connect with new audiences. As the largest community-based visual arts festival, it offers an unparalleled glimpse into Adelaide's thriving creative scene. Don't miss this vibrant month-long event celebrating South Australia's diverse artistic community.
Whether you're into music, art, theatre, or just soaking up a vibrant atmosphere, Adelaide has an incredible array of festivals to brighten up the winter months in 2024. Start mapping out your trip to experience these world-class events!
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