Adelaide is the fifth-most populated city in Australia and also the largest city in South Australia. It is also well-known for being a vibrant city that is filled with a lot of stuff going on around it. This city has incredible and breathtaking landscapes and architectural wonders and is widely known for red kangaroos. The name Adelaide was derived from the word ‘Tarndanya’, which means “place of the red kangaroo” in the Kaurna language, as the traditional owners of this land were ‘Kaurna’. However, the main attraction of this city is its festivals.
Whenever there is a festival going on nearby, people start to get ready to celebrate the amazing event. The whole city, including the streets of Adelaide, gets transformed into a wonderful place with a number of colourful decorations. There are multiple festivals to enjoy, and each one of them has a unique and amazing trait linked to it. These remarkable festivals provide something for everyone, as they offer music, the arts, delicious food, and extravagant wines. Here, we will go through some amazing festivals that are about to take place in Adelaide. You will get to learn a lot about these celebrations.
If you have never had a chance to visit Adelaide City and get involved in these iconic festivals, then this is your chance. There are some incredible festivals and events about to happen sooner than you expect. So do not miss out on the chance to attend these functions and have an incredible time of your life. It is time for you, your friends, and your family to spend some quality and fun time together while enjoying the festivals and making great memories that will last for a very long time.
1. South Australia’s History Festival
South Australia’s History Festival occurs once every year in May. It continues for the entire month, from the 1st to the 31st of May. This event explores the rich history of the state. The concept of this history festival is to explore places, share stories, display collections, and share incredible ideas. You will get to listen and discover how South Australia was formed with the help of these stunning stories.
You get to learn a lot of things by taking a tour and listening to the exhibitions. There are communities that organise different workshops all around the state. The experts and local guides keep on researching and updating it with the latest information. Other than that, they also provide you with tales of unique and unexplored things. This event is perfect for people with curious minds who are always looking to learn something and seek knowledge. Events occur everywhere, from urban to rural areas, even in museums and libraries.
| Website | South Australia’s History Festival |
|---|---|
| Date | 01 May 2024 - 31 May 2024 |
| Event Type | Exhibition, Guided Tour, Self-Guided Tour, Special Event, Talks, Workshops |
| Season | Autumn |
| Website | https://festival.history.sa.gov.au/ |
| Contact | (08) 8151 3270 |
2. Adelaide Cabaret Festival
The Adelaide Cabaret Festival is a three-week programme that happens every year in June. This festival compels people to face the chilly winter with the smiles and excitement of the celebration of this amazing festival. This event hosts plenty of programmes, like the stylish programme, where artists write and perform in a vaudeville circus. There are also multiple musical shows where talented and popular female singers perform their famous and hit songs. A lot of international artists come to participate in this iconic event from all over the world.
You will get to see the famous Patti LuPone (American singer and actress), Mahalia Barnes (Australian singer and songwriter), Fascinating Aïda (singing group), and many more. There are also theatrical events where you get the opportunity to see the live performances of Christie Whelan Browne, Gillian Cosgriff, and Jekyll & Hyde. Apart from these amazing programmes, it also has a programme of wonderful storytellers. There is no doubt that this event is packed with exciting performances that make it worth visiting.
| Website | Adelaide Cabaret Festival |
|---|---|
| Date | 07 June 2024 - 22 June 2024 |
| Event Type | Cabaret, Comedy, Music, Special Event, Theatre |
| Season | Winter |
| Website | https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/ |
| Contact | (08) 8216 8600 |
3. Illuminate Adelaide
Illuminate Adelaide is another one of the iconic festivals in Adelaide. This festival starts on the fourth of July and continues the celebration for 18 days straight. It welcomes people from all over the world to come and become a part of this celebration. The best thing is that most parts of this celebration are completely free to attend. However, there are some special programmes that require you to make the purchase of the ticket. These programmes feature a lot of well-known artists, both local, national, and international.
This festival is all about making some amazing new memories with your loved ones, making new friends, and creating new bonds of friendship. Illuminate Adelaide is a highly family-friendly festival that shines on the cold winter nights with its bright and warm colours, making it an occasion of fun and good times. This festival displays the amazing merger of technology and the arts as it illuminates the architecture of the whole city. The artists work really hard to showcase some outstanding projections. So, if you are a fan of colourful light shows, adventure nights, high-class technologies, and music, then you should surely participate in this festival.
| Website | Illuminate Adelaide |
|---|---|
| Date | 04 July 2024 - 21 July 2024 |
| Event Type | Digital, Exhibition, Installation, Music, Talks, Visual Arts |
| Season | Winter |
| Website | https://www.illuminateadelaide.com/ |
| Contact | 1300 496 623 |
4. Adelaide Guitar Festival
If you are a guitar lover or have a real passion for guitars, then the next festival is especially for you. The Adelaide Guitar Festival is literally the most influential celebration of these amazing instruments called guitars in the Southern Hemisphere. This one festival is packed with every kind of theme, such as classical, rock, acoustic, electric, and bass. It contains plenty of concerts across the state throughout the whole eighteen days of this festival. The most renowned guitarists from all over the world come to become members of this iconic festival.
It also provides an opportunity for many other talented but not very famous guitarists to showcase their talent in front of a large audience. You will get to see so many different types of performances, like jazz, classical, blues, and many others. There are masterclasses available for these young talents, as they give some valuable advice and lessons to raise their skills to the next level. You also get the chance to see ‘Paco Peña Requiem for the Earth’ and ‘The Princess Bride in Concert’ live performances. The best facility that this venue provides is accessibility for disabled people with wheelchairs.
| Website | Adelaide Guitar Festival |
|---|---|
| Date | 12 September 2024 - 29 September 2024 |
| Event Type | Industry Events, Music, Workshops and Talks |
| Season | Winter |
| Website | https://guitar.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/ |
| Contact | (08) 8216 8600 |
5. Bay to Birdwood
The next festival on our list is unlike the rest of the festival, which goes on for multiple days or even weeks. Bay to Birdwood is a single-day festival that happens on the 20th of October every year. This event is considered one of the world’s great historic motoring events. It all started in the year 1980, and if you consider yourself a true fan of motor vehicles, then you should not miss out on the chance of this upcoming festival in the year 2024.
This time they are planning to bring over 1500 vehicles for the exhibition; all of these vehicles will be from the era of the 1900s to the end of the year in December 1994. Every year, thousands of spectators who love cars make an elongated line on the 67-kilometre highway to watch the amazing parade of these vintage motor vehicles. The parade starts from West Beach and goes through the National Motor Museum, which is located in Birdwood at Adelaide Hills. This is an extraordinary festival to celebrate classic, vintage cars.
| Website | Bay to Birdwood |
|---|---|
| Date | 20 October 2024 |
| Event Type | Community, Exhibition, Special Event |
| Season | Spring |
| Website | https://baytobirdwood.history.sa.gov.au/ |
| Contact | (08) 8151 3280 |
6. Adelaide Fringe
Adelaide Fringe is a festival that has multiple events that change the atmosphere of Adelaide completely. This is a gigantic festival that goes on for approximately a month. It starts when February comes to an end and keeps on going until the end of March. It lengthens from Whyalla down to Mount Gambier. Each event has a different taste and comes from a wide range of sources. This vibrant festival includes things like cabaret, comedy, circus, music, dance, magic shows, street performances, theatre, and plenty of other things.
They even have a membership available, where members get the benefit of getting two tickets for the price of one. Other than that, they have their own Fringe merchandise with nice t-shirts, mugs, towels, posters, and many other things. With each passing year, this festival is growing rapidly and getting more and more visitors every year. Every person who participated in this festival once in their life describes their experience as magical and phenomenal. So, make sure you are a part of this festival and experience the magic of Adelaide Fringe.
| Website | Adelaide Fringe |
|---|---|
| Date | 21 February 2025 - 23 March 2025 |
| Event Type | Cabaret, Circus, Comedy, Dance, Digital, Film, Industry Events, Magic, Music, Physical Theatre, Street Performance, Talks, Theatre, Workshops |
| Season | Summer |
| Website | https://adelaidefringe.com.au/ |
| Contact | (08) 8100 2000 |
7. Adelaide Festival
The Adelaide Festival is one of the most famous festivals in Adelaide. This festival displays an amazing performance that targets today’s audiences while at the same time encouraging future generations. Adelaide Festival commissions put efforts into showcasing a creative piece of work by some of the world’s great artists and companies. It all started in the year 1960, and since that time, it has been 64 years, and each year this festival has managed to surprise its audience with extraordinary performances.
They have plenty of programmes, such as amazing dance shows, musical concerts, impressive art installations, and writers with their breathtaking stories. It is a short festival that begins on the last day of February and continues until the middle of March. This festival has something to offer everyone, whether you are a fan of dancing, music, or literature. So, make sure you visit this festival, and do not forget to tag along with your friends and family so that each one of you has the best time of your life while creating some great memories.
| Website | Adelaide Festival |
|---|---|
| Date | 28 February 2025 - 16 March 2025 |
| Event Type | Dance, Installation, Literature, Music, Musical Theatre, Opera, Physical Theatre, Talks, Theatre, Visual Arts |
| Season | Summer |
| Website | https://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/ |
| Contact | (08) 8216 4444 |
Wrapping Up
Adelaide’s festivals always provide their visitors with an unforgettable experience with their spirited and lively atmosphere. This city has multiple festivals, and each one of them contains several other programmes, making it a perfect place as it has something to offer everyone to enjoy. Adelaide provides a platform for all kinds of artists, performers, and chefs to display their talent. This place also allows you to watch the amazing performances of national and international artists. You can easily book tickets by checking out their websites and gathering other important information about them. And while you are in Adelaide, make sure you check out the other attractions, like parks and museums.
Frequently Asked Questions
Adelaide is a vibrant city and is quite popular for offering some of the best wine in Australia. This iconic city is home to some of the most famous and best restaurants, beaches, hotels, wine, and gin. Apart from that, it is well-known for its festivals. It is said that ‘Festivals are like the DNA of Adelaide’. It has a friendly nature and welcomes everyone with open arms to come and have an amazing time of their life.
