Adelaide Doesn’t Give A Damn About Winter
Join us at The Real South Australia as we explore, share, like and chat about the best holidays spots and places, attractions and events our state has to offer.
The plus side to once being recognised as “the hottest city in the world” is that Adelaide is generally treated to deliciously temperate autumn and winter months. What’s more, the festival fever that’s said to sweep the city in ‘Mad March’ actually rolls on throughout the year, with Adelaide Cabaret Festival and more just around the corner.
Here’s a handful of reasons that prove Adelaide is the #WorldsHottestCity all year round.
#1 Adelaide Cabaret Festival
Under the seasoned leadership of Australian icon Barry Humphries, the annual Adelaide Cabaret Festival is set to sizzle. Word has it this is the largest and most comprehensive cabaret festival in the world. Judging by this year’s stellar lineup – which includes Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Tex Perkins and Lady Rizo – we’re sold. The festival showcases both local and international acts, and it’s well worth catching any show featuring the splendid Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. This mid-winter celebration is another opportunity to access eminent arts and entertainment in the aptly named Festival State.
#2 AFL at Adelaide Oval
Live like a local and sport your true colours at the newly overhauled Adelaide Oval. Home to the mighty Adelaide Crows and their friendly foes Port Power, Australia’s newest stadium is found slap-bang in the heart of Adelaide city. The battlefield erupts every winter weekend under the thunder of footy boots and the roar of the 19th Man. Last season the 50,000-strong crowd was so loud that the umpires couldn’t hear the sirens!
If you’re near the Crowval/Portress (depending on your allegiance) on Sunday July 19, don’t miss the infamous “Showdown” that pits the Crows against the Power. Grab a Balfours pie and a prime pozzy on The Hill to witness brothers in arms battling for hometown glory.
#3 SALA Festival
Extend yourself at the South Australian Living Artists (SALA) festival and encounter works produced by thousands of visual artists from around the state. Participating venues aren’t hard to find as galleries, studios, cafes, restaurants, wineries, office blocks, markets, gardens and more transform into vibrant exhibition spaces each August. Works range from traditional practices like painting, sculpture and photography through to experimental installations and moving image works. Championing values of inclusivity, innovation and sustainability, SALA is absolutely free to attend and runs from 1 – 31 August 2015.
#4 State Theatre Company of South Australia
Resident thespians at State Theatre Company of South Australia are fixing to put on a show or three over the colder months. From the intricate drama of Harold Pinter to a modern reimagining of 17th Century satire, the company’s upcoming slate of productions is smart, witty and adventurous. Working with Come Out Children’s Festival (22 – 30 May 2015), State Theatre has also just created the enchanting new play Masquerade, which is sure to win hearts of all ages. Driven by brilliant local creatives who proudly call Adelaide home, SA’s flagship professional theatre company delivers high-calibre performances with a uniquely South Australian edge.
#5 Adelaide International Guitar Festival
Held biennially under the white sails of the Adelaide Festival Centre, this is no ordinary shred-fest. The Adelaide International Guitar Festival has axe-wielders from across the planet descend upon SA for one weekend to celebrate the world’s most popular instrument. Legends and fledglings share the spotlight at this convivial event, which encompasses concerts, master classes, workshops, artist talks and late-night club sessions. The Guitar Festival returns in 2016, with tireless Artistic Director Slava Grigoryan at the helm.
#6 Winter feasting
To top off the world-class arts and electrifying sports events, Adelaide also flaunts some of the finest opportunities for winter feasting in Australia. Head for the Adelaide Hills and stop by the cellar door at Bird In Hand winery, nestled within the storybook beauty of Woodside. Visit historic Hahndorf and Lobethal for hearty hospitality at the country pubs, or treat yourself to the ChocoVino terroir experience at Hahndorf Hill Winery.
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In the CBD, restaurants like Africola, Orana and Peel St (which were all recently named in the Top 100 Australian Restaurants list) serve up seasonal dishes that are out-of-this-world astounding. Using locally foraged ingredients like saltbush, Bunya nuts and black garlic, these radical eateries are establishing a whole new scene of Australian cuisine, unrivalled anywhere else.
Make sure to pack your Port Power scarf (or your carn-the-Crows cap) for a winter visit to perennial Festival City. Read more about the many events and festivals that take place in Adelaide year round here.
