The arts scene in Adelaide has flourished ever since the sixties and a number of annual events were established at this time. These include two of the city's biggest and most well-supported events, namely the Fringe and the Adelaide Festival of Arts, the latter of which is staged every other year and incorporates Writer's Week.
Constructed in the early 1970s, the Adelaide Festival Centre immediately became the earliest multi-purpose arts centre to be built in Australia. Located alongside King William Street, the North Terrace and Elder Park, the centre offers a regular choice of things to do and see, being easy to spot with its distinctive trio of white domes.
Other significant highlights in the annual events calendar include the city's Marathon in August, the Royal Adelaide Show in September, the Glenelg Jazz Festival in October, and the Mitsubishi Horse Trials in November. The end of December sees the annual New Year's Eve celebrations staged in Elder Park, with two extravagant fireworks displays with musical accompaniments at 21:00 and midnight.
- 1st January - New Year's Day
- 26th January - Australia Day
- 1st Monday in March - Labour Day
- Good Friday / Easter Monday March / April - Easter
- 25th April - Anzac Day
- 2nd Monday in June - Queen's birthday
- 1st Monday in August - Bank Holiday
- 25th December - Christmas Day
- 26th December - Boxing Day
Calendar of Festivals and Events 2012 / 2013
January
- Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under - over 200 cyclists take part. This week-long event includes six races and numerous parties
February
- Big Day Out - music festival with thousands of fans trying to catch their favourite acts
- Carnevale in Adelaide - a celebration of Italian food and lifestyle, featuring a lively parade along King William Street. Highlights include live musicians, a fashion show, a rave party and traditional arts and crafts exhibits
- Fringe Festival - mid-February and mid-March, lasting almost four weeks and incorporating literally hundreds of different themed performances, including comedy gigs, concerts, dancing and the visual arts
March
- Adelaide Festival of Arts (biennial) - early March to mid-March, lasting just over two weeks and incorporating various theatrical performances at venues along the North Terrace, as well as within the city's parks, on the banks of the River Torrens and within the riverside Festival Centre
- Writer's Week (biennial) - early March, held at the Pioneer Women's Memorial Garden and drawing many acclaimed international authors and novelists
- WOMADelaide - mid-March, a weekend celebration of world music, arts and dance, based at the Botanic Park and attracting more than 100,000 people over the four days (Friday to Monday)
- 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
April
- Outbank Easter Racing Carnival - a weekend full of funfairs, picnics, camel rides and lots of horse racing
- Dutch Festival - late April, held at the Hills View Function Centre (Dutch Club), this annual festivity allows families to experience the Dutch culture. Featuring Dutch cuisine, a bar serving Heineken, live music, cultural presentations and market stalls, plus much, much more
June
- Adelaide Cabaret Festival - mid-June, first held in 2001 and now the world's biggest event of its kind, with some 50,000 attendees coming to see in excess of 200 shows
July
- Friends of Thomas the Tank Engine - fun for the whole family at the Port Dock Station Railway Museum
August
- South Australia Living Artists - exhibitions and displays of up-and-coming artists
- Adelaide Marathon - marathon beginning and ending at the 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 the McLaren Parade. After dark there is a boat parade and a firework display
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
October
- Adelaide Festival of Ideas (biennial) - early October, with debates, presentations and discussions on a range of topical subject matters
- Glenelg Jazz Festival - outdoor weekend celebration featuring jazz concerts in abundance, along with much food and dancing
- Adelaide International Rose Festival - a celebration of the city's favourite flower
- Feast - three-week annual gay and lesbian cultural festivities with food and wine, culture, dancing, films, talks, walks, theatre and cabaret
- Bigpond Adelaide Film Festival (biennial) - mid-October, founded in 2002 and staged every other year, with screenings of more than 200 different films from some 50 countries, shown at central theatre venues and cinemas
November
- Mitsubishi Horse Trials - Olympic-level event, held in the city centre parklands
- Credit Union Christmas Pageant - a parade of floats and bands, with over 1,400 participants
December
- Bay Sports Festivals - a sports gathering based at Glenelg beach and featuring numerous sports, as well as a fun surf carnival
The arts scene in Adelaide has flourished ever since the sixties and a number of annual events were established at this time. These include two of the city's biggest and most well-supported events, namely the Fringe and the Adelaide Festival of Arts, the latter of which is staged every other year and incorporates Writer's Week.
