Best festivals in Adelaide: find options near you

Location for Tasting Australia, beautiful use of the square.
Fountains, lights, music …it was stunning.
A great variety of food vendors, ranging from fried chicken, pork belly lollipops, Thai sweet potato donuts and Vegemite soft serve.
Would have liked more seating/tables though, made it exceptionally difficult to enjoy the delicious range of food and drinks.

This square was established in 1854 and named after England’s Queen Victoria. It was planned by Colonel William Light as he sited and laid out the City of Adelaide.

The Square was redeveloped between 2012 and 2014 and now plays host to a number of different events and activities.
The fountain at the southern end represents the three rivers which supply Adelaide with water – the Murray, the Torrens and the Onkaparinga.
There are a number of benches available and a variety of trees providing shade for those wishing to relax on the grass, eat lunch or just watch the world go by.
It’s a lovely area to spend time, with majestic buildings – including the Catholic Cathedral – nearby.
It was a shame, though, to see so many cigarette buttons lying around the benches.

The Tasting Australia from 2-10 May is held at Victoria Square. There are many food stalls with international cuisine, cooking classes and entertainment here. A perfect place for a chill out.

It’s a clean place, its very spacious and it holds annual events every year like setting up a giant christmas tree and more. Food trucks can be spotted outside of Victoria Square sometimes, and it’s close to a tram stop, it’s not a bad place, I would go there if you had time, just for a place to relax. Good place.

Victoria Square (Tarntanyangga)

⭐☆☆☆☆

If you’ve ever wondered what colonial cosplay looks like, come to Victoria Square in Adelaide. Picture it: the very heart of Kaurna Country, renamed after Queen Victoria – a monarch who never set foot here, never tasted a pasty, and could not have found Adelaide on a map without divine intervention.

The lawns? Pleasant. The fountain? Serviceable. The atmosphere? Utterly dripping with imperial nostalgia. One half expects a man in a red coat to leap from the shrubbery and declare, ‘By order of the Crown, this bench is ours!’ Meanwhile, Kaurna heritage, which actually belongs here, is relegated to a polite footnote.

Do yourself a favour: admire the architecture, snap a photo, then roll your eyes skyward at the absurdity of it all. Until the city shows some wit and restores the Kaurna name Tarntanyangga, this square remains less a landmark than a punchline.

One star – for the fountain alone. The other four? Carried off by the Empire.

The Victoria Square Christmas Tree Lighting event is a well-organized celebration, offering a clean, safe environment perfect for families. With plenty of food trucks, there are diverse options to enjoy, live music, carols, dance, and ample toilet facilities, which makes it convenient for everyone. The festive atmosphere and attention to detail make it a memorable start to the holiday season.

Such a great spot In Adelaide CBD area, we always take time to check and visit these area every time were in Adelaide. A very relaxing place to sit and watch the birds and duck in the fountain area. It also host an events during Christmas and throughout the year. Lastly a giant Christmas tree in the middle

One of the best events to attend in South Australia. An yearly event continuing for the past 100 years.
It has everything, musical shows and performance, dance shows, animal experience and shows, Ute and Bike stunts, magical light works, Gala Fair with 100s of rides for the young ones to have fun.
Loads of wine beer tasting options and tons of food options across all cuisines.
It’s a Gala event for the parents and the children to enjoy and make memories together

Clean grounds, amenities, very helpful and polite staff. Great artwork around the site. Close to see the city sites.
Although it’s expensive for a showground, it’s an excellent place to stay.

Awesome place. Enjoyed the adelaide show. Varieties of food stall, entertaining areas, games and all.

Wayville show grounds is a fantastic venue no matter what the event. The old days for the big day out, supercross, monster trucks, pool and spa show, royal show . Always kept clean, just a great place to attend events. So much room for activities.

Eid Festival loves it. Getting bigger every year. You can have some fun ride and food and also you can buy a lot of things for Muslims/Muslimah needs

Amazingly large area for the show. Clean, nice helpful staff members everywhere we went. The experience centre was super busy on saturday but my grandson had a wonderful time

Heard there is a theme park here so I went there today and there wasnt any rides just a Ferris wheel and a bunch of trucks. I am very sad now as now there is no theme park in Adelaide please make a new one. They also didn’t let me into the park which i found slightly annoying. Still had a great time walking around the edge and watch the trucks move, would love it if i had a Corona haha. Would recommend

I love this place. It’s an iconic structure. The atmosphere there is always relaxed. The staff is friendly. You get to see top-class theatre shows. The surroundings are amazing too, the torrens River, Adelaide Oval. I go there almost every month or sometimes twice a month. They have an ozasia festival too once a year. Where you get to see great artists, great shows. Festival Centre runs so many programs for artists.

What a lovely place to visit alongside the river Torrens and away from the hustle and bustle of traffic just a street away.
I very much enjoyed my first visit here to see the musical Sister Act in the Festival Theatre. Beautiful theatre and great atmosphere.

I liked the theatre, good lighting and comfy seats. Accessible location with parking space and bus stop nearby. I went for Beauty and the beast musical and it was amazing

I was there to see Russell Morris. Unfortunately there were no disability parking close by and I was told that the Festival Theatre has no designated parking spaces. They belong to the Casino and Convention Centre. The Theatre was extremely busy and I struggled to find somewhere to sit before the doors opened. Yes there were seats but obviously not enough. Overall going to the Festival Theatre is always a pleasure and I have always enjoyed the experience

It’s a nice place and they do a wide range of pretty decent artistic ventures. Hard to complain about given how few venues exist like this in Adelaide. If I have to make some criticisms, while it has an elegance about it, it’s a bit drab. Wouldn’t kill them to get some colour about. Bar’s expensive too but that’s par for the course at theatres. a definite positive recommendation.

Una bella esperienza considerando che è il più grande festival del mondo ( come superficie calpestabile che dura un mese) dopo quello di Edimburgo. Tanta gente, tanta voglia di divertirsi, tante postazioni dove bere e mangiare con pochi dollari …. Un tripudio dii socialità!!! Da provare almeno una sera

Love this theatre. It’s easily accessed either by bus, train or car. The train is so convenient because of its close proximity to the aforementioned.
There are major works happening adjacent to the theatre at the moment.

We visited the Fringe Festival on Saturday night – absolutely incredible! Great value, amazing atmosphere, and such a vibrant mix of talent and creativity. Easily the best festival I’ve ever been to. Highly recommend to anyone looking for unforgettable entertainment and energy.

Absolutely so much fun in the Garden of Early delights this year at Adelaide’s 2024 Fringe Festival! It was Amazing & so bright & colourful and even though I only walked around taking in the atmosphere, enjoying the Sights, Sounds, Food& Entertainment everything it has to offer, we All had a Great few hours there. We only went to one performance at the Comedy Box& the Show we saw Heath Franklin’s Chopper was Hilarious! There’s really something for Anybody & Everyone in this Garden Event. Shows, Performances, Eats, Bar’s, music, Rides, sideshow game’s and so much more! It’s a Family friendly environment with plenty of security & helpful guides along the way happy to give directions & answer questions. Love it!!

Beautiful and fun place. It offers many food, drink and bar options. Many games and rides for children and adults. The general entry was for $5 and cost for rides were between $15- $20. The food and drinks were comparable more expensive than usual. But good night out place .. very festive ❤️

Always a great place to go, you can do things that are exciting, or just relax and enjoy the atmosphere.
There’s such a variety of people that go there.
Unfortunately they have gone cash only at food and drink places, and then they charge a surcharge for using a card, that doesn’t really make sense. So basically all drink prices listed are not what you end up paying, that’s not right.

First time here

Attended “The best of the Edinburgh Fringe.” Dissapointingly, the first act was terrible, telling one line dad jokes. The second act was great, and so was the host.

I’m looking forward to seeing other acts.

The area has something for everyone, all in the heart of the city. Seeing a show, then you’re in quickly. General admin is a long wait in a queue half the length of the Rundle Rd fence.

Go and have some fun

Great family event. Free to enter. Love all the lights. Decorations and quirkiness of it all. Lots of different types of food and both food and drinks are a good price.
Even though it was a bit confusing lol. I loved the 4 bin system. Shows they are making an effort to be sustainable
Good rides and side shows. We didn’t go to a show. We just enjoyed walking around the gardens.
Lots of seating and comfortable seats

Black Blues Brothers were fantastic. Fleetwood Mac OK though to loud & packed in like sardines very hot & uncomfortable tent my 75 year old Brother nearly fainted from the stifling heat.

Selon ce qui nous a été expliqué, le bâtiment situé dans cette cour est la caserne à partir de laquelle les premiers soldats australiens sont partis pour la guerre en 1914. Le pays est manifestement marqué par les pertes subies dans ce conflit. Le canon exposé aurait été pris aux Russes pendant la guerre de Crimée déclenchée en 1853

It is pretty good. All the set ups and design are beautiful. I went there with my design classmates. And just a reminder, All the photos been taken inside are not allowed to be post on social media. (but google map is not social media )

We just missed the parade on the King’s Birthday weekend. Managed to still chat to some of the servicemen and look at the canons up close.

Nice place, girls had a blast at the winter village.

Quirky winter fun, ice skating, Igloo experience’s. Food, wine with family fun.

The parade ground is a great and handy place to park, but access is restricted to the those on some sort of business with the organisations within.
Those organisations are the ones to give you access.
Surrounds have plenty of memorials dedicated to our past and present defence force personnel.

Torrens Parade Ground to North Terrace walk, do yourself a favour and keep moving.

Adelaide Street Circuit is epic! Proper adrenaline rush with top-notch tracks. Staff are legends and the facilities are slick. Best place to get your heart racing. Absolute ripper of a spot!

В этом месте проходят различные мероприятия! Adelaide 500 это гоночные машины различных категорий, носятся на огромной скорости! В 2023 году на гранд стенде была установлена крыша. Это сооружение считается самым длинным в мире как единая конструкция канапи, которую привезли из Великобритании.

Schön das diese Rennstrecke noch existiert.
Hier fand von 1985 – 1995 die Formel 1 Rennen statt.
Ich kann mich noch gut erinnern als ich das letzte Rennen um die weltmeisterschaft 1986 live im Fernsehen angeschaut habe am frühen Morgen um 4:30 am deutsche Zeit. Da hatte Nigel Mansell 20 runden vor Schluss einen Reifenplatzer gehabt und schied damit aus.
Weltmeister wurde Alain Prost.

The hot weather is an occasional downer but otherwise an excellent well run event

Thank you for everything

Hot lap with Cameron Hill was sensational!!!

Great place. Both for actual racing event like Vailo Adelaide 500, and also for car shows like the Adelaide Motorsport Festival. Always love coming here and I never leave dissatisfied.

Love this whole area. It’s right in the city and next to the railway station but once you’re on the river side it feels miles away from the hustle and bustle.
We saw Sister Act in the theatre which was absolutely amazing and heaps of fun. Beforehand we enjoyed some lunch and afterwards a drink at a venue overlooking the Torrens River right near the bridge.

Festival Plaza is such a beautiful spot in the heart of Adelaide. The architecture is stunning—modern, clean, and thoughtfully designed. It feels like a space that really celebrates both the city and the people in it. There’s a sense of openness and calm that makes it perfect for a peaceful stroll or just sitting down and taking it all in.

Everything is well maintained, super clean, and accessible. Whether you’re passing through on your way to the riverbank or heading to a show at the Festival Centre, it’s a place that invites you to slow down and enjoy the city from a different angle. A lovely blend of culture, design, and public space

Some lovely man-made structures give you the opportunity for some nice photos.

The festival plaza is looking pretty good and feels a lot more inclusive for families and patrons to the theatre. There is now grass and seats where those cement coloured blocks used to reside and a water fountain which blows mist, and then leaves puddles of water, which is fine during the summer months, not so sure about how this will pan out over the chilly winter weather. There are colourful panels boarded around which offer a brightness to still, I think a lot of wasted space.

Nice experience to watch the FIFA Women’s World Cup at the Festival Plaza. The set up was amazing and the fun activities made it even more worth it. I was amazed by the number of food stalls around and the diverse cuisines brought together at the same spot. Definitely worth checking out during major events!

Festival Plaza has been a favourite for many years.

Sadly, the removal of the long-standing sculpture from the plaza has been replaced by buildings that encroach on this space.

On this occasion, I visited to watch the firework portion of the Silence performance.

We used the pedestrian bridge, as it allowed us to see them in their full glory.

Highly recommended

Amazing experience with different atmospheres. Beautiful scenery.

Absolutely incredible! Such a massive variety of shows, food stalls, entertainment, venues, rides and sideshows! Prices for the shows vary depending on who the performer/s are, food can be a little expensive. Quite shocked to see 6 small cinnamon doughnuts were $16 and a tiny box of popcorn was $10.
$50 for unlimited rides was a sweet deal.
Saw the Fountain Lakes on Lockdown Parody which was hilarious! Then a comedy show to end the night seeing Simon Taylor. darkfields seancé, flight and invisible between for a bit of fun too!

The Fleetwood Mac Story, 3 of the best singers I have had to listen to live in a long time accompanied by a slick and tight band who’s music was authentic. Best cover band group I’ve experienced. Top show

Going to this show was my best choice on Friday night. I definitely hope to see this show again at another venue.

It was a pleasure to be in Adelaide the time when the Fringe took place.
A great festival with so many cool events and so much to do & to see.

Amazing experiences, variety of events to attend with family and friends. We had really good time this year (2024), we visited music concert, circus and the garden of unearthly delight ❤️. It has something to offer for everyone. The rundal street turned to a party place where various artists performed on the street and restaurants offered food In outdoor sitting.

The Adelaide Fringe stands as Australia’s largest arts festival, enlivening Adelaide and its surrounding regions for 31 days and nights each summer. This dynamic event showcases a diverse array of performances including cabaret, theatre, comedy, circus acts, music, visual arts, workshops, and more. With over 6,000 independent artists participating in 300 venues across South Australia, the Fringe hosts upwards of 1,200 shows, catering to a broad spectrum of tastes and interests. From free outdoor spectacles to cutting-edge VR experiences, inclusive children’s theatre, and even intimate one-person performances set in office cubicles, the Fringe offers an unparalleled cultural extravaganza.

Estive dois dias no festival e ambos foram maravilhosos.
No entanto, no domingo foi cheio demais e praticamente não conseguimos aproveitar as comidas devido a enorme quantidade de pessoas!
Recomendo a diversão foi incrível