As the cooler weather and rains start to set in (Marge) and the Mad March festivities come to a close, the streets of Adelaide begin to quiet down. But nonetheless, there’s plenty of different things to do in Adelaide this April so get out there and make the most of the sunshine while it lasts. From food festivals and street parties to sporting events, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this April in Adelaide.
1. Get twisted at the first ever Pretzel Festival in Hahndorf
Rise to the wondoughful occasion in respect for what is said to be one of the oldest surviving snacks in the world – the pretzel. Traders throughout Hahndorf have been tasked to think outside the pretzel box, and honour the mighty gluten in a number of twisted ways. Whether you like them salty or sweet, there’s going to be something at the Hahndorf Pretzel Festival that catches your wandering eye. Find out more about the Pretzel Festival here.
2. Tuck in at Lot 100’s Tasting Australia pizza party
Lot 100 will host five brilliant chefs from across the nation who will be creating scrumptious, unlimited pizzas for you to enjoy along with fantastic local tipple and a big dash of live tunes. Guzzle and gulp your way through the quintet’s delights whilst sat on a picnic rug accompanied by luscious green views, with boozy supplied by Lot 100’s brewery and distillery. Find out more about Lot 100’s Ultimate Pizza Party here.
3. Dr. Michael Mosley
Chances are you’ve been flicking through the TV stations in the early hours of the evening on any odd day of the week and come across a British dude spittin’ wild facts about the human body – that’ll be Dr. Michael Mosley and he’s touring Australia in 2023. The popular doctor, author, and television host is heading to Adelaide in April of 2023 for a live show where he will discuss a number of topics that will reveal the latest, interesting knowledge around weight loss, sleep, mental health. Find out more around Dr. Michael Mosley’s Adelaide tour here.
4. Gilles At The Grounds
On Sunday 2 and 30 April from a crisp 9am until 3pm, Gilles At The Grounds is returning to the historic Brick Dairy at the Wayville Showgrounds. There’s going to be over 100 market stalls for all your browsing needs from vintage clothes to retro homewares and eco products, delicious foods like plant-based lamb yiros and delicate cupcakes, and live music by local musicians. It’s free entry for both you and your dog too.
5. The Smashing Pumpkins ‘The World Is A Vampire’ Tour
The Smashing Pumpkins are en route to Australia are they’re bringing their The World Is A Vampire tour to Adelaide as part of their national tour. The tour is a bit like a festival really – starring some huge names in the musical world, plus each show will feature professional wrestling matches between Billy Corgan’s National Wrestling Alliance and the Wrestling Alliance of Australia. Find out more about The Smashing Pumpkins Adelaide performance here.
6. Brighton Street Party
The popular Jetty Road precinct In Brighton will be certifiably bopping with the return of the Brighton Street Party in April. The day is set to see local hospitality and retail spill out onto the street along with live music, kids’ activities, roving circus performers, and entertainment aplenty under what will hopefully be the sunshine. Find out more about the Brighton Street Party here.
7. AFL Gather Round
The Festival of Footy AFL Gather Round is heading to South Australia from Thursday 13 to Sunday 16 April. The inaugural event sees every team, footy legends, and kickin’ entertainment descend upon Adelaide for the 2023 Premiership Season, round five – it’s going to be a ball.
Across the four-day period, all AFL teams will play at either the Adelaide Oval, Norwood Oval, or the Summit Sport and Recreation Park in Mount Barker. 100,000 tickets have already been sold for the AFL Gather Round in South Australia – anticipation levels around the state are flying high.
8. Barossa Vintage Festival
From Wednesday 19 to Sunday 23 April, the Barossa Vintage Festival will take place once again for its 75th anniversary, making the affair one of the longest-running large-scale regional events in Australia. The Barossa Vintage Festival will celebrate the food, wine, arts, exploration, heritage and community of the region across five days, and there’s plenty to immerse yourself in within the northern valley.
9. Lou Miranda Estate Wine Option Quiz Night
As part of the Barossa Vintage festival, the Wine Option Quiz Night at Lou Miranda Estate will be host to an exciting quiz that is set to test your vino knowledge. Perhaps you fancy yourself a wine-smith, or are just up for a challenge; well here you can test all that you think you know. On Tuesday 20 April, they’ll be asking questions like where the wines are from, what grape variety are used, how old they are, complimented by some tasty drops.
10. Come From Away
Based on the incredible real-life events in the wake of the September 11, Come From Away is a captivating musical about the unity and kindness in adversity displayed on the remote town of Gander in Newfoundland, Canada. Having enjoyed months of standing ovations in the eastern states and universal acclaim, the Broadway musical, Come From Away will finally be make its way to Adelaide from Tuesday 28 March and through April at the recently refurbished Her Majesty’s Theatre. Find out more about Come From Away in Adelaide here.
11. Relics: A New World Rises
From now until July 2023, the South Australian Museum is host to 11 large-scale LEGO models which creates a journey through an imagined future. Relics: A New World Rises exhibition is set in the year 2530, long after the world has been abandoned by humans, and takes you to a world where LEGO minifigures have risen from the debris to build intricate civilisations in discarded and forgotten objects once inhabited or used by humans. Find out more about Relics: A New World Rises here.
12. Tasting Australia
Back again for yet another fabulous year, Tasting Australia is putting on their annual show from Friday 28 April until Sunay 7 May for a celebration of eating and drinking with a focus on South Australia and its produce, producers and people.
Enjoy incredible lunches, boutique beverages by the firepit in Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga, and spreads created by world-class chefs in a variety of spectacular venues in and around Adelaide; you can even board a Tasting Australia fight to take you out yonder for more than just a taste bud adventure. Entertainment and live music are on the cards once again for Tasting Australia’s autumn foodie festival.
13. LIV Golf
Yet another major sporting event is heading our way, with the LIV Golf hitting the Grange Golf Club from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 April. 12 world-class teams are set to get on the green with golfing icons like Cam Smith, Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson joining in on the competition. As well as the sticks and balls, there’ll be a fan village with exclusive access clubs like Birdie Shack, Gallery Club, and Club 54, live music, and you can even tee up with one of the pros to learn the tricks of the trade.
14. Salsa Sundays at Plant 4 Bowden
On Sunday 2 April the warehouse-style venue, Plant 4 Bowden will clear the ground floor of its tables and chairs and make way for a big old dance floor. Salsa Sundays are designed to entertain people from all walks of life and of all ages – whether you’re an experienced dancer or a beginner who is willing to learn the ropes and feel the contagious energy of salsa, bachata and kizomba. Find out more about Salsa Sundays here.
15. McLaren Vale Vintage & Classic
The McLaren Vale Vintage & Classic motor event is returning after a one-year hiatus on Sunday 23 April from 11am until 4pm. Enjoy a family day celebration of vintage and classic motoring with a grand motorcade, vintage fashion, local wines, gourmet food and music, all while celebrating all that the region has to offer. Now in its 17th year, the event will see more than 500 vintage and classic motor vehicles parade along the streets of McLaren Vale against a breathtaking backdrop of wineries and vineyards.
16. Adelaide’s Famous Poffertjes Parlour Pop-Up
Adelaide’s Famous Poffertjes Parlour is ready to roll into the Adelaide Central Market with their delicious dough rounds across a couple of weeks in the month of April. The Poffertjes Parlour has made a name for itself around the state for a solid 52 years, popping up at vibrant spots like the Adelaide Fringe and The Royal Show, and now the central location in the Adelaide city centre. Find out more about the pop-up here.
17. ALDI Hot Cross Bun Bags
Get your hands on a limited-edition Hot Cross Bun Bag from the discount supermarket, ALDI this Easter season. The bag is designed to keep your buns snug, with two insulated compartments for your toasted goods. Find out how you can get your hands on one of the handy bags here.
18. Pastel Wine Bar
If you haven’t already paid a visit, Pastel Wine Bar is North Adelaide’s latest addition to the busting O’Connell Street hive. The new day-to-late joint offers a super cool fit-out along with a plethora of delightful drops and fabulous fare. The restaurant-cross-bar boasts a retro-esque dining room completed with impressionistic artwork, and a sunny green courtyard with snazzy decor; plus a few other intimate nooks where a glass of something in hand is more than welcomed. Find out more about Pastel Wine Bar here.
19. Nexus Arts Interplay Live
Nexus Arts centre is set to host their Interplay Live concert series during April, where two shows will take over the CBD venue. On Saturday 1 April, The Red Vacuum will premiere; a structured musical improvisation telling the story of an Iranian family in the 80s as they experience war with Iraq. And on Saturday 15 April, The Three Seas who are an acclaimed cross-cultural ensemble will fuse West Bengal and Himalayan folk song with contemporary sounds from Sydney and Kolkata – described as a ‘Bermuda Triangle of electro-dub, funk and Hindustani music’.
20. Bloom Block Party
On Sunday 16 April from 10am until 4pm, Bloom’s riverside cafe in Thebarton will bring together the best of the block, featuring over 20 local stalls from producers, artisans, food trucks, laneway bars, and live music for their Bloom Block Party. Expect to indulge in treats from Mozza Pizzeria, Lator Gator, Bear & Fish, Fire x Soi 38, alongside Bloom’s fare. You’ll also be able to sip on local drops including cocktails from Australian Distilling Co and coffee from De Ja Brew, and browse market stalls with the likes of Fencesitter Designs, El Blat Ceramics, Tea Towel Co, and Nice Pickles – to name a few in attendance at the free entry Block Party.
21. Wellness Wander
From Friday 31 March through to Sunday 2 April, more than 60 bespoke wellness experiences and events will join the 2023 Wellness Wander weekend in the Adelaide Hills. This year’s Wellness Wander’s program is diverse with happenings from more well-known wellness experiences like walking, wildlife, yoga, pilates, spas, and mindfulness through to newer experiences like reiki, forest bathing, and sound healing. In its second year, Wellness Wander will champion even more local wellness practitioners and operators who are abundant in the region too.
22. Adelaide International Kite Festival
On Saturday 8 April from 11am until 5pm, head to Semaphore Beach Foreshore for the Adelaide International Kite Festival. Here you can witness the sky fill with vibrant colours thanks to kites of all shapes and sizes, perhaps with an Easter flare given the long weekend. The festival is run by the Adelaide Kite Flyers Association in conjunction with K Marie Events, and was established way bacm in 1997 – needless to say they know what they’re doing when it comes to kites.