While summer is on its way out (sad react), festival season and ‘mad March’ happenings are on their way in. There’s plenty of exciting things to do in Adelaide this February so get out there and make the most of the sunshine while it lasts. From music festivals to the beginning of Fringe, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this February in Adelaide.
1. Get inspired at the Adelaide Fringe
From Thursday 17 February through to Sunday 19 March the Adelaide Fringe festival is making its grand and annual return to Adelaide – aka the most wonderful time of the year in South Australia. The Adelaide Fringe is the biggest arts festival in the southern hemisphere and hosts over 6000 independent artists in over 300 venues for shows that include cabaret, theatre, comedy, circus, music, visual arts, workshops, and heaps more.
The streets of Adelaide also turn into magical socialising spaces with plenty of dancing in the streets, free entertainment and circus-y displays which exudes a truly mesmerising energy to all those head out. With beginnings in 1960, the Adelaide Fringe has grown exponentially with 632,667 tickets having sold during the 2021 Fringe season, even in a state of Covid.
2. Prepare for the waterworks at a screening of Titanic in 3D
It’s been 25 years since the release of the award-winning film, Titanic. To mark the occasion, a remastered version will be shown in cinemas across Australia from Thursday 9 February. The re-release is in 3D 4K HDR – a vast improvement on the once cutting-edge visuals of the original. You can catch screenings at Event and Wallis cinemas, including the outdoor Moonlight Cinema in Botanic Park! Find out more info about Titanic in 3D here.
3. Celebrate funk, soul, and food at New Orleans In The Vines
On Saturday 4 February from 1pm until 7pm, Richard Hamilton Wines in the picturesque wine region of McLaren Vale will be host to the swingin’ New Orleans In The Vines festival. Following the success of their previous event, the day will see live bands taking to the stage with juicy tunes that are reminiscent of New Orleans vibes, and food to match the energy. New Orleans Funk Express will produce sounds of funk and soul of the Crescent City, while The Atlantic Street Band will play songs to delight Louis Armstrong fans.
4. Catch some live music at Swirl Fest
Come Saturday 4 February from 5pm onwards, the Adelaide UniBar will come alive with the sounds of local and interstate musicians at the annual Swirl Fest. For its fifth soiree, Swirl Fest will be returning with a two-stage layout, Expect big sounds from Shady Nasty, The Empty Threats, Sour Sob, Ruby Gill, Twine, Keeskea, Big Town, Junk Harmony, Nuclear Family, St Jacques, The War Room, OK Hotel, and Mystery Band. Twirl over – more info and tickets here.
5. Mosey around Gilles At The Grounds
On Sunday 5 February from a crisp 9am until 3pm, Gilles At The Grounds is returning for its 2023 debut in 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.
6. Get your swamp on at this Shrek-themed rave
After an ogre-sized success, the Shrek Rave is making a return for a second soiree at the Adelaide UniBar on Saturday 11 February – so get practicing for the I’m A Believer singalong! There’ll be layers of all the fun stuff; from Shrek DJs spinning party bangers and hits from the movie to Shrek visuals, and giveaways. Even the name of the Shrek-themed bevvies are on point: Shrek Juice, Donkey Drank, and Farquaad Fizz. It doesn’t get more Shreksy than that – read all about it and secure your tickets here.
7. Indulge – Adelaide’s sensational, fine dining vegan restaurant is finally reopening
Allegra Dining Room – an intimate restaurant that existed 16 long months ago solely offering plant-based fine dining with a focus on seasonality and regionality is set to welcome diners once again. From 29 January, Allegra Dining Room will operate similar to their previous years, serving a set, revolving ten-or-so courses menu which saw modifications on a weekly basis, and sometimes daily depending on produce availability – utilising what’s good and what’s fresh only. Read all about Allegra Dining Room here.
8. Get the whole cellar door experience in the West End with Urban Wine Walk
On Saturday 18 February Adelaide’s West End will be host to Urban Wine Walk, a self-guided wine trail that will see streets and laneways come alive. A line-up of the best pubs and bars in the West End will turn into a cellar door festival of sorts – with each venue offering tastings of delicious wines from eight South Australian winemakers. It’s basically a glorified pub crawl, but fancier and with wine. Read all about Urban Wine Walk and secure your tickets here.
9. Reminisce at the Vengaboys 25th anniversary tour
Come Saturday 18 February, the Hindley Street Music Hall will be throwing it back with the legendary 90s and 2000s euro-dance-pop band, Vengaboys for their 25th anniversary tour. Comprised of members Cowboy Donny, Captain Kim, PartyGirl D’Nice and SailorBoy Robin—they just don’t name ’em like they used to—you’re going to need to get ready, to get, get, get down to the Venga-Vengabeat. Find your tickets and read all about the anniversary tour here.
10. Discover the best pubs in the Adelaide Hills for a dang tasty vegan meal
Picture this – you’ve headed out on a lovely countryside adventure, but your stomach starts rumbling and you find yourself in the middle of the Adelaide Hills with no clue where to go for a vegan feast. Well fear not – we’ve put together a list of eleven pubs, hotels and inns that provide a fare of terrific vegan options. Read all about the spots here.
11. Get into the groove with the return of Laneway Festival
It’s that time of the year – music festivals in Adelaide are rampant, and that means the trusty St Jerome’s Laneway Festival is returning on Friday 10 February for the first time since 2020. Laneway Festival is never not a good time, and it’s descending upon Bonython Park on the outskirts of the CBD with a downright decent line-up of artists across multiple genres including: Haim, Joji, Phoebe Bridgers, Turnstile, and Fred Again. Check out the full line-up and nab tickets here.
12. Be stunned at this multi-sensory drone show
After the epic succuss of award-winning Sky Song at the 2022 Adelaide Finge, Electric Skies will be filling some huge shoes with a similar style of show. 500, choreographed drones will be launched over 100 metres into the night sky all while featuring First Nations language and traditional songs. The multi-sensory Electric Skies show will illuminate over Pakapakanthi/Victoria Park in the eastern parklands of Adelaide city across the Friday 24 and Saturday 25 February for two extraordinary evenings. Find out all the details and secure your tickets here.
13. Sip on sours at Acid Trip Sour Beer Fest
Forget the bottle-o on Saturday 4 February, The Stag Public House and NOLA in Adelaide’s East End are joining forces for a ripper day of all things sour beer. Dubbed Acid Trip Sour Beer Fest, the two venues are bringing together some huge names in the world of brewing in Australia. There’ll be a 70s energy in the air with live tunes and DJs spread across NOLA’s laneway and The Stag’s balcony too, plus a UV splatter room to keep you entertained. Find out more and nab tickets here.
14. Spot the bright green comet that hasn’t visited us since the Ice Age
The last time our home planet was visited by Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF), it was a solid 50,000 years ago. Even though the comet made its closest approach to the Sun on January 12, there are still a couple of weeks before it makes its closest pass of Earth, where it will be visible in the southern hemisphere. On February 2, the comet will fly by at an impressive 42 million kilometres from home and we’ll be able to see it in Australia. Find out all the details about Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) in Adelaide here.
15. Catch an al fresco film at the Moonlight Cinema
Adelaide’s Moonlight Cinema has returned from now until Sunday 19 February. You’ll find it on the Botanic Park lawns on Plane Tree Drive, just on the outskirts of the city. Pack up a picnic rug or a bean bag and sprawl across the lawn for a perfect night at the movies. Read all about Moonlight Cinema here.
16. Kick back at the West Torrens’ Summer Festival
It’s the community event with the most and after a two-year hiatus, the West Torrens’ Summer Festival is making a comeback with six free events held over the first six weekends of 2023. From an open-air outdoor cinema to foodie nights, Summer Festival has a whole heap of family-friendly events.
The remaining Summer Festival weekend happenings include:
- Saturday 4 February – Biggers (Touch-a-Truck), 9.30am – 1.30pm, Kings Reserve and Thebarton Community Centre, Torrensville
- Saturday 12 February – Fork on The Road presents The King’s Fork, 5pm – 10pm, Kings Reserve and Thebarton Community Centre, Torrensville
Pack a picnic or get stuck into some food truck nosh, and enjoy the summery sunshine all while enjoying the tunes of local musicians at West Torrens’ Summer Festival.
17. Treat yourself to city views at Penfolds’ new summer terrace in Magill
A mere 15-minute drive from the city to the foothills locale, Penfolds offer the whole kit and kaboodle, and to reel in the warmer months they’re relaunching their Summer Series which will see their terrace back in action along with a range of new experiences, from Wednesday 4 January until Sunday 26 February.
The highlight of this season’s series is the new summer terrace which is situated just nicely to take in the city and vineyard views, all whilst enjoying the warm breeze expelled over the luscious foothills. Atop the terrace you can indulge in Wine On The Terrace, or book in for the Ultimate Twilight Experience. Read all about the new terrace and experience here.
18. Soak up some summery vibes at the Moseley Beach Club
From Saturday 3 December, Glenelg Beach will see a myriad of beach umbrellas poppin’ open, bangin’ live tunes will start flowin’, and summery food and drinks will be within arm’s reach. The Moseley Beach Club taking inspiration from the Greek islands this season. The food and drink offerings will exude a Mediterranean flare. Read all about it here.
19. Go on a taco tour of Adelaide to taste the best of the best
It’d be rude not to get yourself a cheeky taco to celebrate the scrumptious, hand-held, Mexican creation, and luckily Adelaide has plenty of restaurants to alleviate the tummy rumblies that only tacos can satisfy. We’ve curated a list of the top seven eateries in and around Adelaide for the best taco experience. Check out our list of dang tasty tacos here.
20. Catch a movie at the newly reopened Piccadilly Cinema
For the last six odd months, the historic Piccadilly Cinema has been undergoing construction and the space is one to be marveled at, even more-so, after an exciting restoration and rejuvenation. If you thought the Piccadilly was already gorgeous as is, the renovations will have you stepping back in time, with touches paying homage to the original cinema of the 1940s.
Along with a brilliant non-candy bar where libations will be flowing and South Australian wines will be a-pouring. This new area will allow guests to experience a cinema in a way that isn’t just about sitting in the darkness. Take a look and read all about the refurbishment here.