Unsure how you’re travelling, but we’re well and truly feeling the cold – winter is upon us! And while the frostier months are usually for hibernating, with a healthy dose of Netflix and chillin’, there’s plenty of different things to do in Adelaide this June. From spectacular festivals of light and markets to music festivals and exhibitions, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this June in Adelaide.
1. Illuminate Adelaide
Since its inception in 2021, Illuminate Adelaide has been wowing audiences with stunning light installations in spectacular collisions of technology, music and art, and this year a range of new experiences are set to dazzle gazers. The innovative 2023 program boasts immersive affairs, world premieres, and shows exclusive to Adelaide in a variety of ticketed and free events across the city from Wednesday 28 June. Check out Illuminate Adelaide’s festival highlights here!
2. The Dark Side Of The Moon Tour by Australian Rock Collective
Australian Rock Collective (ARC) will be delivering a tribute tour to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) – arguably the most successful concept album of all time. ARC isn’t just any ordinary band either, made up of four Aussie rock legends; Darren Middleton of Powderfinger, Mark Wilson of Jet, Davey Lane of You Am I, and Kram of Spiderbait. Find out more about ACR’s The Dark Side Of The Moon tour here.
3. Disney On Ice
Explore a whole new world of magic and enchantment when Disney On Ice returns to Adelaide. Watch your favourite characters come to life, while performing high-flying acrobatics, surprising stunts and of course, world-class ice skating. The event this year will be celebrated as Disney on Ice presents 100 Years of Wonder, so you can expect the show to feel truly special. Get the deets about the Adelaide performance here.
4. Cabaret Fringe Festival
For the past 20 years, the Cabaret Fringe Festival has made the winter months a little steamier, and from Friday 26 May through to Sunday 4 June, over 30 shows will be held across both city and metropolitan venues. This year, a brand new piano bar and central hub will give you a glance behind the cheeky happenings of the cabaret scene. Read more and check out the Cabaret Fringe Festival highlights here.
5. Adelaide Cabaret Festival
Not to be confused with the local and independent Cabaret Fringe Festival, the Adelaide Cabaret Festival is the biggest cabaret festival in the world! Running between Friday 9 and Saturday 24 June, the festival will see some huge name and acts to the stages of the Adelaide Festival Centre with highlights including: Broadway Barbara, Paris Combo, Kate Ceberano’s My Life Is A Symphony, An Evening Without Kate Bush, RocKwiz Live, and Lost In A Dream – the life and songs of Chet Baker with Roscoe James Irwin.
6. Simpsons Rave
Touring the country come winter, this Simpsons Rave shindig promises a slew of nostalgic fun, from Simpsons DJs spinning party bangers and tunes from the show (cough cough, ‘In The Garden Of Eden’ on repeat?) to Simpsons visuals, giveaways, and a prize for the best Simpsons costume. The themed rave is heading Adelaide’s Rhino Room on Saturday 3 June – find out more here.
7. Gilles At The Grounds
On Sunday 18 June 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.
8. 170 Years Of The Cranka
On Sunday 11 June from 2pm until 2am, head down to Adelaide’s best grunge corner-pub, Crown And Anchor to celebrate an outstanding 170 years in the biz. With free entry along with plenty of beers on tap, the band room will be up and running with local musicians doing their thing including: Glowing, Oil!, Mums Favourite, Larsen, Stormy-Lou, Cove Street, Kurrulta Park, Cagefly, Baby Candy, and The War Room. Pull up a seat on the street and enjoy the youthful vibes.
9. Hort Connections
From Monday 5 to Sunday 7 June, the Adelaide Convention Centre will transform into Australia and New Zealand’s largest horticulture conference and trade show, Hort Connections. Here you can find fresh produce, learn about supply chains amongst other workshops and sessions, and discover goods from over 200 exhibitors, all whilst meeting them too.
10. Stirling Market
On Sunday 25 June from 10am until 4pm, head into the Adelaide Hills for the monthly Stirling Market. Mosey around the local artisan’s stalls where you can find everything from dried fruit, fashion, plants, ceramics, olive oil, jewellery, and crafts, while listening to live music and breathing in that fresh hill’s air. There’ll be heaps of tasty food to enjoy too, not to mention the remnants of the beautiful autumn colours.
11. Chalk Hill Wine And Dessert Tasting Cruise
On Sunday 4 and Friday 16 June, hop aboard the River Torrens’ Popeye for the Chalk Hill Wine & Dessert Tasting Cruise. See the city lights or the arvo sunbeams from a different perspective all while sipping on wines from one of Australia’s most revered wine regions, and learning a little during a guided seminar about the best way to enjoy the organic wines.
12. Luca Brasi at Jive
On Friday 2 June from 7pm, head down to Adelaide’s intimate live music venue, Jive for Luca Brasi’s first national headline tour since the release of their single, Party Scene. The Tasmanian rock band are set to perform alongside special guests Eaglemont and OK Hotel. If you’re unfamiliar with Luca Brasi, definitely have a listen to Clothes I Slept In and Let It Slip if you like all things rock.
13. Brighton Sunday Market
On Sunday 11 and Sunday 25 June, get on over to Brighton Secondary School for the Brighton Sunday Market. This particular market is said to be one of South Australia’s biggest open-air markets where you can find fresh produce, food stalls, snack bars, local arts and crafts, antiques, collectables, and secondhand gems in all forms of the word. All funds raised by the non-for-profit market go towards supporting students during their musical studies.
14. Sea Shepherd’s Day For The Ocean
On Sunday 4 June from 9am until 12pm, head on over to Henley Square for Sea Shepherd’s Day For The Ocean where you can get involved with cleaning up Adelaide’s lovely Henley Beach within a community of like-minded people, all while learning about caring for the environment.
15. Ukulele Death Squad at Arthur Art Bar
On Saturday 3 June between 8pm and 11pm, roll on up to the ever-so funky Arthur Art Bar in Adelaide for Ukulele Death Squad’s last hurrah gig before they head off on a two-month tour of Europe. The high-energy band smash out sounds which sound a little like Flamenco, Mexicana, RnB, and folk music, with their own twist. The night is said to be full of ‘thumping rhythms, new and exciting tunes, outrageous vocals, brass up the wazoo, and of course. those electrifying Uke riffs that you won’t forget.’
16. Gathered Design Market
On Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 June between 10am and 4pm at the Torrens Parade Ground in the city, the monthly Gathered Market is popping up. The market destination will boast a carefully selected range of local makers and designers. Think: clothing, homewares, art, jewellery, bags, candles, ceramics, skincare, cosmetics, to name a few. Brunch and lunch will be up for grabs too with gozleme, stuffed arepas, and donuts on the cards, as well as wine, gin and juices.
17. Non-Alcoholic Street Pop-Up at ANA Drinks
On Saturday 3 and Saturday 17 June from 6pm until 10pm, head on over to ANA Drinks on Hutt Street for Adelaide’s first Non-Alcoholic Street Pop-Up. Extending on the street, ANA Drinks will be shaking up delightful beverages with the likes of warm mulled cider (minus the alcohol), as well as lil’ snacky bites too. There’ll be a firepit to keep you toasty, and live music to keep you entertained.
18. Festival Of Darkness
19. Exhibition of Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution
Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera were two artists that dominated the scene of post-revolution Mexico from the 1920s to the 1950s with love, passion, and politics at the forefront heart of their public lives. The pair grew to become two of the most influential artists of the twentieth century, and they are featuring at the Art Gallery of South Australia in Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution from Friday 23 June until Sunday 17 September.
The exhibition will feature over 150 works including paintings, works on paper, photographs and period clothing, this major exhibition from the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection. It also includes works by Mexican contemporaries, Manuel and Lola Álvarez Bravo, Miguel Covarrubias, María Izquierdo, Carlos Mérida, David Alfaro Siqueiros and others.
20. Skate Daze
On Saturday 17 June from 12pm until 4pm, On The Flip Side will once again bring the people of Adelaide Skate Daze, a fun-filled day of music, art, workshops and of course, skating. Oakland’s Recreational Plaza will be brought to life by the community affair, although the line-up of activities and bands are yet to be announced. Keep an eye out for updates here!
21. Adelaide Showgrounds Farmers’ Market
The super pleasant Adelaide Showground Farmers’ Market is held every Sunday from 8:30am until 12pm. Here, you can find the best seasonal produce and market goodies from local stallholders. It’s a foodies’ heaven and a mighty fine way to start the day, rain of shine!
22. 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.
23. Salsa Sundays
On Sunday 4 June, 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.
24. Seeing The Invisible
Open every day from now until Saturday 30 September 2023, Seeing The Invisible brings a free augmented reality (AR) contemporary art exhibition to the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. Once you’ve downloaded the Seeing The Invisible app, roam around the gardens, scan the QR codes and immerse yourself in the interactive exhibition with works addressing themes around nature, the environment and sustainability. Find out more information here.
25. Ghost Mushroom Lane
During the cooler months of the year, usually May and June, Ghost Mushroom Lane in Mount Gambier becomes illuminated with hundreds of Omphalotus Nidiformis, its resident glowing mushroom. Find our more details about the experience here.
26. South Australian Road Trips
Mitsubishi Motors Australia’s recently carried out a mammoth study, Secret Road Trip Hotspots that analysed over 38,000 Trip Advisor attractions to reveal a final list of 141 nature-based spots in Australia. And they’ve revealed the best places to visit to avoid the crowds and inspire different road trip and destination planning. Find out which 10 South Australian road trip hotspots are on the list here.
27. Marvel at Paolo Sebastian gowns in Rundle Mall
The devil is in the detail, so they say, and detail is exactly what you will get when you come face-to-face with the ever-so intricate display, Retrospective by international couture house, Paolo Sebastian. Although the exhibition is small is size, you can get lost in the in the fabrics. Find out more information here.
28. An Evening of Education with Human.Kind – First Nations Voice To Parliament Referendum
On Friday 9 June between 6pm and 7:30pm, join Human.Kind Studios for an evening of education about the upcoming First Nations Voice To Parliament Referendum. The free community event will be hosted at the Adelaide City Studio and will demystify and unpack exactly what South Australians have to decide in the upcoming referendum, the history of The Uluru Statement From The Heart, and help people decipher reporting on the Voice.
The event will include a panel discussion with Reconciliation Australia Director and Torres Strait Island Traditional Owner Kenny Bedford and emerging Kaurna leader Jakirah Telfer with conversation between attendees to follow.
29. Gathered Market’s Rundle Mall Edition
On Sunday 9 June between 9am and 5pm underneath the Gawler Place Canopy in Rundle Mall, the monthly Gathered Market will be popping up. The brand-new market destination is the second of many in Rundle Mall, and is set to boast a carefully selected range of local makers and designers. Think: clothing, homewares, art, jewellery, bags, candles, ceramics, skincare, cosmetics, to name a few. Brunch and lunch will be up for grabs too with gozleme, stuffed arepas, and donuts on the cards, as well as wine, gin and juices.
30. Day Dance in McLaren Vale
On Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 June from 11am, get your grooving shoes on for Day Dance in McLaren Vale. Paxon Winery and Simon Hackett Winery will come alive with the festival or sorts which will see a line-up of live artists and DJs taking to the stages within the lush vineyards. Think of it as an open-air disco.
31. Malt & Juniper’s 5th Birthday
Peel Street crowd favourite bar, Malt & Juniper are turning five years old and are calling on you to help celebrate on Saturday 10 June from 4pm ’til late. Coincidently shared with World Gin Day, the bar will be run by a number of local distilleries, rotating hands by the hour. Expect Threefold, Red Hen, Ambleside, Never Never, Brighter Later, and Laneway Beverage Co on the tools. DJs will be on the grounds to keep the spirits hight.