Festival Season kicks off with hundreds of free shows and a taste of SA on the menu

South Australia’s iconic festival season has begun this week with hundreds of free events and attractions on offer including a special bar dedicated to local South Australian producers.

This year there is an incredible program across Adelaide Fringe, Adelaide Festival and Writer’s Week with thousands of shows across comedy, dance, theatre, cabaret, circus and so much more.

With cost of living front of mind for families, the fun of the festival season is accessible to everyone with hundreds of free shows and activities to be enjoyed.

Adelaide Fringe began this weekend and there are more than 100 free Fringe shows across South Australia including art exhibitions, live music performances, a circus show, cabaret and theatre performances.

Highlights include Fringe Vibes on Hutt Street, Gather, Dance & Explore at Whitmore and Salisbury Fringe Carnival.

In addition, the Adelaide Festival has 15 free events spanning installations, exhibitions, forums and music events, including Create4Adelaide, Floods of Fire, Time to Talk and I’ll Be Your Mirror. The centre piece of this year’s festival, among these free events, is Little Amal.

The iconic 3.5-metre-tall puppet will be in Adelaide from Friday 15 March – Sunday 17 March for three days of free celebrations including a walk over the Adelaide Oval footbridge with fans before the Port Adelaide game on 17 March, thanks to an additional $2.3 million invested by the Malinauskas Labor Government in the state’s premier arts festival.

The main program for Adelaide Writers Week is also free and features hundreds of celebrated authors and speakers from around the world.

Among the many of attractions of this year’s festival season is ‘The Local Bar’ - an initiative of Brand SA showcasing seven wineries, eight spirit producers, four breweries and two soft drink companies at Gluttony.

By stepping into ‘The Local Bar’, visitors will discover an all-South Australian beverage selection from various regions across the state including the Riverland, Barossa, the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula.

There will be 21 local labels available at the bar, including Forage Wines, Lobo Spirits, Kickback Brewing and Halls Soft Drinks.

The exposure from The Local Bar not only boosts the local economy but also serves as an opportunity to showcase South Australian produce to thousands of interstate and overseas visitors.

Bringing back Brand SA was an important election commitment for the Malinauskas Government to shine a light on South Aussie producers, manufacturers and owners.

This marks the second year the revived Brand SA has partnered with Gluttony.

Attendees at Gluttony are encouraged to use the ‘Buy SA. For SA’ filter on the Gluttony website and app to find local performers and attend their shows.

Gluttony is a proud local business which employs approximately 400 South Australians and is expected to host 550,000 visitors throughout the month-long festival.

Gluttony is located at Rymill Park / Mulrawirrapurka in the city’s eastern parklands and is open Tuesday to Sunday each week during Adelaide Fringe.

To view shows by local South Australian performers, visit gluttony.net.au and use the ‘Buy SA. For SA’ filter or download the Gluttony app on your mobile device.

Quotes

Attributable to Andrea Michaels

It’s the best time of the year in South Australia with Adelaide Fringe and Adelaide Festival back for 2024.

We know cost of living is front of mind for families and the fun of the festival season is accessible to everyone with hundreds of free shows and activities to be enjoyed right around the state.

Little Amal is going to be an incredible highlight this year and there are three days of free celebrations to take part in.

I encourage everyone to get out there and have an amazing Mad March!

Attributable to Nick Champion

I am proud we can celebrate our state and shine the light on our local businesses who produce world class beer, wine and spirits.

‘The Local Bar’ is an opportunity for this Government to support locals and help showcase their produce to thousands of interstate and international visitors.

I encourage everyone visiting Gluttony during the Fringe to head down to the Local Bar and support a local by grabbing a drink or two.

Attributable to Ruth Mackenzie, Artistic Director of Adelaide Festival

This is the first festival that Chief Executive Kath Mainland and I have programmed and thanks to the State Government, we have the global star Little Amal making her Australian debut from 15 - 17 March, free for everybody.

We believe passionately that everybody should have the chance to be inspired by world class artists and writers as audiences but also as artists - come and see South Australian young people and communities at two other free events, Floods of Fire and Create4Adelaide.

We hope you may even be inspired to join in next year as artists yourselves!

Attributable to Daniel Michael, Gluttony Director

Gluttony is a proud South Australian business, and The Local Bar is something we initiated.

Partnering with Brand SA to present The Local Bar is a fantastic way to maximise the benefits for South Australian producers.

Attributable to Justin Westhoff, Founder and Director of Forage Supply Co.

We've had a longstanding collaboration with the Gluttony team and are so excited to present our brand and wines at The Local Bar during this year's Fringe.

As a small South Australian wine brand, it's an amazing chance to introduce our label to both locals and international tourists looking for a good time.