The silly season is well and truly here! From a European-style Christmas market in the Adelaide Hills to polo, music festivals, a wildlife photography exhibition and more, we round up some of the best things to do in South Australia during the last 31 days of 2023. Open your calendar and get planning – it’s bound to be a busy month!
Adelaide Carols by Candlelight
9 December
Celebrate the magic of Christmas with a day of free entertainment and singalongs in Adelaide’s Elder Park. This year’s event will be hosted by 7NEWS presenters Rosanna Mangiarelli, Will Goodings and Amelia Mulcahy, and features a spectacular lineup of artists including six-time Golden Guitar winner Amber Lawrence, South Australia’s very own Beccy Cole, Australian Idol-winner Casey Donovan, Matt Evans of Home and Away fame, and the supremely talented Paulini.
SA Comedy Roadshow
9 December
Looking for a night filled with laughter, and an excuse for a Kangaroo Island getaway? You won’t want to miss this event! Head to the Aurora Ozone Hotel for a night headlined by Adelaide comedians Fabien Clark and Mike Klimczak, and hosted by Clay McMath. Make a full weekend of exploring one of the most beautiful parts of SA – recently named number two in the world on Lonely Planet’s 2024 list of must-travel destinations!
Band of the South Australia Police – 2023 Christmas Concert
14 December
This is a Christmas concert ‘yule’ not want to miss, with SAPOL’s 32-piece Concert Band set to put on a fantastic show at the Adelaide Town Hall. Commencing at 7.30pm, the band promises a family-friendly program filled with classic Christmas carols and an assortment of festive hits – singalongs welcome! (If you can’t make it, here’s where else the Band will be performing across metro and regional areas in the lead up to Christmas.)
Asia Street Food Festival
14-17 December
For four days, Pinky Flat will transform into a haven for Asian food enthusiasts, music lovers, and anyone seeking a great time with friends and family. At the Riverbank site you’ll find 30 carefully selected vendors featuring street food that has been embraced and passed down through generations. While food takes centre stage, Asia Street Food Festival boasts a diverse lineup of local bands and performers including Adelindo Angklung, Respire Dance, Overseas Chinese Association Art Troupe, ABK Crew, Goonj, Adelaide Art Group and more.
Hahndorf Christkindlemarkt
15-17 December
For three nights, Hahndorf will transform into a European-style Christmas market with stalls, food, drink, entertainment, Carols by Candlelight and more. Rally the troops, don your woolly Christmas jumpers – or summer-appropriate festive gear – and make a night (or full weekend) of it. Check out the Lights of Lobethal Festival while you’re in the area – it’s the largest community Christmas light display in the Southern Hemisphere and is sure to put a smile on everyone’s dial.
Adelaide Polo Classic 2023
15-16 December
Experience two days of amazing hospitality, glamorous fashions on the field and all-day entertainment (both on and off the pitch!) at the Adelaide Polo Classic. The Friday twilight event is for adults only; expect fashion, fun, fillies and a showcase of the best food and beverage SA has to offer. Saturday will deliver two games of exhilarating polo followed by a sunset concert.
Field Trip Festival
31 December
Celebrate the end of 2023 and the start of 2024 at an independently run music festival with local and international artists, held in Bonython Park. There’ll be live music – including dance favourite Hot Dub – a range of bars and food options, plus a knockout fireworks display. And if you’re a rave lover, Culture: Generation of Rave on 29 December is the event for you.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition
29 September 2023 – 31 January 2024
Wildlife Photographer of the Year, on tour from the Natural History Museum in London, is the most prestigious photography event – and in a world-first, the photographs are being displayed amongst a living botanical collection in the rainforest environment of Adelaide’s Bicentennial Conservatory. Don’t miss this incredible array of powerful images on your next visit to Adelaide Botanic Garden.
