Time to unplug the electric blanket and fire up the group chat – August in SA is packed with wild bonfires, oyster feasts, art in unexpected places, and that iconic Show we all know and love.
Discover what’s happening this August in South Australia.
OysterPalooza
1-3 August
Shell yeah, it’s back. Never Never Distilling Co’s fourth annual OysterPalooza is a mollusc-fuelled weekend of oyster shucking, frozen gin tastings (served in actual shells), cocktails, and live tunes – all set against the stunning backdrop of Chalk Hill, McLaren Vale. For $55, you’ll score drinks, a “Shellie” frozen gin shot, and a serve of SA’s finest oysters. Friday’s “Boom – Shuckalaka!” kicks things off with live music and oyster specials, while weekend sessions offer deck views, good vibes, and more drinks.
SALA Festival
1-31 August
Every corner of SA turns into a gallery during the SALA Festival – shop windows, cafes, grain silos, fences and libraries included. This year’s open-access visual arts festival features more than 700 exhibitions and events, showcasing 10,500+ artists across the state. Explore street art walking tours, get sketchy on the Sketchy Walking Tour, or hop on the SALA Art Bus for day trips into regional creative hubs. Whether you’re into roving exhibitions, fire-side yarn circles, Persian language tours, or art paired with gut-health research (yes, really), SALA is full of creative surprises.
Fleurieu Food Festival
1-31 August
Farm tours, wine and pizza pairings, steak masterclasses and strudel-tasting aboard a paddle steamer? Yep, the Fleurieu Food Festival is back. This month-long feast of flavour invites you to meet the makers behind your favourite produce, sip wine fireside, or get hands-on with fermentation and sourdough workshops. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure for food lovers, with vineyard lunches, coastal cookups, and small-town surprises scattered across the region. Whether you’re in it for the olive groves or the gin tastings, this celebration of paddock-to-plate culture is the ultimate winter warm-up.
Press Play – ASO video game concert
2 August
Gamers, this one’s for you. The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra is hitting start on something totally new – a full-scale tribute to the greatest video game soundtracks of all time. From the pixel-perfect charm of Tetris and Super Mario to the cinematic depth of Assassin’s Creed and Halo, these compositions will level up your nostalgia. Expect an epic journey through classics like Legend of Zelda, Hollow Knight, Final Fantasy, and more, all brought to life by a full orchestra at the Festival Theatre. It’s the musical boss battle you didn’t know you needed. Cosplay welcome!
Science Alive!
2-3 August
Exploding toothpaste. Robot battles. A 360° projection dome. Science Alive! is like your best-ever school science lesson — but dialled up to eleven. Held at the Adelaide Showground, this hands-on science and tech expo is one of the biggest in Australia, with enough VR, drones, wildlife, chemistry and circus science to impress even the grown-ups. (Yes, that means you, parents and grandparents.) It’s all about making STEM exciting and accessible – no genius required, just a healthy sense of curiosity and a willingness to unleash your inner mad scientist.
Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None
2-16 August
Ten strangers. One island. Zero escape routes. Agatha Christie’s classic murder mystery And Then There Were None lands on the stage of Her Majesty’s Theatre with all the suspense, scandal and stormy weather you’d expect. Directed by Robyn Nevin and featuring a stellar cast (hello, Peter O’Brien and Mia Morrissey), this new production promises edge-of-your-seat tension and a whole lot of red herrings. Whether you’re a die-hard whodunit fan or new to the genre, this is the thriller that wrote the rulebook.
Wonderverse
7-29 August
What if you could step into a forest of light, float through fireflies and dance through space? Wonderverse is a magical, multisensory experience for kids aged 4-8 and their grown-ups, created by the award-winning Patch Theatre. Touring regional SA (Port Pirie, Whyalla, Renmark and Mount Gambier) throughout August, it brings music by DEM MOB’s Elisha Umuhuri, dreamy lighting design and plenty of interactive surprises. It’s part dance party, part daydream, and a rare treat for country families who don’t often get access to this kind of immersive theatre. One word: wow.
Walk a Mile in My Boots
8 August
Every night, more than 7,000 South Australians don’t have a safe place to sleep. Walk a Mile in My Boots is your chance to show up – literally – and walk alongside them. The main event is the community walk at Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi on 8 August, and anyone can join – just register online for free. Sign up, turn up, and take part in a walk that says no one should face homelessness alone. Feeling keen? You can also take on the optional challenge to walk 2, 7 or 10 miles during National Homelessness Week (4-10 August) to raise funds for the Hutt St Centre.
Top Dog Film Festival
9 August
Good news, dog people: this one’s for you. The Top Dog Film Festival is a tail-wagging celebration of the bond between humans and their four-legged sidekicks, screening over two hours of heartwarming, funny and inspiring short films at the Capri Theatre. Think heroic rescues, goofy friendships, life-changing partnerships and a whole heap of adorable footage. It’s a joyful tribute to dogs of all breeds and backgrounds, curated for maximum emotional impact – bring tissues and maybe a spare seat for your furry best mate (metaphorically, of course).
Ubertas Winter Bonfire
9 August
You, a bonfire, a glass of Barossa red, and a sky full of stars. Ubertas Wines’ Winter Bonfire is the kind of night that makes you want to buy a puffer jacket just for the vibes. Hosted by brothers Phil and Kevin Liu at their Nuriootpa winery, the event includes live music, fire pits, hearty food (rendang, dumplings, buttermilk chicken), and – naturally – top-notch wine by the glass or bottle. Bring a chair, rug up, and toast to the magic of winter done right.
Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert
9 August
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra started performing film scores live, and it was awesome. Now they’re taking on John Williams’ iconic Star Wars: A New Hope soundtrack in a cinematic concert experience at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. It combines live orchestration with the full film on the (very) big screen. Whether you’re Team Jedi, Team Sith or just in it for the nostalgia, this is a must-see for any Star Wars fan. Lightsabers not included – but goosebumps are guaranteed. Costumes encouraged.
Langhorne Creek Cellar Treasures
15-17 August
Hidden gem wine region? Tick. Museum wines? Tick. Chocolate pairings, horseradish tastings and family-friendly adventures? Big ticks. Langhorne Creek’s annual Cellar Treasures weekend offers something truly special – three days of rare releases, cellar door experiences and regional magic. From the “Olive Me, Olive You” cooking demo by Callum Hann and Themis Chryssidis to front lawn markets and tasting flights, this event is packed with flavour and fun. Can’t leave the city? Hit the free preview at the National Wine Centre on 1 August.
GROUNDED YP Art Festival
15-24 August
Art with dirt under its nails and community at its core – that’s GROUNDED. Spanning towns across Guuranda (Yorke Peninsula), this regional art festival combines exhibitions, makers’ markets, music, workshops and immersive storytelling. You’ll find professional sculpture and visual art alongside hands-on sessions in dance, tapestry, ceramics and Indigenous art. It’s as much about making as it is about admiring. Whether you’re a local, a visitor, or someone with roots in the region, this festival is about celebrating connection – to place, to people, and to creativity.
The Magic Flute
28 August – 6 September
Mozart’s beloved opera gets a dazzling modern makeover in this world-first collab between State Opera South Australia, Opera Hong Kong and the Beijing Music Festival. Expect soaring arias, shadowy trials, magical flutes and a Papageno in fast-food delivery gear. This bold production at Her Majesty’s Theatre fuses East and West, blending classic music with high-tech visuals and downtown Hong Kong vibes. Directed by Shuang Zou and conducted by Dane Lam, it’s a spectacle for opera newcomers and longtime fans alike. Big on heart, humour and high notes.
Adelaide Roller Derby Grand Final
30 August
If you’ve never seen roller derby live, this is the night to fix that. Adelaide Roller Derby’s 2025 Grand Final is serving up not one but two hard-hitting bouts in a single afternoon – plus local market stalls, food trucks and a pumping bout village. Expect fierce skating, loud fans, live commentary and seriously high stakes. Whether you’re a die-hard derby devotee or just derby-curious, this high-energy double-header is as entertaining as it is empowering. The venue is The Lights Community Centre – BYO cheers and team colours.
Royal Adelaide Show
30 August – 7 September
Ferris wheels, wood chopping, dairy cows and hot cinnamon doughnuts – the Royal Adelaide Show is back, and it’s bringing the full sensory overload we know and love. This is South Australia’s biggest event for a reason: with showbags, carnival rides, animal shows, fireworks, and plenty of free entertainment, it delivers old-school fun for kids of all ages. But it’s not just fairy floss and dodgem cars – there’s also an impressive showcase of SA’s agricultural future, from shearing comps to junior horticulture champs. Tip: wear comfy shoes and come hungry.
Spring Fling at Thorn-Clarke Wines
31 August
Spring arrives early in the Barossa with Thorn-Clarke Wines’ annual Spring Fling – a relaxed day of rosé, woodfired pizza and live tunes in the sunshine at Angaston. Grab a picnic rug or camp chair and settle in with a glass of the newly-released 2023 Sandpiper Rosé while Colonel Mustard delivers the live soundtrack. Food, wine, beer, gin and Barossa views? Yes please. Entry is free but tickets are required – and with limited space, you’ll want to lock yours in early.
