Enjoy FREE events and activities in Adelaide this month
Photo courtesy of City of Adelaide
Bid goodbye to
November and get ready for a busy month filled with
Christmas festivities and New Year's Eve. There are plenty of free reasons to spend the last month of the year with family and friends including markets, carols, light ups and fireworks to rival the
Woolsworth Carols in
Sydney and Christmas events in
Melbourne. You can be sure to find something to suit you or your family's fancy in the capital city of South Australia in December.
1 December – Playford Community Christmas Carols
Photo courtesy of Government of South Australia
Start the month with a free concert by the City of Playford. This event is led by Lucy Durack, who is one of the leading ladies of the stage in
Australia. She is best known for her performances in Wicked, the Wizard of Oz and Legally Blonde the Musical. She will be accompanied by Mark Anthony who will perform a tribute to Elvis Presley. Other acts include some of Australia and Adelaide's top local talent such as the Australian Girls Choir and the Playford Carols Band. Kids will enjoy a surprise visit from Santa and a spectacular firework display will light up the night. For more information, visit the
website.
Time: 4.30pm - 10.30pm
Venue: Fremont Park
Address: Fremont Park, Yorktown Rd, Elizabeth Park SA 5113
1, 8 & 15 December – Leigh Street Christmas Market
Photo courtesy of Leigh Street
The Leigh Street Christmas Market is a family and community event. It focuses on showcasing handmade and locally crafted and sourced gifts that are perfect for
Christmas. Only local food will be sold at the market and live music will play from 1pm. Entry is free and there will also be children's activities. This is an ideal family event for the family to attend and get their Christmas shopping done early. For more information, visit the
website.
Time: 1pm – 4pm
Venue: Leigh St
Address: Leigh St, Adelaide, SA 5000
2 December – Campbelltown Christmas Parade & Carols in the Park
Photo courtesy of Campbelltown City Council
This is a fun family event which aims to bring together community members, groups and organisation from all across the Campbell City Council Area to celebrate Christmas. The parade will begin at Whites Lane in Newton and proceed along Stradbroke Road all the way to Thorndon Park. Each year, a number of different bands, service clubs, schools, businesses and other community groups join in on the Parade, and this year the aim is to get more groups involved to make it more fun! The Parade will be followed by the annual 'Carols in the Park' which commences at 6.15pm and features entertainment, carols, food and Santa. For more information, visit the website.
Time: 5.15pm onwards
Venue: Whites Lane to Thorndon Park
Address: Whites Lane, Newton SA 5074
Phone: 08 8366 9272
6 December - Music in the Square
Photo courtesy of City of Adelaide
Celebrate Adelaide as a UNESCO City of Music and enjoy free live music at Hindmarsh Square. This lunchtime performance features one of Adelaide's best local, emerging talent, Elli Belle & Alycia Budd. Grab a packed lunch and enjoy this event provided by the City of Adelaide. Visit the
website for more information.
Time: 12pm - 2pm
Venue: Hindmarsh Square
Address: 59 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide SA 5000
9 - 31 December – Lights of Lobethal Festival
Photo courtesy of Lobethal Lights
Head over to the Lobethal Valley in the Adelaide Hills for the largest Community Christmas Light Display in the Southern Hemisphere this December. The main street of Lobethal will come to life in preparation for Christmas. There are carols, lights on ceremony, fireworks, a Centennial Hall Market and the annual Christmas Pageant Parade. Visit the
website for detailed programme and schedule
Time: Refer to website
Venue: Lobethal Valley
Address: Lobethal, Adelaide SA 5241
12 December – Make a Lantern for Display at Gallery 1855
Photo courtesy of Tea Tree Gully Council
If you're into the arts and crafts, or just want to get creative, come along to this lantern making workshop organised by the City Of Tea Tree Gully. Artist Michelle Jahn from Exclusive Illuminations will take the lead while you paint, cut, colour and draw to your heart's content. Have patterns or images with you to copy, or let your imagination loose. Lanterns made will be used to form a light display in the front window of the Gallery for the 'Tea Tree Gully Christmas Lights' from the 20th of December until the first week of January 2019. All materials will be provided and tea and coffee facilities are available. However, please bring your own lunch. For more details and to register your free tickets, visit the
website.
Time: 10am – 2pm
Venue: Gallery 1855
Address: 2 Haines Rd, Tea Tree Gully, SA 5091
14 - 16 December – Hahndorf Christkindlmarkt
Photo courtesy of C3 Church Adelaide Hills
Take a day trip to the German town of Hahndorf and experience a European Christmas market without leaving Adelaide. The Hahndorf Christkindlmarkt is organised by C3 Church Adelaide Hills. The event aims to bring families together during the Christmas season through similar markets in Berlin,
Munich and all over Europe. There will be over 50 stalls, entertainment, food and more for adults and kids. For more information, visit the
website.
Time: 4pm – 10pm
Venue: C3 Church Adelaide Hills
Address: Cnr Main Street & Auricht Road Hahndorf SA 5245
14 - 18 December – The Christmas Garden
Photo courtesy of Gospel City Church
In its fourth year running, The Christmas Garden showcases a spectacular display of 5 life-sized scenes from the original Christmas Story. In addition to the handmade characters and animals by artists living in the Salisbury and Mawson Lakes areas, there is also a programme of activities to keep adults and kids entertained. This includes free children's activities, games area, giveaways, live band and sausage sizzle from 14 to 16 December and a movie on 15 December night. This event is organised by the Gospel City Church and supported by the Salisbury Council. For more information or to register your free tickets, visit this website.
Times: 14, 16, 17 & 18 Dec 6pm - 10pm / 15 Dec 1pm - 10.30pm
Venue: The University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus
Address: Mawson Lakes Blvd, Mawson Lakes SA 5095
15 December - Rainbow Warrior Open Boat
Photo courtesy of Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Head over to Port Adelaide for an open boat of a different kind. Greenpeace's flagship vessel 'The Rainbow Warrior' will be visiting Adelaide as part of its campaign against oil exploration in the Great Australian Bight. You and your family enjoy a free guided tour of the vessel and the onshore activities including t-shirt printing, art projects and photo ops. You can bring a T-shirt from home and get it printed onto at the screen printing station. Visit the
website to get your free guided tour tickets.
Time: 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Venue: Port Adelaide
Address: Port Adelaide, SA 5015
16 December – Moonta Christmas Pageant, Market and Carols
Photo courtesy of Government of South Australia
The annual Moonta Christmas festivities will be bigger and better this year, with something for everyone. At 3pm, the market at Queen Square will present you with an opportunity to complete any last-minute Christmas shopping that needs to get done. The Christmas Pageant will then make its way from the Community Activity Centre at Military Road past the bowling club and into George Street and Queen Square at 5.30pm. Local clubs and characters will feature in the pageant, and Santa will also be a special guest. Carols by Candlelight commences from 7.30pm at Queen Square. For more information, visit the
website.
Time: 3pm – 9pm
Venue: George Street
Address: Moonta, Yorke Peninsula, SA 5558
Phone: (08) 8825 1190
31 December – Adelaide's New Year's Eve
Photo courtesy of City of Adelaide
While
Sydney has its televised New Year's Eve fireworks on the harbour, and
Melbourne celebrates with pyrotechnics across the skyline, the City of Adelaide is also serving up one of the biggest and best New Year's Eve event this year. Get ready to celebrate with live music, spectacular food and 2 amazing firework displays at 9pm and midnight. There is also a family zone with entertaining activities for kids and a family theatre stage program. This free event will take place in Elder Park and on the Riverbank. Visit the
website for programme updates.
Time: 6pm – 1am
Venue: Elder Park
Address: Elder Park, King William Road, SA 5000
