Brighton Jetty at Sunset
Christmas is coming and there's no escaping it. For families with kids it's a time of joy and selfless celebration, while for the rest of us it's a good time to avoid shopping - if you can. Now that the Christmas pageant has excited kids to fever pitch, there's an exciting variety of free things to do in Adelaide.
Victoria Square has now become the main attraction in the city, with its giant Christmas tree being lit from December 1.
You'll find free fun for kids, a mouth watering array of goodies from food trucks, and free movies and live entertainment there until Christmas.
Christmas Light Shows at the Lights of Lobethal (Image: Official Lights of Lobethal)
The outer metro area has always put on great shows for Christmas, with thousands heading to see the spectacular
Lights of Lobethal display, join in the fun of the
Willunga Christmas Tree Festival, or watch for Santa at the
Goolwa Christmas Pageant.
Families wanting a more active experience shouldn't miss
Santa's Wonderland Adelaide at the Showgrounds, where kids can go ice skating, visit traditional family Christmas Land and get carried away with amusement park rides.
Andrew Baines: The Zebra and the Daschund (Image Sipplied)
Join Adelaide artist Andrew Baines for another of his quirky free photo shoots, this time featuring
dogs dressed as zebras at Henley Beach, visit
Old Government House at
Belair National Park, take a squiz at our new
Glenthorne National Park, or
relax on a guided walk in the Adelaide parklands.
Apart from these events, take a breather at the free
Heritage SnAps exhibition or try Michael's tips for
plane spotting near Adelaide Airport.
December brings many opportunities for carol singing and free markets for your last minute shopping. We've listed them in no particular order below - just scan though and find what's closest to you.
Semaphore Summer Twilight Markets (Image Supplied)
Watch Outdoor Movies on the Riverbank With American Express Openair Cinemas
You can still escape Christmas if you go to
outdoor movies on the Riverbank, join in the
party at Leconfield Wines, or try a selection of boutique South Australian wines at the new
Adelaide Wine Markets at the Market Shed on Holland.
While New Year's Eve seems a long way away right now, it will be upon us before you know it. I'd love to catch the spectacular
New Years Eve fireworks show off the Hindmarsh Island bridge, but if you want to celebrate indoors, the Adelaide Convention Centre is having a
New Years Eve Gala.
See the Spectacular Beauty of the Flinders Ranges on a Weekend Road Trip
December is a fantastic time to escape the city in South Australia, and writer Michael tells how you can take a
weekend road trip to the Flinders Ranges. The weather now is mild, the countryside is beautiful, and there are so many
places to visit on the way.
My favourite places to visit are ghost towns like
Dawson,
Hammond,
Ucolta and
Terowie and their
abandoned railway stations.
When the weather is too hot, the cooler climate of
the Limestone Coast is perfect for a short trip, just the place for your summer holiday.
Active Fun For Kids at Tree Climb Adelaide
If you do decide to stay in Adelaide, discover all about the
Somerton Man Mystery, or take the kids to
Adelaide Tree Climb in the south parklands. We have new reviews of eateries too - the
Florence Rooftop Bar in Adelaide,
Thanh Long at Athol Park, and
Jibbi and Co Cafe at Lightsview.
