Top Free Things to Do in Adelaide - November 2013
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Fri 01 Nov 2013 - Sat 30 Nov 2013
[SECTION]Top Free Things to Do in Adelaide - November[/SECTION]
November is one of my favourite months but not because my birthday falls in it. It's our last opportunity to enjoy the end of the year before the madness of Christmas descends upon us. Now I hope I won't disillusion my younger readers, but many people find that Christmas is more about shopping than about a bearded old man or even a baby in a manger.
So make the most of the opportunity to party and be selfish in November, before we're forced to listen to endless loops of Christmas carols, max out the credit card, and to smile beatifically at the in-laws while they empty your drinks cabinet of the finest single malt scotch.
Adelaide really does put on a last ditch attempt to kick up her legs and enjoy November. Despite having so many festivals last month that I couldn't even list them all, there are still a few more on the way - and most of them free!
It's your last chance to pick up a present at a school fete in Adelaide too, perhaps a bargain set of crockery that has almost come back into style, or a second hand garden tool for that uncle who is so fond of his home grown greens.
But whatever you do, enjoy yourself and remember that Adelaide should
never be boring!
[SECTION]What's On in Adelaide - Free Events[/SECTION]
There is one Christmas event in Adelaide that's almost universally loved - the
Credit Union Christmas Pageant on Saturday November 9, when Adelaide's CBD grinds to a stop as this brilliant fantasy procession winds its way through city streets. Even better than the Christmas pageant is the gobsmacked expression of open mouthed wonder on the faces of young children as they see their favourite characters coming alive. Definitely not to be missed.
Festivals
After the massively popular Port Festival and Semaphore Music Festival last month, can we manage more of the same in November?
Those party people down at Semaphore are determined to give it a try on November 27 when the
Semaphore Street Fair comes back to town. It's a festival for every (wo)man and their dog, with the chance to bring along your favourite pet for the Pets on Semaphore Parade. Of course anyone with children will have a battle to keep them away from the
Semaphore Amusement Park while they're down there.
But I'm getting ahead of myself, because from November 9-24 the
Feast Festival is a huge event on the gay and lesbian calendar in Adelaide. It's been quite touching to see the widespread community support for the legalisation of same-sex marriage, with mainly a few sad and closed-minded old men continuing to oppose it. The Feast Festival has embraced this change by making events like the Picnic in the Park family friendly, and encouraging family and friends to join lesbian and gay people in the celebrations.
It's a massive change since the first Gay Pride parade 40 years ago, and you can see it documented in an
exhibition at the State Library until November 24.
If you missed the chance to try multicultural foods at the
Voices of the Village Fair on October 27, then you have another shot on November 3 in the city with the Mall's
Multicultural Festival . Korean Food lovers get
their own free festival on November 9 in Rundle Park
My favourite festival of food
Fork on the Road is back on November 10 in the South Parklands, teaming up with the Hutt Street Centre for
TouchWine 2013 . It's an unusual blend of touch footy, wines, and food trucks - check it out!
Finally the free
Festival of CoCreation on November 2 at Bowden looks interesting too. It's sponsored by several worthy organisations so have a browse through their website and see if it's for you.
Making a Splash
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Splash Adelaide has returned to sprinkle needy entrepreneurs with money and activate our city, with
Urban Golf at UniSA , the
Conscious Food & Wine Fiesta (not free) on November 1, the free
Matilda Movie Night at the State Library on November 22 (bookings required), and
Summer Fridays in the East End returns from November 15 with a heap of things to get you into Ebenezer Place.
Markets, Fairs, and Fetes
Find some cheap Christmas presents at
Rostrevor College'sFair on November 2, explore the white elephant stall at the massive
Edwardstown Primary Strawberry Fair on November 3, while
St Anthony's has their fair on November 24. Further south of Adelaide the
Once Upon a Market is on November 10 at Seaford.
If the crowds at a fair are a bit daunting, relax in the Botanical Gardens at their
Framing Nature art exhibition from November 2-17, or escape it all at Carrick Hill's
Demonstration Day on November 3 to learn about water wise gardening (free).
[SECTION]Not Free, but Fun Things to Do[/SECTION]
Have you been meaning to dust off your bike to enjoy summer riding?
Amy's ride on November 3 offers the perfect reason to do it for a good cause, and if you play your cards right you can stock up on a few tasty McLaren Vale wines while you're there.
At Windsor Gardens in the opposite end of town the
Toy and Model Swapmeet is also on November 3, giving "kids" up to pension age the chance to find some new toys.
Get your adrenaline pumping and try a
jet flight simulator , or even better explore some real planes at the Aviation Museum's special
Open Cockpit Day on November 10. They have their own F111 there now and it's well worth a look inside.
The
Vintage in the Hills fair takes place in Strathalbyn on the weekend November 2-3, giving you a good excuse to browse the antique stores too. Unfortunately the
Strathalbyn Market is not on that weekend.
Music, food and wine lovers will flock to
the Gorgeous Festival in McLaren Vale on November 22-23 for a feast of music and delicious eats and drinks. It's a night to open the wallet and treat yourself. And your boyfriend, girlfriend, or that person you keep winking at in the office.
If you're more into fantasy than flirts and frolics at the office, then
Supanova Adelaide is for you. It's an opportunity to meet your favourite screen idol, and even dress up as one too. It's also one of your few chances to cross dress in public without
going to the Mars Bar . It's held on November 15-17 at the Wayville Showground.
[SECTION]Fun Activities in Adelaide[/SECTION]
I'm always exhorting readers to get out and eat, or visit a park in Adelaide. This time we'll start with something completely different - how to
have fun with friends at home with a little style.
If you must get out of the house then try this
new little cafe just south of Adelaide. They aren't open every day, but it's a welcoming place to relax and graze and is quite inexpensive. Take the kids - they're welcome too!
Of course there are people in Adelaide who don't enjoy sitting around having a coffee (yes, really!), and for them I prescribe a brisk walk along the
Dry creek Linear Park . It's peppered with retro buildings and you can get some gratuitous glimpses of the gaol at Yatala too. At the end of your walk you can relax at the pretty
Stockade Botanical Park .
If you're at the other end of Adelaide, don't despair -
Stirling Linear Park is just as attractive, especially the beautiful
Lake Woorabinda Reserve .
Need a bit of retail therapy? The
Urrbrae Barn Market is off the usual market trail but has got some things you won't find elsewhere. And it's only a short trip across the road to see the magnificent world of the
Waite Arboretum . It's part of the
Waite Precinct , which has attractions for all ages including a new Loop Walk.
And lastly if you can't resist a drive in the country, our writers have been busy finding a whole heap of new attractions in the Clare Valley.
See them here .
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#november
!date 01/11/2013 -- 30/11/2013
%wnadelaide
200800 - 2023-06-16 05:02:04