By Lauren Ferrone
Published: Wednesday, February 13, 2019
It’s that chaotic time of year when South Australia’s capital bursts with colour, bright lights and music. With so many fun events happening all at once, we’ve put together a few Mad March must-dos to pop in your calendar.
FESTIVAL FREEBIES
Street Art Explosion
When: 14 February–17 March
Where: Adelaide CBD and surrounding suburbs
Admire large street murals throughout Adelaide. These big, colourful pieces are created by Fringe artists and aren’t hard to miss, but you can download a map on the Adelaide Fringe website to make them easier to find.
Parade of Light
When: 14 February–17 March
Where: North Tce, Adelaide
Watch the city shine during the Fringe’s Parade of Light – a light show which illuminates buildings on North Tce with colourful video projections.
Adelaide Writers’ Week
When: 2–7 March
Where: Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden, King William Rd
Find a shady spot under a tree and hear from celebrated and emerging writers during free panel sessions at Adelaide Writers’ Week. Get the full program on the Adelaide Festival website.
FOR FAMILIES
The Garden Of Unearthly Delights
When: 14 February–17 March
Where: Corner of Rundle St and East Tce
From carnival rides and comedy to street food and market stalls, a stroll through The Garden of Unearthly Delights is a customary Mad March family outing. Stick close together, especially if you enter the mind-boggling House of Mirrors.
Best of Kids Fringe
When: 14 February–17 March
Where: Rymill Park, Adelaide
What’s the best way to keep the children entertained? Get a few comedians, acrobats, magicians, bubble blowers, clowns and puppets together for a mini Fringe festival that’ll have the little ones in fits of laughter. There’s a wide range of Best of Kids Fringe shows running at Rymill Park throughout February and March – just select a date on the Adelaide Fringe website.
Kiddo Silent Disco
When: 8–11 March
Where: Botanic Park, Adelaide
Pop a pair of headphones over their ears and watch the little ones let loose on the dancefloor, in silence. WOMADelaide’s silent children’s disco will keep mini festival-goers occupied for hours – if only it were that easy at home. It’s on every day of the festival in the KidZone at Botanic Park.
FREE: Children under 12 get free entry when accompanied by an adult.
FOR THE MUSOS
The Choir of Man
When: 15 February–17 March
Where: Gluttony, Rymill Park
Stomp your feet with The Choir of Man – a high-energy group who combine foot-stomping choreography with iconic songs from Adele, Queen, and many more artists. Named ‘Pick of the Fringe’ in 2018, it’s worth booking tickets to see what all the fuss is about. Check out all the details at Adelaide Fringe.
Flavoured Music
When: 24 February
Where: Union Hall, Adelaide
You’re probably used to pairing wine with cheese, but what about wine and chamber music? Presented by the Adelaide Chamber Orchestra, each wine variety offered in this show has been paired with a musical style that compliments the characteristics of the delicious drop. This will be a wine, music and food tasting to remember. Book tickets via Adelaide Fringe.
WOMADelaide
When: 8–11 March
Where: Botanic Park, Adelaide
Musicians, artists and dancers from across the globe meet at Botanic Park. Take your pick from home-grown South Aussie talent such as Ollie English and Tkay Maidza, or internationally acclaimed UK act The Correspondents. Off stage, there’s even more musical fun. Join in the choreographed traditional Indian parade Colour of Time, where gulal powder – in all the colours of the rainbow – will be thrown in the air and over festival-goers. Tip: arrive early to learn the parade’s dance moves.
FOR THE SENSES
Palais Long Lunches
When: 1–17 March
Where: Elder Park riverbank
You’ll need to keep your energy up to get through this year’s jam-packed Adelaide Festival program. Head to the Torrens and you’ll find the perfect way to do just that, with the Palais Long Lunches. This year, SA culinary icon Maggie Beer will cook up a storm in a long lunch on 11 March, where Adelaide’s own Robyn Archer will perform songs from her show Picaresque as you feast.
Waymouth Street Party – Summer Edition
When: 8 March
Where: Waymouth St, Adelaide
Make your way to Waymouth for tunes, delicious street food and even stop-in at a nearby restaurant for a beverage or two during the ultimate summer street party in Adelaide’s West End. Best of all, it’s free. Get more details on the Waymouth Street Party Facebook page.
Taste the World Restaurant
When: 8–11 March
Where: Botanic Park, Adelaide
The sounds of WOMADelaide will be music to your ears, but the delicious aromas from the festival’s outdoor restaurant will tantalise your taste buds. Feast on cuisines from different countries at ORSO and the Polenta Stars Taste the World Restaurant as you dine among the trees at Botanic Park. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner during WOMADelaide, and the menu already has us salivating – check it out on WOMADelaide’s website.
Cellar Door Fest
When: 15–17 March
Where: Adelaide Convention Centre
As fun as it is to jump in the car and head on a road trip to one of SA’s stunning wine regions, some of our state’s best drops and produce come to the Adelaide Convention Centre. Join in the delicious fun and meet producers all under one roof in the heart of the city when Cellar Door Fest returns for another year.
Fork at Summer Garden Festival
When: 16 March
Where: Civic Park, Modbury
Though it technically won’t be summer anymore, Fork at Summer Garden Festival is a celebration of art, music, local beer and wine producers, and just SA in general. Civic Park will be scattered with Fork on the Road food trucks, vans and bikes – all full of gastronomic goods to satisfy our tummies. Get more event details at Fork on the Road.
FOR THE ADRENALINE JUNKIES
Gravity & Other Myths – Out Of Chaos…
When: 27 February–6 March
Where: The University of Adelaide’s Scott Theatre
The acrobatic troupe Gravity & Other Myths will return during Adelaide Festival to perform death-defying stunts in their new show Out of Chaos… Primal and physical, the spell-binding performance explores the connection between order and chaos, particularly with family.
The Bells
When: 8–11 March
Where: Botanic Park, Adelaide
Hear that? It’s a sound you probably don’t often hear. Combining intense chiming with superhuman strength, performers from 5 Angry Men create unique tunes in their WOMADelaide show The Bells by swinging to-and-fro from giant bells suspended in the air.
Grand Finale
When: 15–17 March
Where: Adelaide Festival Centre
Choreographed by Israeli dancer Hofesh Shechter, Grand Finale features extraordinary dancing and an onstage live band. Shechter’s style is inspired by folk dance, military exercise, club dancing and even the gym. The audience will be hypnotised by the different genres which grace the stage in this dark yet thrilling performance.
FOR THE SPORT FANATICS
Superloop Adelaide 500
When: 28 February–3 March
Where: Victoria Park, Adelaide
The Mad March calendar wouldn’t be complete without a few twists and turns trackside. This action packed event boasts plenty of on and off track attractions, over four days. This year, Australia’s Jet and The Living End, will perform to a bumper post-race crowd on Saturday among other performers. American rockers The Red Hot Chili Peppers will put the cherry (or chilli) on the top.
Adelaide United home games
When: 15 March
Where: Coopers Stadium, Hindmarsh
Mad March isn’t just about the arts – Adelaide’s sport stadiums come to life too. Cheer on Adelaide United when they take on Perth Glory on for their only March match at Coopers Stadium in the Hyundai A-League Season 2018–19. Can’t make it to this game? We’ve got tickets up for grabs to see the boys in red go up against Melbourne Victory on 19 April.
Crows and Port Power games
When: 23 March
Where: Adelaide Oval
Footy fever’s back for another year, with Port Adelaide and the Crows kicking off their 2019 season on 23 March. Watch the Crows take on the Hawks on home soil at Adelaide Oval and Port Adelaide versus the Demons at the MCG.
RAA member exclusive: Before the match, stock up on merch at CROWmania at West Lakes or the Port Store in Alberton – and make sure you show your RAA card to receive 10% off.