JULY 2024

All you need to do is rug up and you’ll be raring to go to these great winter events in SA.

1. Winter ChocFest

When: 1–31 July
Where: Barossa Valley Chocolate Company

Forget love, because it’s time to fall in chocolate. Sweet tooths can’t miss the Barossa Valley Chocolate Company’s mouth-watering Winter ChocFest Dome Dining Experience. Warm up with a toasty hot choccie while nibbling your way through a chocolate grazing platter full of white, dark and milk couverture varieties.

There’s morning tea, brunch, lunch and afternoon tea experiences to choose from as you nestle in your own private clear dome overlooking the picturesque vineyards of the Barossa Valley. For a weekend that’s choc full of fun, why not stay a few days.

2. Illuminate Adelaide

When: 4–21 July
Where: Various locations across Adelaide city

Brighten the chilly winter nights with the sparkle and shine of Adelaide’s record-breaking winter event, Illuminate Adelaide. Be transfixed as the city is transformed into a wonderland of art, light, music and technology. There are brand-new installations which will dazzle the whole family, including dinosaurs, enchanted gardens, mesmerising firelight, and more than 30 free displays at City Lights.

Start your night in Base Camp, where you’ll get the royal treatment in the RAA member lounge and plot your journey for the evening.

3. Adelaide Beer and BBQ Festival

When: 12–14 July
Where: Adelaide Showground

Go the whole hog with three full days of chargrilled chow and frothy brews set to the backing track of some of Australia’s best rock bands. At the Adelaide Beer and BBQ Festival, there are thousands of beers (and not beers) and countless food options to try. Grab a hot chicken, sloppy joe or barbecued bush tucker washed down with a craft stout, Berliner weisse or a refreshing gin spritz.

On stage, millennials can relive childhood memories rocking out to Peter Combe and band, while members of Powderfinger, Spiderbait, You Am I and Jet make up the Australian Rock Collective headlining Friday night. This is a smokin’ hot weekend not to be missed.

4. Cellar Door Fest Winter Edit

When: 19–20 July
Where: Adelaide Convention Centre

If you rather wine and cheese over beer and barbecue (but if you want both, we won’t judge), the Cellar Door Fest Winter Edit is back to warm the cockles of your heart. Sample some of South Australia’s top wine and spirits from producers spanning the breadth of our great state.

Paint your own unique Riedel glass while sipping a Claymore wine and groove to live and local folk, indie, disco and soul music. RAA members are in for a cosy treat, saving 10 per cent on general admission tickets. Sip sip hooray!

5. Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party

When: 20–21 July
Where: Adelaide Entertainment Centre

See your childhood dreams become a reality as the famous Hot Wheels monster truck toys are brought to life. All your favourites will be larger than life, with the life-size DARK Mega Wrex, Tiger Shark, Demo Derby, Bone Shaker and of course, the Gunkster, battling it out for the title.

Join the dazzling dance party, be spellbound by the laser light shows and, if you’re lucky, you might even walk away with a Hot Wheels prize.

6. Pichi Richi Railway RailFest

When: 27–28 July
Where: Quorn, Flinders Rangers

It’s full steam ahead in the Flinders Ranges as the Pichi Richi Heritage Railway Society celebrates the 50^th anniversary since running their first train out of Quorn. Journey back in time to discover the history of the original Ghan Railway.

There are fun family activities and local produce vendors, and you can watch the unique outback scenery go past from the comfort of a restored carriage pulled behind authentic steam and diesel engines. If you’re loco for locomotives, go behind the scenes with a tour through the Pichi Richi train restoration workshop. This weekend away is also a great opportunity to explore Quorn and the Flinders Ranges.

7. Step Up To Save Lives with DonateLife SA

When: 28 July
Where: Adelaide Riverside Lawns

Grab your walking shoes, and gather your friends, family and puppies for a walk-and-talk along the beautiful River Torrens. With 1800 Aussies waiting for a life-saving organ donation, here’s your chance to get the conversation rolling and register to be an organ and tissue donor.

Legendary professional footballer Marcelo Carrusca will be there to lead your budding superstars in a soccer skills clinic, and with food trucks and face-painters, this is a great day out for a worthwhile cause.