This weekend in Adelaide, enjoy arts and culture with OzAsia and the Tarnanthi Art Fair, or head to the Hills for the Bay to Birdwood.

Words Elisabeth Marie

Lucky dip

Enjoy three weeks of contemporary Asian and Asian-Australian performance, art, literature, cuisine and culture as OzAsia takes over Adelaide from October 19 to November 5. Laugh and cry alongside playwright and actor Jacob Rajan in his solo theatrical show Paradise or the Impermanence of Ice Cream, be mesmerised by The Human Expression (T.H.E) Dance Company in the Australian premiere of their interactive contemporary dance piece Infinity Closer, witness the power of Xu Lizhi’s poetry as Canadian composer and performer Njo Kong Kie transforms it into song, or laugh until your belly hurts at The Special Comedy Comedy Special. There are more than 35 ticketed and free events across the 2023 program. The much-loved Lucky Dumpling Market will once again take over Elder Park during the festival, serving up a vibrant selection of Asian cuisines from local vendors. Find a spot in the sunshine to indulge in tasty treats and enjoy live entertainment on the outdoor Lucky Beats stage. On November 4 and 5, the Bubble Tea Garden will pop up in Festival Plaza and offer exclusive boba flavours and Taiwanese snacks to expand your culinary journey of OzAsia.

Motors running

Dust off the driving gloves and rev the engines as the Bay to Birdwood returns on Sunday, October 22. If you’re not driving a vintage car, you can watch them pass by on their 67-kilometre journey from the sea to the Hills. More than 1000 historic motor vehicles are expected to motor from West Beach to the National Motor Museum in Birdwood, culminating in the “Finish Festival” where you can get up close to the old-school vehicles, as well as vintage fashion and retro records or indulge in delicious local food and refreshing beer and wine.

Batter up

The summer’s cricket season officially begins with the return of the Women’s Big Bash League in October. Our Adelaide Strikers – and reigning WBBL champions – will open their title defence at home against the Melbourne Stars on Saturday, October 21 at Karen Rolton Oval. Last season, the Strikers claimed their maiden WBBL title by overcoming favourites Sydney Sixers and there’s no doubt they plan to continue that momentum into the 2023-24 season.

Adelaide on screen

The Adelaide Film Festival opened this week and a highlight of the 12-day festival will be Anatomy of a Fall, which won the top prize at this year’s Cannes International Film Festival and sees German actor Sandra Hüller as a writer trying to prove her innocence after her husband’s death. Meanwhile, Speedway is a true crime pursuing the truth behind the unsolved “Burger Chef” murders that occurred in Indianapolis during the late 1970s. In partnership with OzAsia Festival, Monster by Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-Eda, will be shown at Palace Nova Eastend.

Stampede for elephants

Put on your running shoes and participate in the Run Wild challenge at Monarto Safari Park to help raise funds to support three Asian elephants – Burma, Permai and Putra Mas – coming to South Australia as ambassador animals to raise awareness for the endangered species. Participants are challenged to run, walk or wheelchair a three or 10-kilometre track on Saturday, October 21, with funds raised to help build a suitable elephant habitat at the safari park. For more of a challenge, runners can take on a 20- or 40-kilometre marathon. There’s even an option for a virtual run, for those who can’t make it to the park that weekend.

ADMIRE INDIGENOUS ART

The work of more than 1500 contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists will be on display in the exhibitions at the Art Gallery of South Australia, as well as 27 accompanying venues for the 2023 Tarnanthi Festival. Highlights at AGSA include Vincent Namatjira’s new exhibition Australia in colour; The Mpulungkinya project that features works by 16 artists ranging in age from 20 to 80; and amuletic sculptures crafted using clay, feathers and raffia by Janet Fieldhouse. Plan your visit now as Tarnanthi opens on Friday, October 20 and runs until January 21, 2024. The popular Tarnanthi Art Fair will return in person for the first time since 2020, from October 20 to 22 with opportunities to meet the artists from more than 50 art centres across Australia and learn about their world and ideas before purchasing paintings, ceramics, sculpture, woven objects, jewellery, textiles, clothes and homewares.

LONG LAVISH LUNCHES

Held at its newly refurbished restaurant in Woodside, Bird in Hand is inviting guests to enjoy Sparkling Spring Masterclasses and Luncheons with chef Kane Pollard on October 21 and 22. Kane and his team will serve up a decadent three-course meal using local, sustainable ingredients – including fresh produce from the on-site Bird in Hand kitchen garden. Guests will then enjoy a masterclass from chief winemaker Sarah Burvill to learn about Bird in Hand’s méthode traditionnelle ‘O’ Sparkling and guide them through notable characteristics and how to pair the wine with cuisines. Accompanied by music from local artist Ollie English, the Sparkling Spring Masterclasses and Luncheons at Bird in Hand is the ideal way to soak in the early spring.

All about art

The group exhibition currently showing at the BMGART Gallery features works by Colin Pennock, Sum Woon Chow, Jeff Mincham, Madeleine Collopy and Nate Finch. Colin Pennock’s series Paper contemplates the environment of his property in the Noosa Hinterland with watercolour on archival paper while Sum Woon Chow presents landscapes using acrylic on canvas in his sequel to the exhibition Solar Wonderland called Ominous Nature. Madelaine Collopy and Nate Finch are both showcasing a series of abstract works on canvas while Jeff Mincham shares a series of ceramics inspired by his regular visits to Kangaroo Island called Beachcomber – Solace and Discoveries on an Ancient Shore. The exhibition will run until Saturday, October 28 and the artworks on display are available for purchase through BMGART.

Laugh the night away

Get your tickets now and prepare to laugh your socks off as Laughter is the Best of Meds returns to the Arkaba Hotel on Thursday, October 26. A comedy gala raising funds for the Mental Health Coalition of South Australia and hosted by Adelaide’s premier drag queen Wundes, guests will enjoy a night of comedy stylings from Adelaide’s stand-up community headlined by Tom Ballard.

For more of what’s on around South Australia this month, pick up the October issue of SALIFE, which is on sale now.