This weekend, experience the wonder of Illuminate Adelaide, or head to Colley Reserve for the Glenelg Winter Arts Festival.

Words Charlie Gilchrist

Let there be light

Illuminate Adelaide has officially switched on for 2024. Taking place from July 4 to 21, there’s plenty to see and do, with free and ticketed events across Adelaide’s CBD. Marvel at the spectacular City Lights, Illuminate Adelaide’s free city trail with interactive installations and breathtaking installations spanning across North Terrace and the East End. Grab dinner at Base Camp in Lot Fourteen, with its bars, food trucks and live music, before you head to the “roar-some” Universal Kingdom: Prehistoric Nights at the Adelaide Zoo, or Fire Gardens, as it casts a golden glow over Adelaide Botanic Garden. Other highlights include Superluminal, an immersive theatre experience from Patch Theatre and the South Australian Museum, as well as EDEN, a space where your imagination can run wild as you create your own digital garden on 150 square metres of LED screens at ILA.

Prepare to be amazed

Glenelg’s Colley Reserve will be transformed for the Glenelg Winter Arts Festival, running from July 5 to 21. Step under the big top and enjoy the electrifying live entertainment, or sit around the fire pits as you enjoy mouth-watering hot food and special winter drinks. Highlights include hilarious comedy shows from Australian comedians Wil Anderson and Geraldine Hickey, thrilling circus performances by Rouge and Circus the Show, mesmerising magic performed by Dom Chambers, comedic theatre from Fool’s Paradise and groovy melodies provided by Tash York.

A moving musical journey

Enjoy a fabulous night of music at the Norwood Concert Hall with the Adelaide Summer Orchestra performance. Presented in conjunction with the Elder Conservatorium, two student conductors will lead the orchestra along with Nicholas Braithwaite as they perform Partita for Orchestra by Richard Rodney Bennet, Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor by Felix Mendelssohn, Symphony No. 3 in G minor by Louise Farrenc, with virtuoso pianist Michael Ierace as soloist. This concert takes place on Sunday, July 21 from 7 to 8pm.

The power of the sea

Make your way to BMG Art on Halifax Street this weekend for an exhibition featuring paintings by Andrew Baines and bronze sculptures by Mark Judd. This exhibition explores the power of the sea, with Andrew’s surrealist paintings of barren sea landscapes and Mark’s bronze sculptures depicting watercraft. Andrew says his paintings are a metaphor for his life of “battling with the urban herds” and “pursuing horizons while seeking autonomy and freedom”, while Mark says his work “explores the relationships between individuals, including conflict, confusion, aggression and cooperation.” This exhibition takes place from Friday, July 12 to Saturday, August 3.

Stringing along

The Australian String Quartet will grace the stage of Elder Hall this Friday at 7pm for the final performance of its Vanguard tour. The concert includes performances of Korngold’s impressionistic String Quartet No. 2 in E-flat Major, Op. 26 and Beethoven’s legendary late string quartets paired with composer Harry Sdraulig’s String Quartet No. 2, which is being performed nationally for the first time outside its world premiere at the 2024 Dunkeld Festival of Music.