This weekend in Adelaide, whet your appetite for Tasting Australia and Eid Festival, or set sail to Hindmarsh Island for the Wooden Boat Festival.

Words Elisabeth Marie

Foodies rejoice

Tasting Australia takes over Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga from April 28 to May 7, bringing a deliciously diverse program of eating and drinking experiences. Town Square will host a bumper program of lunches, masterclasses and premium dinners, featuring some of Australia’s top names in food and wine. The 2023 program offers ticketed events, while Town Square will be free for visitors to enter and explore the street food stalls and pop-up bars on offer. Other festival highlights include a self-drive foodie experience in the Flinders Ranges, a day trip to Kangaroo Island and dinners and masterclasses at some of Adelaide’s top restaurants, wineries and bars.

Fall into autumn designs

Fall into an event packed with local homewares, fashion, beauty products and artisan goods at the Gathered Autumn Design Market. Hosted at the Torrens Parade Ground on April 29 and 30, the markets offer a space for local artisans to display and share their wares in addition to teaching workshops on everything from candle-making to gin-tasting. A fun day of perusing for the whole family, enjoy lunch and drinks from one of the pop-up food vendors and take in the live music and bustling atmosphere.

Set sail

From April 28 to 30, the biennial South Australian Wooden Boat Festival will sail into the Coorong Quays marina at Hindmarsh Island for a weekend of boat racing, exhibitions, workshops and live entertainment. The new location – away from the Goolwa Wharf as it undergoes renovation – offers a mooring that can host more than 150 boats. Attendees can learn about and celebrate the history of Goolwa and wooden boats by watching boat-building demonstrations, exploring exhibitions, riding on paddle steamers and meeting local craftspeople. There will also be plenty of local produce and wines to indulge in.

Taste test

Rundle Mall will host Urban Kitchen under the Gawler Place Canopy daily from April 28 to May 7, offering an opportunity to watch talented chefs cook up a storm with local produce for guests to taste. Tickets are $10 and include the opportunity to sample finished dishes with a tasting of a paired beverage and a Rundle Mall goodie bag filled with gifts and recipes. Attendees can also stock up on a range of local products at Urban Kitchen.

Dirty and determined

Show off your mettle with 10 kilometres of hiking through hard terrain and more than 30 obstacles on the True Grit course at Caudo Vineyard in Cadell on April 29 and 30. Winding through 1100 acres of property, participants will trek through vineyards, woodlands, water and sand dunes while overcoming a series of obstacles including a tyre wall, an A-frame and pontoon bridges. A five-kilometre half-course is available for participants who aren’t yet ready to take on the major course. After crossing the finish line, don your new True Grit tee and head to Caudo Vineyard Cellar Door to celebrate.

Jazz hands

Enjoy the sounds of jazz at the inaugural Adelaide Jazz Festival from April 28 to 30. Culminating in UNESCO’s International Jazz Day on Sunday, April 30, the festival presents a program of live performances across city venues from both emerging and established South Australian musicians. Aspiring to introduce audiences to new musical experiences, the Adelaide Jazz Festival organisers have staggered start times and introduced low-cost tickets, so music lovers can enjoy multiple performances.

Feeling festive

Celebrate multiculturalism at the Adelaide Eid Festival on April 29 and 30 at the Adelaide Showgrounds. Eid Festival is South Australia’s biggest celebration of Eid, meaning “festival or “feast” in Arabic, and the state’s premier Muslim festival. Enjoy a variety of cuisines from local Turkish, Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani food trucks before browsing the abundance of stalls offering fashions, home decor and henna. Live entertainment, an animal farm and show rides will add to the day of family fun.

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