Embrace spring this weekend with a stroll through Centennial Park or a visit to Mount Pleasant for the garden festival.

Words Elisabeth Marie

Blooms in Centennial Park

Spring brings a spectacular display of colour and beauty to Centennial Park. Enjoy the vibrant purple wisteria throughout the park, in addition to blooming bearded iris, hardenbergia, canna lily, jasmine and more than 150 varieties of roses. Centennial Park’s natural environment also attracts a wide range of native wildlife and birds who emerge with the season. Soak in the spring sun and enjoy a hot drink or light lunch at the Wildflowers Cafe which is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 3.30pm, and on weekends and public holidays from 10am to 3pm.

Bravo Italia

The St ALi Italian Film Festival will be coming to Palace Nova Eastend on Wednesday, September 21 with a curated selection of Italian films. As 2022 is the centenary of the birth of Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini, this year’s festival will be honouring him with a retrospective featuring three of his iconic film adaptions of literary works: The Canterbury Tales, Arabian Nights and The Decameron. The festival will open with Belli Ciao, a comedy that follows two formerly inseparable friends who reunite in their hometown after years apart, resulting in an entertaining culture clash. Other highlights from the festival include Breaking Up in Rome, a romantic comedy about a couple facing difficulties when they separate after many years of living together, and The Shadow of the Day, a dramatic love story about a restaurateur whose life changes when a girl with a dangerous secret starts working at his restaurant after the declaration of racial laws in Fascist Italy.

Celebrating spring

Mt Pleasant will once again host the annual SA Spring Garden Festival on Saturday, September 24. The combination of spring weather, a charming venue and a multitude of plant and garden stalls will be the perfect combination for a great day out for young and old. The small community of Mt Pleasant will come alive with a full program that includes special guest speakers including SALIFE gardening expert and Outdoors Indoors presenter Kim Syrus, workshops, food and entertainment. The Mt Pleasant Farmers Market is partnering with the event so visitors will be able to enjoy both the festival and the farmers market in one spacious location.

Naughty nun

Throughout Libby O’Donovan’s life, nuns have been a source of constant fascination. She brings Sister Elizabeth to Her Majesty’s Theatre, blessing the audience with her divine show of songs, stories and special guests on Friday, September 30. The show finally gets its run, after being rescheduled at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival earlier in the year.

Astounding art

Ex Animo Art, a new gallery for Australian and international art will officially launch on Friday, September 23. The gallery specialises in contemporary artworks with a philosophy to connect people with beautiful art from creatives around the world. Beginning at 6pm, artists Liz Gray and Jane Smeets will attend the opening night which will showcase their artworks in addition to pieces by Naomi Safir, Stefan Neidhardt, Esther Ziher-Ginczinger and many others.

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