Kick off school holidays the right way with plenty of events for the whole family happening across South Australia this weekend.

Collated by Elisabeth Marie

It’s only natural

Nature Festival will return to South Australia from September 25 to October 4. The festival is about celebrating the intrinsic relationship we have with the natural world around us. The program highlights the close relationship between art and nature through talks, exhibitions and performances. In addition to the core programming, Nature Festival will host a hub on the lawns of the South Australian Museum in a structure specifically crafted for the festival by Troppo Architects.

Home-grown and hands-on

Learn everything you need to know about starting your own kitchen garden at the Adelaide Botanic Garden workshop on Sunday, September 26. This practical, hands-on workshop will give you the basics to confidently start your own bountiful colourful kitchen garden. You will learn how to make the best from what you have available, planting and growing in your garden, types of plants, their uses and much more. The workshop is run by kitchen garden educator Ian Wilson and is ideal both for people new to horticulture and those who would like to expand their gardening knowledge.

Virtual vintage vehicles

For public health reasons, the Bay to Birdwood parade and gatherings have been cancelled for 2021. One of the world’s great historic motoring events, the Bay to Birdwood usually sees 1500 historic vehicles travel along the 72-kilometre route from West Beach to Birdwood, with around 70,000 people enjoying the spectacle last year. This year, however, the event will continue online only. A special edition 40^th anniversary documentary will be released, along with videos, stories and behind-the-scenes exclusives to keep veteran, vintage and classic vehicle enthusiasts entertained until the event can return in 2022.

A night of jazz

Join the trumpet-playing vocalist from The Cat Empire, Harry James Angus and the top graduating jazz musicians from the Elder Conservatorium of Music for a night of live performances Friday, September 24. Enter the historic Elder Hall and be entranced by the music that redirects The Cat Empire’s iconic sound towards a darker, strangely beautiful sound. This musical experience includes the presentation of the 2021 Helpmann Academy Jazz Awards, celebrating some of South Australia’s most promising emerging musicians.

A tale of two gardens

Open Gardens SA invites you to experience a tale of two gardens with the Working Person’s Garden and Marybank Farm open for visitors this Sunday, September 26. The Working Person’s Garden in Burnside offers an opportunity to see a professional at play as landscape architect James Hayter guides a tour of his European-aesthetic turned emerging-Australian style green space. You can also take a trip back in time and visit the Marybank Farm in Renmark with its heritage-listed 1842 Georgian style house and garden. Like all good hosts do when guests visit, you’ll be offered homemade wood oven pizzas in Burnside or a glass of wine in Marybank Farm’s charming barn. To learn more about Marybank Farm, pick up the spring 2021 issue of SALIFE Gardens & Outdoor Living magazine.

Wine all week

This week is the first time Howard Vineyard’s cellar door and restaurant will trade across all seven days as the winery embraces the return of warmer weather. From Monday, September 20, visitors to Howard Vineyard will have access to the winery’s full offering at the Clover + Stone restaurant, including a la carte and casual menu options in addition to Janchi – a Korean party banquet. A selection of wines from chardonnay to shiraz will be available for tastings as the cellar door opens its doors every day in preparation for spring.

Lamb in the valley

The annual spring Festival of the Lamb will be taking place again from September 22 to September 28. The multi-day festival celebrates the first buds of the vines and the premier time for new-season lamb with a week of fresh lamb dishes, Clare Valley wines and exhibitions featuring local artisans. The festival showcases local produce and supports hotels and restaurants in the region. With a paddock-to-plate culture, the Clare Valley will be serving up something delicious in the most ethical way.

For more of what’s on this month, check out September The Luxury Issue of SALIFE magazine.