There's more to see and do than ever before as we gear up for the busiest weekend in the South Australian calendar.

Words Elisabeth Marie

Adelaide meets the world

WOMADelaide 2022 kicks off Friday, March 11 with four days of music, arts and dance from around the world. The rich variety of programs includes the Taste the World food and cooking demonstrations that feature festival artists introducing audiences to the food and culture of their homelands. The KidZone is a dedicated space for children, with nature-play activities, stories, singing, dancing and educational entertainment in a family-friendly environment. The Global Village will feature more than 100 international food, retail and community stalls, while the Healing Village will be providing a range of relaxation, remedial, and alternative therapies for weary festival bodies.

Future of festivals

The Festival Plaza reopens on Friday, March 11 with Festival Plaza presents, a four-day program of live music and deejays, art, games, street theatre and plenty to eat and drink in celebration of this newly redeveloped public space. Bring the kids to play in the water feature and engage with the giant, interactive screen, or meet friends at the Goodie Goodie Cafe by day and the Arbour Bar by night.

Something fishy

The world’s first inflatable fountain will take over Keith Stephenson Park in Mount Barker from Wednesday, March 9 until Monday, March 14. Cupid’s Koi Garden – a group of large inflatable goldfish with LED eyes and an interactive soundtrack – is the creation of “Happiness Architects” ENESS as part of the Adelaide Festival. Be warned, these friendly fish have a habit of squirting water at park visitors.

Important conversations

From Saturday, March 12 to Monday, March 14 visit WOMADelaide for a series of enlightening live conversations with The Planet Talks. Thinkers, scientists, activists, writers, environmentalists, journalists, economists and communicators explore everything from whether children should get the vote to how we can reshape the way our agricultural system works and why we should all be happy that insects outnumber humans 20 million to one.

Adelaide authors

Hosted in the Barbara Long Room of the Clare Town Hall as part of the Clare Show Market on Saturday, March 12, the mini writer’s event Reading Between the Vines will feature readings, book sales and book signings from five local authors. Between 9am and 1pm, get to know the people behind the pages, Dr Samantha Battams, Wendy Altschwager, Lilly Barrett, Sue Neudegg and Portia Stanton-Noble as you learn about their latest books with scheduled talks and book signings throughout the morning.

Light up the sky

Presented by Gluttony and the Adelaide Fringe, Sky Song will be running through to Sunday, March 20 at Leconfield and Richard Hamilton Wines in McLaren Vale. Created by drone art specialists, Celestial, and First Nations Artists, Sky Song brings the sky to life with hundreds of drones flying in formation to a soundtrack of First Nation storytelling through poetry and song. The 40-minute performance is the world’s first feature-length drone show and marks the beginning of new technologically ground-breaking performance artwork.

A day at the races

South Australia’s biggest day of horse racing, The Adelaide Cup 2022 will be held at Morphettville Racecourse on Monday, March 14. The event promises to be full of action, with live racing, fashions on the field and entertainment alongside a range of hospitality packages that are tailored to fit any group.

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