There’s no need to hibernate this semester break; Adelaide is the city of festivals all year round. Between the mesmerising lights of Illuminate Adelaide and the cabaret classics of the Glenelg Winter Arts Festival, you’ll find the perfect event to celebrate your holidays in this monthly guide. (Image: LoggaWiggler)
By Alana Pahor | @Alana_Pahor
There’s much cause for celebration this July: semester one is over, the university holidays are in full swing and, to top it all off, the National Minimum Wage has risen to $23.23 per hour.
How are we to celebrate, though? The bitter-cold city streets aren’t exactly inviting; instead, they tempt us to spend our holidays wrapped up in a blanket burrito.
And, while the Fringe may have succeeded in enticing us out into the cold, the vibrant festivals of Mad March are long gone for the year … or are they?
If you look closely, there’s plenty of festive fun to be had this July, with the Glenelg Winter Arts Festival and Illuminate Adelaide transforming the city into a winter wonderland.
Peeking out from your blanket burrito, you may be wondering where to begin. Thankfully, OTR has compiled a list of standout events on offer this festival season, to help you make the most of your semester break celebrations.
Visual art/film
You may remember renowned Mexican artist Frida Kahlo from our June guide; this month’s First Friday at the Art Gallery of South Australia celebrates Kahlo and her feminist legacy.
First Fridays: Viva la Revolución is taking over the gallery on July 7, featuring a panel discussion on her contemporary relevance, Latin-inspired music performed by DJ Señorita, and Mexican eats from La Popular Taqueria.
“Hope” is the thing with feathers, an art exhibition inspired by Emily Dickinson’s poem of the same name, is showing at the Kerry Packer Civic Gallery until July 28.
The artworks, which explore the triumphs of hope in the face of adversity, are by creators who attend visual art programs run by Neami National, a community mental health service.
Make|Shift is on at the Mill Adelaide from July 8 to 28 as part of Illuminate Adelaide, showcasing digital projection displays by six South Australian artists.
The displays, which explore the “making and shifting [of] time, place and space”, will debut in an immersive opening weekend on July 8 and 9.
At Mercury Cinema, the intriguing drama A Light Never Goes Out is showing on July 18 and 28.
The film tells the story of a widow grieving the death of her husband, who was a neon sign craftsman, in a “love letter” to Hong Kong’s fading neon sign-making tradition.
Festivals/markets
Illuminate Adelaide is back this month, with its lights displays weaving through the city like phosphorescent vines until July 30.
If you’re looking to experience the magic without dipping into your pockets, you may be interested in City Lights, a free program that is running from July 7 to 23.
Sprawling across Adelaide’s north, east and west precincts, the program will adorn our cultural and heritage buildings with immersive lights displays.
Over at the Adelaide Botanic Garden, the creators of last year’s Illuminate Adelaide favourite, Light Cycles, present their new after-dark experience, Resonate.
The experience, which is on until July 30, leads visitors on a trail through the gardens, where they’ll come across a series of bold, nature-inspired lights installations.
Mirror Mirror, a maze of interactive digital installations, is running in Victoria Square until July 30.
The maze invites you on a unique journey through one of three doorways, where you’ll transform memories into light displays, share poetry and more.
If you’d rather sit down and enjoy an evening drink, Storytellers Distillery is open for business in the State Library’s Mortlock Chamber until July 23.
The pop-up gin bar plays host to music, live performances and, from its second opening week, a choose-your-own-adventure storytelling experience, Tattletales.
Tomorrow, the Fringe returns to Adelaide in the form of Gluttony’s Glenelg Winter Arts Festival, which will run until July 23.
There’s plenty of daring acts on offer, including flirty cabaret-circus show Peek and “Australia’s hottest monthly fire show”, INFERNO.
However, those after a quieter way to enjoy the festival need not worry; there are plenty of crafty workshops available, too.
Learn Embroidery and Make Your Own Textile Jewellery Workshop is running on July 12, and Mali Isabel Art Paint and Sip Workshop is on from July 7 to 23.
For the full program, take a look at the Glenelg Winter Arts Festival’s events list.
Talks/plays/workshops
Another Fringe favourite, Lost in Translation, is back this July with their new show, Lost in Translation presents: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
Showing on July 29, the show’s performers take the film script of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, run it through an online translator 12 times, and then read it live on stage.
Fans of Agatha Christie-type murder mysteries may be interested in attending the “YULE BE SORRY!” – Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre at the Stamford Plaza on July 15.
The audience will join six actors in solving a murder mystery set on Christmas Eve, 1939, gathering clues and discussing theories as they enjoy a three-course dinner.
For any bookworms and aspiring authors, Writers SA is hosting their free Winter Speed Book Launches event at the State Library on July 30.
The event will feature book launches from local authors, opportunities to ask questions about their work, books available for purchase, and drinks and nibbles.
Music/concerts
The Gov is celebrating in style this July with their 30th Birthday Blues Extravaganza.
The July 8 event showcases local blues artists The Streamliners, Romaldo Groove, Stormhorse and Dusty Lee Stephenson.
The Gov’s annual Winter Ball is also returning on July 29, featuring dancing tunes from Lucky Seven and the Honey Badgers.
July is a big month for pop-punk/rock fans, with Pierce the Veil and Beartooth coming to the Entertainment Centre on July 24, and You Me At Six coming to the Gov on July 11.
Do you want to celebrate the end of exams with fellow university students? Lion Arts Factory is hosting their Transmission Indie END OF EXAMS Party on July 8.
Transmission DJs will spin favourite indie tunes from Arctic Monkeys, Spacey Jane, Tame Impala, Florence and the Machine, and more.
It turns out that, unlike what we thought in March, Adelaide can be festive all year round.
Now all that’s left for you to do is shrug off your burrito blanket and celebrate your well-deserved semester break. Stay tuned for our August edition!
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