While the weather cools down, Adelaide’s kitchens heat up. This month marks the beginning of many tempting food festivals across the state. (Image: @elle_kh)
By Leia Vlahos | @leiavlahos_
Many dread Adelaide’s cooler months, but don’t fear; the city will remain bustling with delicious food to keep us warm, full and satisfied.
Check out On The Record’s guide of what’s on in May in South Australia.
Savoury and Sweet Treats
Tasting Australia is a ginormous festival and display of Adelaide’s brilliant culinary institutes, with over 150 events in its program.
The festival’s hub, town square, is in Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga and will have free entry until it closes on May 11.
Sixteen restaurants and eateries will band together to create stalls in this town square with a wide range of options for lunch, dinner, dessert, and drinks.
Tasting Australia will run on Mother’s Day, serving as a haven for those who need a last-minute plan.
Bastille Festival is a celebration of French culture and cuisine, with over 30 food stalls and 40 live performances.
With dishes from Bordeaux, Champagne, Provence, Burgundy, Alsace and Languedoc, there will be a tasting extravaganza for everyone.
The festival has free entry and runs from May 30 to June 1 at the Festival Plaza.
Roxie’s Bar will be holding a throwback party to honour its past roots as Little Miss Mexico.
Little Miss Mexico Throwback will have free entry and will house authentic Mexican street food, a Mariachi band, tequila, coronas and margaritas for the night.
Join the Little Miss Mexico Throwback on May 10 at 6pm, just before Roxie’s closes its doors later this month.
Music and Nightlife
Ball Park Music will be returning to Adelaide to celebrate the release of their eighth album.
The Brisbane locals are sure to put on an energetic show while sharing the stage with up-and-coming band Bean Magazine.
Ball Park Music will perform at Hindley St Music Hall on May 18.
Tickets can be found here.
Transmission’s Indie Sleaze Party will be a throwback like no other.
Indie Sleaze is a subculture of music and fashion popularised between the 2000s and mid-2010s.
It can be identified by its unashamedly messy and energetic attitude.
Recently, the revival of this culture has been the centre of discourse due to achievements of artists such as The Dare and Charli XCX’s brat summer movement.
So, draw that eyeliner, glitter those cheekbones, and dust off the fishnet stockings.
Transmission’s Indie Sleaze Party is on May 31 from 9:00pm at The Rhino Room.
Tickets are available here.
Gracie Abrams has become a well-known name over the past year, amassing over 996 million streams on her 2024 single ‘That’s So True’.
The popstar brings The Secret of Us tour down under with five arena shows across Australia.
Gracie Abrams will be performing at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre arena on May 13.
Tickets have sold out to Abrams’s Adelaide show, so keep an eye out for any tickets being resold!
If you’re one for a relaxing listening experience Acoustic Beats and Brews has got you covered.
The City of Adelaide will be collaborating with Coopers Alehouse for a free community event with live music and delicious beverages.
Acoustic Beats and Brews will be held in Hurtle Square/Tangkaira on May 17 and 18 from 12pm to 4pm.
Crafts and Culture
UniSA’s Student Association (USASA) will be holding a Student Market with stalls by students, free food and drinks, and even a petting zoo with some adorable animals.
It’s an excellent opportunity to support UniSA’s thriving community and hub for small business owners and artists.
USASA’s Student Market will return on Wednesday, May 14 from 11:30pm to 2:30pm.
The City of Adelaide will be holding Play in May at City Skate, South Australia’s largest skate park.
Roll on down to the skate park from 2pm to 5pm on May 18 to catch the youth skating event with food trucks and a live DJ set.
South Australia’s History Festival will run for the entirety of the month of May, with plenty of educational and fun events on offer.
The festival will feature documentaries, exhibitions, tours, and performances across the state that all explore 2025’s theme: decisions.
This theme will explore the influential decisions that led to Australia’s most historic moments, as well as the history that impacts the decisions we make today.
You can find the program for the festival here.
Markets at The Mill will be returning to Port Adelaide’s iconic Harts Mill.
The markets promise to provide over 70 diverse stalls and live music.
Make sure to head down to Harts Mill in Port Adelaide on May 25 from 10am to 3pm to find your next trinket obsession.
Don’t miss out on the incredible events on in Adelaide this month — your tastebuds will thank you! Keep up to date with On The Record for next month’s edition.
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