South Australian summers are legendary – from balmy evenings in the city to beachside bonfires.
This 2025–26 season (Dec 2025–Feb 2026) sees Adelaide and regional SA buzzing with everything from quirky arts carnivals to wine-soaked weekends and family fireworks.
I’ve rounded up the can’t-miss events: each entry shows the name, dates, location, highlights and whether it’s free or ticketed, with sources for the details. Ready to pack your picnic rug?
St John Carols by Candlelight – Saturday 13 December 2025 (Elder Park, Adelaide) – Free
Every summer, the city gathers for Carols by Candlelight under the stars.
I’ve been to this magical Elder Park tradition – kids in antlers, picnics on the grass, and live community choirs by dusk.
This year it’s on 13 Dec 2025, gates open at 3 pm. Think festive market stalls, Santa visits, a community concert at 5 pm and then the main Carols concert at 8.15 pm.
At the end, fireworks light up the sky. The vibe is very Aussie – families singing “Away in a Manger” together under gum trees.
It’s a free event (just bring a rug, snacks and heaps of Christmas cheer). For more, see the official site listed above.
One of the longest-running traditions in Adelaide, Bay Sheffield is a wild beachfront athletics carnival that rivals any footy match for atmosphere.
This iconic event runs 27–28 Dec 2025, and is free to watch.
By day, you’ll see Aussie sprinters racing up the sand (imagine Collingrove vs. Australia Bank on the track), and by night, there’s a carnival funfair on Glenelg foreshore (dodgem cars, stilt-walkers, carnival food).
I’ve seen toddlers and grandparents all cheering together – it’s classic family fun.
The Fold’s guide says the competition is “the richest and most prestigious foot racing event” in SA.
In short, Bay Sheffield is a vibrant, family-friendly holiday tradition.
New Year’s Eve Fireworks – 31 December 2025 (Elder Park, Adelaide) – Free
Ring in 2026 with a bang! On NYE, Adelaide’s Riverbank lights up with two free fireworks shows.
Elder Park hosts the “premier Riverbank celebration” with live music and fireworks at 9 pm (for kids) and at midnight.
Think street food trucks, DJs on the stage and hundreds of families gathered on the lawns to countdown.
The city’s official guide promises “family-friendly fireworks launching at 9 pm… then the welcome-2026 fireworks for all to cheer”.
I’ve been there – it’s a fantastic community atmosphere. (Just remember, it’s free – but plan your parking early.)
New Year’s Eve Fireworks – 31 December 2025 (Glenelg Beach, Adelaide) – Free
If you’re down at the bay, Glenelg Beach also throws a family-friendly party on NYE.
Holdfast Bay Council runs free firework displays: a kid-appropriate show at ~9:30 pm (synced to music) and big ones at midnight on the pier.
Live DJs and entertainment keep everyone dancing on the sand beforehand.
It’s a relaxed beach vibe – perfect if you want fireworks without the city crowds. Like the riverfront show, this is open to all (no tickets).
SummerVines Festival – 16–26 January 2026 (McLaren Vale) – Mixed (some free, some ticketed)
McLaren Vale’s SummerVines is a 10-day wine-and-food festival celebrating “the very best of Summer in the Vale”.
Mark it in your diary (16–26 Jan 2026). In past years, I’ve wandered from cellar door to cellar door, sipping new-release Shiraz by picnic tables and listening to acoustic guitar under shady gums.
This event’s charm is its variety: there are free community gatherings (like markets and farm tours) and ticketed tastings or dinners.
It’s proudly supported by Tourism SA and shows off McLaren Vale’s laid-back coastal lifestyle.
Highlights include wine-blending seminars, night markets, live music in vineyards, and sunset beach picnics. (Keep an eye on the website – the full program drops in late 2025.)
Tunarama Festival – 16–18 January 2026 (Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula) – Free
Dubbed “Seafood Capital of Australia”, Port Lincoln throws one of the quirkiest Aussie festivals I’ve seen.
Tunarama 2026 runs 16–18 Jan and revolves around the Tuna Toss! Picture deckhands heaving frozen tuna over a bar – a wild spectacle honouring Port Lincoln’s fishing heritage.
There’s also a colourful street parade, seafood stalls and cooking demos, and live music showcasing local talent.
If you love fresh ocean fare, this is heaven: expect plenty of local sashimi, prawns, and oysters.
There are community events for all ages (kids’ face-painting, locals’ fishing comps, multicultural performances).
By night, there are dance parties on the foreshore.
Tunarama is free to attend and family-friendly – I once sampled lobster rolls while cheering on tuna-hurlers with visitors from all over.
Kangaroo Island Cup Carnival – 19–22 February 2026 (Cygnet River Racecourse, Kangaroo Island) – Ticketed
Saddle up for KI’s biggest event of summer! The Kangaroo Island Racing Club Cup Carnival (sponsored by SeaLink) is a three-day country-racing extravaganza from Thursday 19 to Saturday 21 Feb 2026.
Over 3,000 people flock to the picturesque Cygnet River Racecourse each year, making it KI’s must-do.
Thursday’s race meet is a laid-back day at the “paddock” and builds up to Saturday’s fashion-on-the-field Cup Day.
Some people have donned their Sunday best and sip local gin and wine in the sunshine – it feels a bit like a winemaker’s picnic on the green.
There’s a famous “Long Lunch” marquee (sit-down, gourmet food under a tent), and this year, a new “Past The Post” hospitality area with cocktails and DJs.
Note: you’ll need tickets to enter (general admission plus optional VIP areas), but kids under 16 go free.
This is my pick for “most delicious local festival.” On 28 Feb 2026, Beachport (on the Limestone Coast) hosts the Crayfish Festival in honour of the southern rock lobster (the region’s pride).
It’s a day-long party with live music, market stalls and huge crayfish dishes – I’m talking full crays, crayfish burgers and lobster pasta as far as the eye can see.
The beachfront park is filled with local wine and beer stands (yes, they license it fully), food trucks, arts stalls and games for kids.
There’s even a crayfish cook-off and a deckhand tug-of-war!
The festival is ticketed (around $33), but children 13 and under are free with a guardian. Family-friendly activities abound (face-painting, giant slides – see below).
No SA summer festival list is complete without Adelaide Fringe – the world’s largest open-access arts festival.
This year’s Fringe runs from 20 Feb to 22 Mar 2026, so it just sneaks into the summer season.
Adelaide’s CBD becomes theatre land: comedy clubs, cabaret shows, street performers at Rundle Mall, and bohemian chaos at the Garden of Unearthly Delights in the park.
(In fact, Fringe organisers boast that last year 1,500 shows filled 500+ venues.) It’s a ticketed event – you buy per show – but you can wander the free street venues any evening to soak up the vibe.
I’ve lost count of how many nights I spent at Fringe: one minute you’re laughing at a clown over dinner, the next you’re jaw-dropped by aerial acrobats.
Colourful posters line North Terrace, and everywhere you go, there’s someone impromptu entertaining the crowd.
It’s the ultimate summer event for the curious – there’s truly something for everyone, and it’s on KAURNA Country with a big First Nations welcome (Fringe acknowledges Kaurna land).
Tickets go on sale on 5 Dec 2025 – keep an eye on AdelaideFringe.com.au for program details.
Wrap-Up
South Australia in summer feels alive – long days, balmy nights, and something happening in every corner of the state.
From singing carols under the stars to tasting wine in McLaren Vale or watching tuna fly in Port Lincoln, each festival brings its own flavour of fun.
These events aren’t just for tourists. They’re a celebration of South Australian life – food, music, art, and plenty of good company.
So start planning early, pack your picnic rug, and make this summer one to remember.
Ready to dive in? Mark your favourites, grab your tickets, and get set for a season of sunshine, community, and unforgettable moments.
