Adelaide is famously branded the 'Festival State', reflecting a cultural calendar dominated by major arts and cultural events, particularly during the late summer months.
The Festival Season
February and March are known colloquially as 'Mad March', a period when the city hosts several overlapping major events. The Adelaide Fringe is the second-largest annual arts festival in the world, transforming the city with pop-up venues and performances. Running concurrently are the Adelaide Festival, a curated international arts festival, and WOMADelaide, a major world music and dance festival held in Botanic Park.
Food and Drink
The city has a strong culinary culture, heavily influenced by its proximity to premium agricultural and wine regions. The Adelaide Central Market, established in 1869, is one of the largest undercover fresh produce markets in the Southern Hemisphere and serves as a focal point for the city's food culture. Suburban dining hubs, such as Gouger Street and North Adelaide, offer diverse restaurant scenes.
Institutions
The cultural precinct on North Terrace houses the city's major institutions, including the Art Gallery of South Australia, the South Australian Museum, and the State Library of South Australia. These institutions hold significant collections of Australian, Indigenous, and international art and historical artifacts.