Australia Day 2021 is likely to look pretty different in Adelaide this year, due to COVID-19, yet more than ever before it is about reflecting and unifying as a nation.
The essence of Australia Day is about community spirit, and there will be no shortage of inspiring South Australian stories to share or national pride to celebrate. Australia Day means different things to different people.
The Australia Day council of SA (ADCSA) encourages every Australian to acknowledge Australia Day in a way that’s meaningful to them.
Yes, there are significant changes to the official 2021 Australia Day events program for Adelaide, but ADCSA will be hosting a stellar line up of community events combining music, food, and performance across the city.
Official Australia Day events in Adelaide 2021 will be happening at:
- Adelaide Central Market
- Botanic Gardens
- Adelaide Central Market
- Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Other Australia Day events in South Australia 2021
- Victor Harbor Soldiers Memorial Garden
- Renmark Swimming Centre
- Waikerie Football oval
- Woodhouse Activity Centre
- Barossa Valley Chocolate Company
- Bounce
- City of Onkaparinga Family Fair
- City of Campbelltown BBQ
- Family Fun Day at Auchendarrach House Mt Barker
Of course there are so many ways to mark this Australia Day by getting out in your local community in a COVID Safe way; head to a playground, or the beach and spend the day with your family and friends, or make a booking and eat out at one of the fab kid friendly restaurants in Adelaide.
Australia Day in Adelaide 2021
AUSTRALIA DAY IN THE ARENA
FEATURING BIRDS OF TOKYO
26 January 12:30pm & 6:30pm
Free event. Limited tickets available.
Enjoy live music by Birds of Tokyo, a mesmerising Welcome to Country, spectacular modern orchestra performance and community parade.
Australia Day 2021 is a time to acknowledge our First Nations peoples, diverse community and heroic frontline workers, risking their own lives to save ours.
We celebrate the Australian spirit, our mateship and our sense of community. We find optimism and hope as we look to the future in a time of unprecedented challenge and change.
MOURNING IN THE MORNING, SMOKING CEREMONY
26 January 8:00am- 9:00am
Set against the picturesque backdrop of Botanic Park/Tainmuntilla, the Smoking Ceremony will be presented by 2020 Australian of the Year Award nominee, Zibeon Fielding, and performed by world renowned Senior Elder, Major Sumner.
What is a Smoking Ceremony?
Smoking Ceremonies are an ancient custom among First Nations peoples in which healing and cleansing native plants are burnt to acknowledge the ancestors and pay respect to the land, waters and sea of country.
The Smoking Ceremony is also an important way of passing down culture through the core elements of music, dance, language and ceremony.
The Smoking Ceremony is a significant element of the Australia Day program in South Australia, which continues to remind people that regardless of how you mark our national day, Australia’s First Nations peoples are the foundation of our nation’s story and the world’s oldest living culture.
Our community is given the opportunity to reflect on our history, learn more and understand traditions, culture, history and heritage.
Guests will also be treated to songs from the heart by Singer Glenn Skuthorpe, truth telling by Rosemary Wanganeen, and traditional dance from Port Augusta’s Dusty Feet Mob.
Guests are invited to join the ceremony by being seated on the earth in physically distanced circles or chairs.
We welcome all Australians to join us in this mesmerising experience.
The event will be streamed on Youtube for those who are unable to attend in person.
AUSTRALIA DAY IN THE MARKETS
21-23 January 11-2pm daily
Free event. Bookings not required.
Nothing connects us more than food.
Join us at the the markets for live cooking demonstrations by Rosa Matto and Kevin Kropinyeri, an interactive art installation, art and craft workshops by Little Picassos, a traditional Smoking Ceremony and plenty of BBQ inspiration as we reflect, respect and celebrate the stories of us.
AUSTRALIA DAY IN RUNDLE MALL
23-26 January 11-2pm daily
Free event. Bookings not required.
Rundle Mall will come alive this Australia Day with a euphony of sounds and sights that tell the story of us.
Join us in Gawler Place as we reflect, respect and celebrate through a free daily program of live music, storytelling and participatory art.
FREE Australia Day Family Fair in Onkaparinga
A new free event at Morphett Vale’s Wilfred Taylor Reserve will headline Australia Day in the City of Onkaparinga, with fun for the whole family.
The Family Fair kicks off at 11am until 2pm on Tuesday 26 January at the Reserve’s ‘The Green’ kickabout and picnic lawn area, with activities including:
- Animals Anonymous: Australian animals to look at and hold
- Face painting
- Wood chopping show
- Life Be In It – giant games including Jenga, Connect Four and snakes and ladders
- Live music by David Hull
- Bubble show and roving artist by Adelaide Children’s Entertainment
- Food and market stalls
If attending, please adhere to the conditions of entry to comply with COVID-19 regulations. This event will have a limited capacity and is alcohol and smoke free, with no pets permitted.
Australia Day Breakfasts
Council will also host its free and family friendly annual Australia Day Breakfasts at:
- Happy Valley Sports Park
- Aldinga’s Symonds Reserve
- Willunga’s Old Court House
- Ramsay Place, Noarlunga.
The breakfasts offer a chance to connect with your community to reflect, respect and celebrate our collective history and cultural diversity, our past achievements and our exciting future together.
Come along from 8am to 11am to enjoy some free food, a flag-raising ceremony, children’s activities and live entertainment, because we’re all part of the Australian story.
For more information:
onkaparinganow.com/australia-day-in-onkaparinga
Australia Day Celebrations at Victor Harbor
Join the City of Victor Harbor for the Australia Day Citizen of the Year Awards Presentation and Citizenship Ceremony at Soldiers Memorial Gardens.
Join us on Tuesday, 26 January 2021 at Soldiers Memorial Gardens (Flinders Parade, Victor Harbor) from 8am.
The celebrations include:
- Free BBQ breakfast from 8am to 9am
- Formal ceremony starting at 9am including:
– Welcome to Country by Leonie McCallum
– Entertainment by the City Band
– Citizenship Ceremony
– 2021 Citizen of the Year Awards presentation
For more information:
victor.sa.gov.au/notice-board/annual-events/australiaday
Tandanya: Survival Day at Tandanya
Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute is once again proudly to presenting their annual Survival Day event in 2021. Survival Day is a FREE, family friendly, non-political event offering cultural presentations, live entertainment, information, market stalls, great food, retail shopping and much more. The fun-filled day includes a live concert hosted by Natasha Wanganeen and Zibeon Fielding featuring a line-up of South Australia’s finest indigenous performers including the Nathan May Trio, Tilly Tjala Thomas, Bec Gollan, Mr. J. Whiskey featuring Us Mob 2, Kuko, Glenn Skuthorpe, Nancy Bates and Katie Aspel, Rob Edwards Band, rappers Sonz of Serpent and the Tony Minniecon Band. Traditional and contemporary dance performances will feature ‘Yellaka: Old Wisdom, New Ways’, SA First Nations Dance Collective, Dusty Feet Mob, and Talkinjeri dancers.
Tandanya Café will be open for food and drinks, the Gallery Shop and the Kaurna and Tjibruke galleries will all be open.
Attendees are required to book online to reserve a FREE ticket to assist with capacity restrictions and contact tracing.
Bookings are now open through Try Booking and are available until capacity is reached.
To book:
Renmark Swimming Centre
Renmark Swimming Centre will be hosting an inflatable fun run across the pool between 1pm and 3pm on Australia Day, 26 January. Head along and have some fun in the sun with the family on Australia Day.
For more information:
facebook.com/renmarkswimmingcentre
Waikerie Australia Day Event
Waikerie will host their annual Australia Day event in 2021, a fun filled night with live music, entertainment, Australia Day presentations and fireworks! Hosted at the Waikerie Football oval, it’s a family friendly event with plenty of things to keep the kids entertained including:
- face painting
- henna tattoos
- magician
- mini side show ally (jumping castle/dragon ride/clown game)
- live music
- free sausage sizzle for kids
- fireworks
Kids under 15 are free but still need an entry ticket!
For more information:
facebook.com/Waikerieaustraliaday
Australia Day at Woodhouse Activity Centre
While Australians are famous for abbreviating things, this year Woodhouse is doing the opposite and EXPANDING Australia Day celebrations! Woodhouse will be running the Tube Slides for 4 days straight, 23-26 January from 9.30am – 1.00pm
Woodhouse Activity Centre is calling this special period the “WAC Fab 4” (cos Aussies also like to give things nicknames)
With balmy temps forecasted in Piccadilly, we can’t conceive a better place to be – so head in for the day… or for a couple of extra bucks, pitch a tent and extend your stay and really WAC it up.
Access Challenge Hill, Disc Golf, The Labyrinth, Orienteering and more 7 days a week, Tube Slides on weekends and public holidays… and 2021 bonus “Australia Day Eve”.
Woodhouse Activity Centre’s Tube Slides are open weekends and public holidays (+ bonus Australia Day Eve in 2021) from 9.30am-1.00pm in the summer months, except when:
- Predicted rain fall in Piccadilly is greater than 5mm and 50% chance of rain
- Temperature is forecast 35 degrees or more in Piccadilly (for the safety of guests, staff and equipment – plus they’re too slow if the slide is too hot!
For more information or to book:
woodhouse.org.au/activities/tubeslide
CITY OF CAMPBELLTOWN AUSTRALIA DAY FAMILY BBQ
Tuesday 26 January 2021 | 11am – 1pm
Campbelltown Council Lawn | 172 Montacute Road, Rostrevor
Join the locals in the City of Campbelltown for a fun community event, with children’s entertainment and activities, BBQ and refreshments. Australia Day Ambassador, Mem Fox, will be in attendance, as well as live music and roving entertainers.
The Council Australia Day Awards will also be announced.
COVID-Safe Check in required to attend the event.
For more information:
ph: 8366 9222
Family Fun Day at Auchendarroch House, Mt Barker
FAMILY FUN DAY AUSTRALIA DAY – Tuesday 26 January, 2021 at Auchendarroch House, Mt Barker.
Citizenship ceremony & awards from 10am.
Free family activities 11.30am-2.30pm.
A fantastic day of FREE Family Entertainment
- FREE Sausage Sizzle
- Travelling Farm
- Giant Games
- Circus Elements
- Balloon Artist
- Photobooth
- Facepainting
- Glitter Tattoos
- Sand Pits
- Food & Drinks
For more information:
facebook.com/events/233542101549571
Barossa Valley Chocolate Company Australia Day Weekend
Barossa Valley Chocolate Company will support the Adelaide Koala Rescue this Australia Day weekend and host a range of fun and chocolatey experiences for visitors.
From Saturday 23 to Tuesday 26 of January, Barossa Valley Chocolate Company will have a special release Golden Benni Koala, with $5 from every sale donated to the Adelaide Koala Rescue (AKR). Benni the Koala, the official mascot of the Barossa Valley Chocolate Company, not only has a custom-designed chocolate mould but is also the namesake for Benni’s Café!
Across the weekend, Benni’s Café will offer some good ol’ Aussie classics on their menu, including delicious, fluffy lamingtons, a chicken parmi burger, and a special fairy bread flavoured ice cream, handmade in-house.
The Vineyard Road Cellar Door will be open daily, with wine tastings and their signature wine and chocolate pairing experience, featuring premium wines grown from vines on the property.
Live local music by local Barossan musical legend, Steve Angel will also be played on the Sunday and Tuesday afternoons overlooking the gorgeous water, making for the perfect setting to sit and relax with your mates and have a fair dinkum time.
For more information:
barossavalleychocolates.com.au
Bounce Australia Day Charity Event
On Tuesday 26th January the team at Bounce Adelaide are super excited to be holding a charity BBQ to support Backpacks 4 Kids.
All proceeds from the BBQ will be donated to this amazing charity. Backpacks 4 Kids is a charity that provides resources to contribute to the care, safety and wellbeing of young people here in SA.
However, that’s not all the day will hold!
Bounce Adelaide will have wall running demos and competitions, a basketball battle in Slam Dunk and beat the buzzer in X-Park running throughout the day! They’ll also be dishing out prizes to competition winners – you won’t want to miss this action-packed day!
SCHEDULE
Wall Running Comp & Demos: 11am session & 2pm session
Slam Dunk Comp: 12pm session & 3pm session
X-Park Beat the Buzzer: 1pm session
BBQ: 11am-4pm
To book:
