The South Australian Country Music Festival and Awards is the biggest and most prestigious country music awards in South Australia and the third biggest in Australia.

Winners compete for South Australian Awards of Excellence and are presented in the South Australian ‘Tamworth Showcase’ each year at the Tamworth Country Music festival.

New and young talent is discovered every year and presentations will be made at the South Australian Awards Concert at the Bonney Theatre Barmera (bookings essential).

Known as the ‘Friendly Festival’ it also boasts a Country Music Hall of Fame and a Hands of Fame Park.

Thousands of visitors from across Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand make the trip to the Riverland to enjoy ten days of fun.

Where?

Various locations, Riverland

Official Website & 2012/2013 Dates

• riverlandcountrymusic.com

Escape to the biggest picnic race in the world.

Oakbank is a carnival like no other in the world. It rivals the Melbourne Cup in size and colour and it’s 70,000 strong crowd annually on Easter Monday makes it the biggest Picnic Race Meeting on Earth.

Easter Saturday attracts a crowd of approximately 45,000 and sets the scene for a fantastic carnival.

Where?

Adelaide Hills

Official Website & 2012/2013 Dates

• oakbankracingclub.com.au

2011 Saturday Program

Full Festival including Live Entertainment, Market Stalls, Food Stalls, Roving Acts, Children’s Workshops, Recycled Sculpture Prize / Exhibition and lots more

2011 Sunday Program

Live Entertainment – Come on down and relax on the lawns of the Whyalla Foreshore listening to some great live entertainment

All Enquiries to Events Whyalla including registration for the Recycled Sculpture Prize / Exhibition.

Where?

Eyre Peninsula

Official Website & 2012/2013 Dates

• eventswhyalla.org.au

After almost two years of planning the Yamaha National Band Championships Adelaide 2011 have been officially launched.

It began in spectacular style with the current Australian Champion Marching Concert Band, Unley Concert Band, marching along Rundle Mall to the tune of “Waltzing Matilda”. They then delighted spectators with a selection of rousing music.

Dr Kevin Cameron, the President of the National Band Council of Australia, officially launched the Yamaha National Band Championships. The Band marched away along the Mall. We were then treated to a concert by the Para Hills Brass Band.

Where?

Adelaide

Official Website & 2012/2013 Dates

• sabandassociation.org

Over 1,500 of Australia’s up and coming swimming stars will compete in a six-day program at the newly built state-of-the-art Aquatic Centre at Marion.

Where?

Adelaide

Official Website & 2012/2013 Dates

• www.swimming.org.au

Enjoy fine food prepared by leading chefs around the region throughout the weekend. Wineries partner with restaurants and entertainment to provide the ultimate Clare Valley experience of elegant wine and fantastic food.

The purchase of a XL5 glass for $5 at the first port of call acts as a passport and can be used at all participating wineries.

Wineries will serve 150ml of wine in the gourmet glass. 100ml represents one standard drink (12% alc.vol.)

The Clare Valley Winemakers Inc encourages responsible consumption of alcohol and employs responsible service of alcohol policies.

Where?

Clare Valley

Official Website & 2012/2013 Dates

• www.clarevalleywinemakers.com.au/Gourmet/

The Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival is organised by the Penola Festival Association Incorporated. During its 20 year history it has grown to become one of Australia’s leading regional arts festivals. The festival celebrates the literary and arts heritage of Penola, the fine wines of Coonawarra and our premium regional produce.

The Penola Festival Association Inc. is a voluntary, non-profit organisation. Since its inception the festival has attracted major events and exhibitions that have appealed to a broad audience and have contributed to our growing profile. By amalgamating with the Coonawarra Vignerons and incorporating the ‘Coonawarra Unearthed’ programme into the Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival we have continued to broaden the only arts based festival in the Limestone Coast. We are fortunate to be one of the few festivals in regional Australia that has the potential to generate significant cultural tourism with an easily recognisable wine brand in ‘Coonawarra’.

Art Prizes

The art prizes associated with the festival are an important element of the event and provide colour, excitement and immense cultural value:

“The prizes seek to encourage artists to capture the essence of Penola or Coonawarra and in the case of the John Shaw Neilson prize the inspiration gained from his poetry”.
Peter Muller, former President, Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival.

In 2008 the Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival Committee decided that the profile of our most unique art prize, the John Shaw Neilson Art Prize, should be raised. Our first effort to do this has seen the prize winner now receiving $5000. The art prize is co-sponsored by the festival and Wattle Range Council. A prize for an artist who enters and lives within the boundaries of the local council area is sponsored by Susan Pender.

Where?

Limestone Coast

Official Website & 2012/2013 Dates

• artsfestival.com.au

Kernewek Lowender – Copper Coast Cornish Festival is held in the historic copper mining towns of Kadina, Moonta and Wallaroo on the Yorke Peninsula.

Established in 1973 from an idea of the late Don Dunstan, then Premier of South Australia, the Kernewek Lowender has grown to become the World’s Largest Cornish Festival.

The Festival is held over seven days with the highlight being ‘The Big Weekend’ which comprises of three large Fairs, the Village Green Fair Fer Kernewek and the Classic Cavalcade of Cars.

The festival is packed with a variety of traditional Cornish activities and other festival like events. Visitors can expect to experience Furry Dancing, Heritage Services, art, music, craft, formal dinners, Swanky, Cornish Pasties, live entertainment and much more. There is something for everyone at the Kernewek Lowender.

Where?

Yorke Peninsula

Official Website & 2012/2013 Dates

• www.kernewek.org

All under the one roof at South Australia’s creative heart, the Adelaide Festival Centre, you can experience the Adelaide Cabaret Festival every June beginning on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend. Over the last ten years the Festival has become a major event in the international and Australian arts calendar, as the most comprehensive cabaret festival in the world with a reputation of highlighting the best local, national and international artists in the cabaret genre, with classic and contemporary cabaret performances.

In 2011 the Adelaide Festival Centre will present its eleventh annual Adelaide Cabaret Festival from 10 to 25 June, under the Artistic Directorship of entertainer David Campbell.

The full 2011 Adelaide Cabaret Festival program will be launched on Saturday 2 April 2011 on the Festival Theatre stage. For further information visit the website.

Where?

Adelaide

Official Website & 2012/2013 Dates

• www.adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au

The Barossa Vintage Festival is the largest and longest running wine tourism festival in Australia.

This traditional celebration has something for everyone. From food and wine, arts and crafts, to music and history – there is something to entertain, please and inspire.

The Vintage Festival is a biennial event that runs over nine days, encompassing all aspects of the Barossa community. Wineries are joined by businesses, civic groups, churches and individuals to stage more than 100 events that make up the festival.

The festival celebrated its 60th Anniversary in 2007. With the theme ‘Celebrate the Blend’ the festival showcases the rich diversity of the Barossa region and celebrates the food, the wine and the people. Today, the Barossa is South Australia’s leading wine tourism asset and the Barossa Vintage Festival continues to be the jewel in the Barossa’s event calendar.

Where?

Barossa

Official Website & 2012/2013 Dates

• barossavintagefestival.com.au