5 great shows to catch in South Australia's parks, gardens and heritage sites this festival season
Mad March is almost here, when Adelaide comes alive with colour, creativity and world-class events.
From the CBD to some of South Australia’s most memorable outdoor and heritage spaces, festival energy spills well beyond the usual stages.
If you’re looking to experience the festivals a little differently, here’s where to catch a show in our national parks, iconic heritage sites and beautiful gardens across South Australia.
1. A Concise Compendium of Wonder
20 Feb – 15 March
Adelaide Botanic Garden
Don't miss these world premiere theatre productions by Slingsby in Adelaide Botanic Garden. As part of the Adelaide Festival, step inside The Wandering Hall of Possibility on the Garden's leafy Plane Tree Lawn to discover a trio of imaginative worlds, each containing a timely and timeless tale. Three new stories, inspired by classic fairytales, intertwine to form an unforgettable triptych.
2. Dupang Festival 2026
20 - 21 March
Dupang - Long Point - Coorong
A three-day celebration of culture, Country and community on Ngarrindjeri Lands at the Coorong waterfront. Hosted by Uncle Moogy Sumner and the Tal-Kin-Jeri Dance Group, the festival brings together Aboriginal dancers, artists, weavers and knowledge keepers from across Australia to share their skills and stories. Join cultural workshops in weaving, carving and dance, explore the First Nations marketplace plus much more.
While you're in the area, why not explore other events happening in and around Coorong National Park as part of our Park of the Month program for March.
3. Self-Guided Twilight Tours
26 February – 21 March
Adelaide Gaol
Step into the Adelaide Gaol after dark with their special limited-time Self-Guided Twilight Tours.
Explore the grounds at your own pace and uncover the hidden stories that linger within these historic walls. As dusk settles and shadows stretch across the yards, the Gaol’s past feels closer than ever; creating an eerie, atmospheric experience you won’t soon forget.
4. Yield Strength: Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art
27 February – 8 June
Adelaide Botanic Garden
In a free exhibition running as part of the Adelaide Festival, Yield Strength reveals how materials, selfhood and society are tested - and transformed - under pressure. The exhibition features 24 artists who push and reshape their mediums to create rich, layered experiences across the Art Gallery of South Australia, Samstag Museum of Art and in two locations within Adelaide Botanic Garden.
5. Ediacaran Experience Tour
14 - 29 March
Blacksmith Shop at Nilpena Ediacara National Park
Explore the ancient world of the Ediacaran period on a 2-hour guided tour of Nilpena Ediacara National Park. Visit the historic woolshed and enjoy the immersive audio-visual display in the restored Blacksmith’s Shop. Here you will see the Ediacara animals come back to life via the world-class 20-minute animation, and be able to touch the 9‑metre long Alice's Restaurant Fossil bed that was painstakingly relocated from the fossil research site.
Explore South Australia’s iconic places in a new way
As Mad March lights up Adelaide and beyond, there’s no better way to experience festival season than in the places that make South Australia special. From world-class art and theatre in the Adelaide Botanic Garden, to cultural celebrations at the Coorong, after-dark stories at Adelaide Gaol, and ancient discoveries at Nilpena Ediacara National Park, this season invites you to see familiar places in a new light. Gather your friends, plan ahead and make the most of this festival season.
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