From 4-21 July, the city after dark will transform into a giant canvas, where world-renowned artists, innovators and performers will illuminate familiar streets, highlight hidden corners and reimagine iconic landmarks.
From breathtaking light installations to immersive multimedia and musical experiences, Illuminate Adelaide offers a diverse program of events that cater to all tastes, interests and budgets.
Last year’s Illuminate Adelaide was a massive hit, generating a record-breaking $54.3 million for South Australia’s visitor economy. With over 1.3 million attendances, including 15,000 interstate and international visitors, the event proved to be a tourism major draw during the traditionally quiet winter period.
It also created nearly 34,000 visitor nights and more than 4000 employment opportunities for locals. As one of the year’s major events, Illuminate Adelaide is supported by the state government through the South Australian Tourism Commission.
This year’s program of interactive events, music performances and installations is set to be even more awesome than previous years.
Curated by Creative Directors and Co-founders Rachael Azzopardi and Lee Cumberlidge, it will involve almost 150 local, national and international artists – including 62 from overseas. It’s an event that not only draws visitors from around the world but also inspires locals to see their city in a new light – quite literally.
The festival will guide you on a journey through a CBD that’s had a serious glow-up: she’s bold, bright and bursting with creativity.
So shed your Oodie and Uggs, step out into the night and embrace the magic of Illuminate Adelaide this July. Here’s your guide to what’s in store – including some fabulous freebies.
The headliners not to miss
Fire Gardens at Adelaide Botanic Garden is THE
ticketed event not to miss! Witness the mesmerising flaming sculptures, live music and candlelit archways, as you blaze a trail through a wonderland lit by over 7000 giant fire pots. This amazing display by Compagnie Carabosse promises to be a festival highlight – and the talk of the town.
Another must-do is the magic nature experience at EDEN, Adelaide’s exclusive interactive digital garden. Created by flora&faunavisions, this immersive installation allows you to plant seeds and watch a vibrant ecosystem bloom on a vast LED canvas. Discover the beauty and importance of our planet through play and creativity.
For the music lover in your life, Illuminate Adelaide has a massive Christmas in July present in store! Unsound Adelaide – one of the world’s boldest and most daring experimental music events – celebrates 11 years of pushing musical boundaries with two huge nights of experimental music at the Dom Polski Centre. The lineup features some of the coolest music icons on the planet like Kim Gordon and The Caretaker.
If you’re looking to kick on, Unsound Club is an untamed late-night experience with blinding beats, live visuals, and a curated line-up of DJs and artists. Leave your preconceptions at the door and discover what happens after midnight.
Live @ The Lab returns for its third year, showcasing cutting-edge local and national artists in a series of immersive live music events. Expect hypnotic rhythms, dynamic visuals, and unforgettable collaborations between musicians, DJs and visual storytellers.
The exciting, experimental Illuminate Adelaide music program also includes Dutch pianist Joep Beving, an Australian exclusive performance by British electronic musician Max Cooper and the playful, thought-provoking double bassist, vocalist and composer Helen Svoboda – who’s written an entire album inspired by vegetables.
City Lights: A journey through art and sound
From 5-21 July, City Lights (pictured above) transforms the CBD into an interactive playground full of 40 interactive surprises, thought-provoking installations, and breathtaking projections from the world’s leading creative studios – and it’s all completely free. Here are a few must-see stops on your adventure:
ChronoHarp: Gather your crew and create a symphony of light and sound at this giant, multi-player instrument.
Time: Let your mind bend as you explore the concept of time through captivating visual projections at Government House.
Spectrum of Happiness: Swing into joy and create a colourful melody with friends at this interactive installation.
There’s a whole lot more to enjoy: Wander through captivating installations like intangible #form and the super-fun Grand Mix, where you can party like it’s 1599. Don’t miss the mesmerising dance and visual art of Ngarrindjeri Ruwi or the animated lunar lights of GLOW. An interactive map will be available here in July, so you don’t miss a thing!
After your City Lights adventure, head to Lot Fourteen’s Base Camp, where entry is free and everyone is welcome. Cosy up by firepits, treat yourself to a local drink from Alpha Box & Dice, 23rd Street Distillery and more and enjoy delicious eats from Adelaide’s top chefs.
With live performances and hidden gems to discover, Base Camp is the perfect spot to discuss the art you’ve seen and make new memories.
Illuminate the family-friendly way!
Illuminate Adelaide isn’t just for the cool kids who’ve reached legal drinking age. It’s also very much for the real kids too!
The festival’s interactive installations and magical light displays are perfect for families desperate to entertain their kids on those long, dark winter evenings. As a plus, many ticketed events are free for the under four crowd.
The event hours are kid-friendly too: EDEN and Superluminal run during daylight hours as well as after dark, so there’s no need for anyone to stay up past their bedtime.
Patch Theatre’s Superluminal is a must-see school holiday adventure for kids, with an interactive installation that takes children on a journey through time to create their own mythical beasts. With colourful lanterns, magical glow walls, and hands-on activities, it’s the perfect way to spark young imaginations.
Another event children will love is Universal Kingdom: Prehistoric Nights at Adelaide Zoo. It’s a magical world of after-dark puppetry and state-of-the-art animation. Ancient creatures will roam the zoo for the first time in millions of years, captivating both kids and adults alike.
For the full Illuminate Adelaide 2024 program and to book tickets, click here.
This story originally appeared on The Post – a media partnership between the Government of South Australia and Solstice Media to inform young South Australians about the policies that underpin issues affecting their lives.
