Welcome to Gather Round – SA’s Festival of Football
Sensational South Australia will be on show from April 4, when the AFL Gather Round’s four day festival of footy kicks off. Eighteen clubs, nine big matches, all played on home soil, from the loved lights of Adelaide Oval, to the “hallowed turf” of Norwood, plus two big clashes at Summit Sport and Recreation Park in Mount Barker.
For footy fans gathering, the atmosphere will be electric, as patriotic South Aussies show off the State globally renowned for its wineries, eateries and fine produce.
Last year, in its inaugural year, the AFL Gather Round delivered an $83 million economic boost for South Australia and this year’s new and expanded offerings aim to drive that even higher and create an even greater return for our State.
From Mt Gambier to Mt Barker – get set for a warm Gather Round welcome
More than 40,000 people are expected to travel through Mount Gambier on the way to the Gather Round. SA’s Southern City is already celebrating all things footy in anticipation of the influx of footy fans. The local community can’t wait to welcome visitors making the pilgrimage to Adelaide and the Hills.
“We are a proud sporting city with a particular love for Australian Rules Football. We are a destination in our own right and we welcome visitors who are making the pilgrimage to Adelaide for the Gather Round to kick start their footy weekend, play and stay in our city,” said City of Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin.
‘Before the Bounce’ – Mt Gambier
Before the Bounce is a program of footy-based events and activities to be held throughout the city from Saturday March 23 right through until Sunday April 7. You can catch all the details right here.
Straight to the Pool Room, The Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre (23 March – 26 May)
Cast your eyes back to some of the ways families celebrated their fandom throughout the history of regional footy. There will be local collections including regional guernseys and interactive displays as they take memorabilia ‘Straight to the pool room’. Contribute to the scrapbook wall and trophy mantle or checkout the VHS collection and put yourself on the screen and into a collectible footy card. To find out more, click here.
Tatiara Food Village – Keith
What better way to break up the trip to Gather Round than with a stop at Tatiara Food Village at Keith’s famous Don Moseley Park? Stop off for a toilet break, let the kids stretch their legs in the playground and make the most of the lush green space, with the added bonus of local food and beverage vendors set up to offer a variety of options for those passing through.
Norwood Food & Wine Festival returns
The Norwood Food & Wine Festival returns for the first time since 2012 with a fresh, vibrant ‘festival of footy’ atmosphere and a major headline act – multi-ARIA award-winning indie rock band The Temper Trap.
The reimagined festival, happening on Sunday April 7, is free to enter, with AFL games broadcast on big screens along The Parade and within venues.
Player appearances & open training sessions
Watch your favourite AFL stars train and maybe score an autograph at an open training session. All of your footy favourites will be gathering right here in SA. To find out where you can catch them click here.
Gather Round Spectacular – Entertainment Centre
It’s like The Footy Show reborn for one night only at Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Hosted by Eddie McGuire, AFL royalty will take to the stage, including young guns of the game along with Channel 9 footy favourites Billy Brownless, Nathan Brown, Tony “TJ” Jones, Kane Cornes and Jimmy Bartel.
The night, which guarantees to put the speccy in spectacular will include a live performance from multi-award-winning Aussie superstar Delta Goodrem. For tickets and info click here.
Gather in the Hills – Hahndorf Footy Festival
Kick on at The Barker
Gin Clash – Seppeltsfield Road Distillers V Seven Seasons Showdown
Witness an epic clash between an ex-financial whiz and ex-Aussie rules football star, as they go head-to-head in the ultimate gin showdown in the Barossa.
For one exclusive afternoon, immerse yourself in a tasting experience like no other as you taste Seppeltsfield Road Distillers world famous gins head-to-head against the world’s oldest new flavour spirits from Seven Seasons.
Join Jon Durdin (SRD) and Daniel Motlop (Seven Seasons) as they pour their award-winning spirits including Barossa Shiraz Gin and Green Ant Gin; and shake a few cocktails in an epic spirit showdown.
Think spirits that celebrate ingredients of influence and place, cocktails that pack and punch and a gin showdown you don’t want to miss. Gin tastings, drinks and gin cocktails are available for purchase.
Hardys Wine and Chip pairing
Hardys Wines has a Gather Round event that will be “it and a bit and a bag of chips”. There’s no better way to support your favourite team than with a glass of wine and a salty bag of seasoned chips. But have you ever wondered why certain chip flavours complement certain wines?
Discover the perfect and ultimate pairing that brings out the best in a glass of wine and a bag of chips. They have intentionally paired their four HRB Wines with four flavours of the popular everyday snack for maximum enjoyment.
Book a fun and tasty wine and food pairing experience – that’s not too fancy by clicking here.
$10 Beer paddles at Swell Brewing Co
Gather at Swell Brewing Co, wear your team guernsey and get a $10 beer paddle from the Taphouse.
Swell Brewing Co. Taphouse is one of the go-to family-friendly spots in South Australia, just 40 minutes from Adelaide in the McLaren Vale wine region and a stone’s throw from the stunning Fleurieu Peninsula coastline.
For more footy deals and details click here.
23rd Street Distillery’s footy-coloured cocktails
If your footy road trip takes you through the remarkable Riverland, be sure to call in on the famous Distillers at 23rd Street.
Until the end of Gather Round, they’re offering an extensive cocktail list, curated in honour of each team’s colours! They’re also offering special discounts to anyone who calls in on their way to support their team at Gather Round.
For a taste of 23rd Street’s amazing range of spirits, a little closer to the footy action, they’ve teamed up with Home Ground and will be serving the Riverland’s signature gin on the Adelaide Riverbank Promenade throughout Gather Round.
