The Sky’s the Limit at Minlaton’s 150th Celebration
Minlaton — the Barley Capital of the World and home of the Red Devil, the plane behind Australia’s first over-water airmail flight in the Southern Hemisphere — is getting ready to celebrate 150 years in true country style.
From March 27–29, the Yorke Peninsula town will be buzzing with planes in the sky and on the ground, markets, local musicians, rides for the kids, heritage displays and local food. All part of a community celebration marking a pretty special milestone.
Planes in the Air, Music in the Street and a Town Ready to Celebrate
Friday will feature museum displays, school memorabilia and collaborative art activities, including “The Exquisite Familiar” Art Exhibition — an inspiring art project bringing together disabled artists of all ages and art forms.
A Gala Evening will officially open the weekend, with Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia, leading proceedings. Ground floor cocktail supper tickets are sold out, but balcony spectator passes are still available. The commemorative Minlaton 150 beer will also be cracked open for the first time alongside the launch of a special anniversary coffee table book.
Saturday morning will see Main Street come alive with local musicians, the Kadina, Wallaroo & Moonta Brass Band, and vintage vehicles doing a hot lap as sidewalk sales spill onto the footpaths.
From midday, the Town Oval becomes festival central, with markets, artisan stalls and food vans serving everything from Spanish paella and spicy Thai to baked spuds, nachos and sweet treats.
Minlaton’s rich aviation history will also take centre stage, with historic aircraft and Silver Sharks aerobatic displays overhead, plus helicopter joy flights on offer.
Swamp Donkeys, Kids Entertainment and Special Guests
The kids will be kept busy with carnival rides, pony rides, and roving entertainers including SA’s own. George the Farmer. heart-stopping parachute jump display will lead into a stacked lineup of Yorke Peninsula musos. Local legends, The Swamp Donkeys, will then hit the stage ahead of a 9pm fireworks spectacular.
Special guest MCs will be on hand across the weekend. R.M. Williams OUTBACK Magazine Editor in Chief Mark Muller will host Friday night’s Gala Evening, and Channel 7’s recently departed (and much-loved) weather presenter Amelia Mulcahy will take the mic on Saturday at the oval festival.
Marking Minlaton’s 150 Year History
The weekend will also mark Minlaton’s rich history with the launch of a brand new Historical Plaques Walking Trail. The trail features 40 newly installed plaques highlighting businesses, buildings and local characters who have shaped the town across generations.
Cemetery tours are also part of the program for those wanting to explore the town’s past. Visitors are invited to take part in Dressing the Graves, with floral and wheat tributes available to honour the farmers, volunteers and families who have helped shape the community.
Sunday will see the weekend wrap up with a family gathering at Minlagawi Gum Flat Reserve, with Narrunga storytelling, a scavenger hunt, interactive watercolour painting, food vans and the major raffle draw rounding out the afternoon.
The festival of Minlaton is just one part of what’s shaping up to be a busy March on the YP. Grab a Yorke Peninsula Tour Map and take a self-guided adventure, or check out some more March events here.
MINLATON 150th Celebration
WHEN: March 27–29, 2026
WHERE: Minlaton, Yorke Peninsula
TICKETS: Gala Evening tickets are available here and selling fast.
COST: Most events are free. Gold coin donation at Town Oval Festival helps supports local groups.
Click here for the full program
