Regional SA heats up for the long weekend – GSA has handpicked the best bits
Behold the mighty October long-weekend! A celebration dating back to the 1850’s – a victory for workers of the arrival of the 8-hour working day.
While in 2023 few can afford to make ends meet with a 40-hour work week – we’ll happily take the long-weekend and any others thrown our way throughout the year. The Labour Day long-weekend has morphed into a stunning spring showcase of Regional SA, with nine to fivers ditching the City rat-race and hitting the road to discover the picturesque oceans, outback and all of the amazing events and attractions country SA has to offer.
From world-class vineyards, local produce, historic towns, scenic outback and coastline, SA has it all.
And the long-weekend line-up is a smorgasbord of celebratory events, from bands and bbq’s to three-day festivals, country shows, or you can even take a scenic flight over the stunning Flinders Ranges.
If you haven’t fine-tuned your long-weekend plans yet, we’ve wrapped up some stand-out events happening right across the regions.
EYRE PENINSULA
Ceduna Oyster Fest A two-day seafood extravaganza, with live music, entertainment for the kids, a brilliant aerobatic display and fireworks. The Oyster Fest is a long-running tradition for SA’s Oyster Capital.
GSA has summed this massive “shellebration” up in a recent feature article. To read all about it click here
Port Lincoln Hotel – Live Music ALL weekend At the Port Lincoln Hotel, Adelaide party cover band, Jinx, will be rocking the bay each night of the long weekend. Friday night, kick the weekend into life with Espresso Martinis, and treat yourself to a Margarita on Sunday with $15 cocktails from 12 -4pm.
Boston Bay Wines, Cellar Door Preview – Sunday October 1 from 11am While renovations are are still in full swing, its tools down for the long-weekend. Overlooking beautiful Boston Bay, visitors can get a glimpse of the new cellar door, inspired by the iconic coastal landscape. Join the crew for live music, celebratory bubbles or a bottle of home-grown Riesling and pizzas by the vines,
To book a spot or find out more click here.
Boston Bay Wines
YORKE PENINSULA & COPPER COAST
Stansbury celebrates 150 years Something certainly worth celebrating! The little coastal town is putting on a big party, with the famous Seaside Markets on Saturday, an incredible display of the town’s history projected on the cliffs at the town jetty Saturday and Sunday night, and an all-in Sunday session at the town oval with live band, Swamp Donkey, food trucks, stalls and history displays. Greater SA has compiled the details right here.
Watsacowie Brewing Co – Minlaton
The popular rustic brewery has a jam-packed long-weekend line-up with music every day from Urban Cover on Sunday, blues acoustic on Saturday with Joel Cooke and local musician Jacob Gutsche on Monday.
Watch the AFL Grand Final and enjoy a feed from Spuds N More, as you make your way through Watsacowie’s famous beers and seltzers. For details click here.
Hedonbar Brewing Company – Kadina
Turn the weekend into a craft beer crawl! Hedonbar has a long-weekend filled with ice-cold pints of locally crafted beer, delicious food by R.E.O Spud Wagon and live music by Wayneo and Dunny. For details click here.
Sunny Hill Distillery – Arthurton
The YP’s first micro-distillery will be open all long-weekend. Oh My Grill BBQ and Catering will be cooking up a storm. Pair that with a live music on the menu too, including popular SA band, Rokoustika. For details click here
FLINDERS RANGES
Beltana 150th
The State Heritage listed outback town of Beltana will also be in party-mode on the long-weekend, celebrating ‘150 years and flourishing’ with a host of activities, including a Saturday night celebration at the Town Hall where guests can kick up their heels to Australia’s most popular Irish & Scottish band, The Borderers. For details click here.
SA Helicopters
If you’re heading to the Flinders, you’re in for an experience of a lifetime with South Australian Helicopters.
Fifteen-minute scenic helicopter flights over the ancient mountain range and spectacular gorges will depart from The Prairie Hotel from Friday to Sunday, and from Moolooloo Station on the Monday.
Station Stays SAis the site to visit if you’ve left it until the last minute and want to spend the long-weekend under the starry skies of SA’s outback.
RIVERLAND & MURRAY LANDS
Historic Overland Corner Hotel
Kicking off the long weekend early, the quaint Historic Overland Corner Hotel, near Waikerie, will be abuzz with locals celebrating the start of the Labour Day weekend. The pub’s Mega Members draw will make someone $1200 richer, just in time for a big weekend of river-rocking Overland Corner entertainment.
Jimmy Christie will provide the live music on Saturday, acoustic-duo, Nick and Tash will take over on Sunday and a DJ will be spinning the decks Sunday night until late. For details click here.
Waikerie Twilight Market & Car boot Sale
Sift through some treasures at the town’s Car boot Sale on Sunday October 1, before wandering through the Twilight Market on the gorgeous Waikerie riverfront, where the local Rotary Club have planned food and drinks, stalls, music and more. For details click here.
Loxton Show – Oct 1 & 2
A Labour-Day long-weekend tradition is the annual Loxton Show, which draws people from all across the Riverland to celebrate the agricultural and horticultural heritage of the region. Livestock, grain and fodder, handicrafts, gardening, competitions, vintage machinery, specialty trade sites, sideshows, live entertainers and show rides – combine some family fun with a weekend on the River. For details click here.
FLEURIEU PENINSULA
Grenache & Gourmet
A celebration of the world-class Grenache of the McLaren Vale wine region. Grenache and Gourmet kicked off earlier this month and will wind up after one last spectacular long-weekend. From curated food and wine journeys, vertical tastings, hands-on winemaking and guided masterclasses. Bookings are still open for Serafino Wines – Savour the Glass, Grenache and Platter Delights, Maxwell Wines – Grenache Unearthed, Wine and Canapés, DodRidge Cellar Door – Vertical Tasting, Hardy’s Tintara Winery – A Gathering of Hardy’s Grenache, Richard Hamilton Wines – Grenache Wine Flight & Grenache Infused Lamb Pies. For more events or bookings click here.
Willunga Farmers Market – Sat September 30
Kick off the long weekend with a visit to Willunga Farmers Market. Set yourself up for a weekend of indulgence with local produce from Ginny Pig Distillery, Fleurieu Garlic, Gentleman Jerky, J&J Wise, Lilyarra Cheese, Milkless Cheese, Mrs Clucks Eggs, Romley Estate Olive Oil, Whites Valley Jalapeños and Barmera Sweet Potatoes. The popular market is open from 8am until 12 noon. For details click here.
Willunga Farmers Market
Goolwa Spring Art Exhibition
Goolwa Visual Arts Group will host an exhibition of local art each day of the long weekend from 10am until 3pm at Coorong Quays Community Hall. One lucky art lover will take home an original piece of work by talented local artist, Dzint Jurevisius.
LIMESTONE COAST
Cabernet Carnival @ Rymill Coonawarra
Round up the kids, get your friends together and head to Rymill Coonawarra for an afternoon of carnival magic. Enjoy live music, fabulous food and award-winning Rymill Wines. Pack a picnic blanket and set up on the picturesque lawns where there will be giant games, crafts and face painting. Jump onboard a free bus from Penola For more details click here.
Beachport Street Market – Saturday 30th
The sun will be shining and Beachport will be abuzz with more than 80 stall holders from 9am until 1pm. Get your lips around a famous Lions Donut along with all the favourites from the local eateries, and take a walk along the newly refurbished Beachport Jetty.
KANGAROO ISLAND
Kangaroo Island Wildlife Carnival – Sunday Oct 1 Connecting Land and Sea – this year’s KI Wildlife Carnival focuses on the intrepid Australian Sea Lion and is a celebration of the famous Island’s beautiful native wildlife and a community, who love to protect it. Cygnet River is the place to be for live music, speakers, collaborative art, conservation stalls, a charity auction and local food, beer, wine and gin from Cactus Cafe , Steak Out Food Van, Cuppa Joey Coffee Van, Mitre 10 Sausage Sizzle, Kangaroo Island Spirits, Islander Estate Vineyards, Springs Road Winery and Kangaroo Island Brewery.
Kangaroo Island Spirits Low & Slow Feast – Sunday Oct 1
A casual, laid-back Sunday session awaits at KI Spirits from 11.30-2.30pm. Enjoy a melt-in-your-mouth two-course meal cooked over coals by award-winning Chef, Shannon Fleming and be entertained by local legend, Ronnie Kreher. Click here to book your tickets and receive a free KI Spirits signature cocktail.
Kangaroo Island Spirits
ADELAIDE HILLS
Barristers Block Wines Family Fun Day – Sunday Oct 1
Join the crew at Barristers Block for a family fun day with live music, free face-painting, lawn games and activity packs for the kids. Grab a table or picnic on the lawns with famous stone-baked pizzas and gourmet grazing boards, add some sides and wines, relax and enjoy a Sunday session, knowing Monday’s all yours. Entry is free, numbers are limited and bookings are essential. Click here to save a spot.
Strathalbyn Show – Monday Oct 2
Round out the long-weekend at the Strath show. With all of the best bits a country show has to offer, there will be farm animals, produce, exhibits, rides, show bags and demonstrations. On the show stage, local band, “Kick the Dog”, will be performing. And what’s a show without a camel ride and all of your favourite stalls and food vendors. For info click here.
CLARE VALLEY
Ragu & Co @ Sevenhill Cellars Kick back on the lawns at Sevenhill Cellars, as the fabulous Chefs from Ragu and Co. roll out an authentic Italian spread of Mushroom and Truffle Arancini, Gnocchi Ella Sorrentina, Eggplant Parmiagana and Pollo Fritto è Patatine (that’s some seriously fancy crumbed chicken and chips).
The Cellar Door will be open every day for tastings from 10-5pm, and Ragu will be there from 11am-4pm on Saturday and Sunday, along with live music and a Big Winery Warehouse Sale. With beer now available for purchase in the Cellar Door, it’s a win-win for everyone. Click here for details.
Jeanneret Wines and Clare Valley Brewing Co. October long weekend marks ten years of Clare Valley Brewing Co. and it’s time to celebrate. Barbeque At Yours will be serving up a CVBC-inspired menu, cooking over a flame with lots of love and fun. Ditch the AFL grand final on Saturday and relax with Jeanneret and CVBC before the big party on Sunday, with the Crosstown Ramblers bringing the tunes until late, so you can party the night away. Monday will bring more food, wine, beer and good times. For more info click here.
MID NORTH
Jamestown Show – Sunday & Monday A country show with extra! This two-day event is known as SA’s Premier Sheep and Wool Show, with all the fun of a traditional country show, extending into Sunday evening. Sideshow alley will be open until late, food trucks will be pumping out all the ‘gourmet’ show goods, there’s a Toyota Pull, music by local legend Caitlin Drew and a fireworks display after dark. All of that, plus some Flinders Gin Cocktails, and this show is sure to shine for the long-weekend. For details click here.
Enjoy the sunshine, tag GreaterSA in your long-weekend pics and have a ripper of a long-weekend.
