Across four magical weeks, Adelaide will play host to over 6000 artists as Australia's biggest performing arts festival - the Adelaide Fringe Festival - returns for 2024. With Fringe hubs and venues, including Gluttony and Garden of Unearthly Delights in Adelaide's East End, taking over Adelaide and greater South Australia - where does one begin? From an eclectic mix of comedy to cabaret and everything in between, start planning with our guide to the best Fringe Festival shows in 2024.
Fringe Festival Venues in Adelaide
Adelaide's CBD comes alive during Fringe season, as venues and hubs take over our parklands and shut down city streets. Adelaide's East End district plays host to the heart of the festival each year, with thousands flitting between Fringe hubs Gluttony and Garden of Unearthly Delights, perched on the edge of Rundle Street and bursting with food trucks, pop-up wine bars and a rotating roster of performances. In other areas of the city, you'll find shows at venues such as the Adelaide Botanic Garden, The Pink Flamingo Speigleclub at Festival Plaza and Wonderland Festival Hub in Hindmarsh Square. See below the best Fringe Festival shows in Adelaide's CBD for 2024.
1. NATURAL WONDERS, ADELAIDE BOTANIC GARDEN
Step into the Adelaide Botanic Garden come sunset and embark on an ethereal journey, weaving your way beneath the lush green canopy turned outdoor art gallery. A place where art and nature beautifully coexist, discover a magical trail of stories told by award-winning artists through light and music in a series of immersive installations. Nestled in the heart of our city, let the gardens transport you to a place where you can connect to the natural world like never before. Writers Tip: Walk through the Natural Wonders installation before exiting the gardens onto North Terrace. From here, you will be able to spy the thrum of Fringe's main hub - the Garden of Unearthly Delights. Continue your Fringe experience with a stroll through the pop-up festival village and grab a bite to eat at one of the many food vans.
2. THE INFLATABLE CHURCH, LIGHT SQUARE/ WAUWI
The time-worn tagline of 'the City of Churches' is about to get new meaning. Europe's quirkiest wedding venue, The Inflatable Church, is coming to Adelaide for the 2024 Fringe season. Ready to tie the knot? Marrying anyone to anything across 12 ceremonies daily, join the congregation for this one-of-kind interactive theatrical experience, hosted by irreverent vicars and unruly bridesmaids. If you're not into getting hitched, simply pick your bridesmaids dress or grooms attire upon arrival, enter the inflatable church and witness in unholy matrimony as two become (un)lawfully wedded.
3. ISAAC HUMPHRIES - UNEARTHED, WONDERLAND FESTIVAL HUB
Join former NBA basketballer and Adelaide Fringe ambassador Isaac Humphries as he swaps shooting hoops for a place centre stage, in his musical debut of Unearthed. After coming out as the only openly gay male professional basketball player in the world, Isaac's performance will step you through his journey to coming out and the music that guided him along the way. A storyline fit for High School Musical, this Wildcat is swapping the court for a different kind of stage, singing his way through an emotional roller coaster of a performance. It is guaranteed to be perhaps the most moving show on the Fringe calendar, but you are going to have to getcha head in the game and grab tickets quick - the basketball star takes to the stage for two nights only.
4. PRINNIE STEVENS PRESENTS LADY SINGS THE BLUES VOLUME 2, GLUTTONY
Australia's power ballad princess and Fringe ambassador, Prinnie Stevens, is back to take you on another journey through music with Lady Sings The Blues Volume 2. Telling the story of womanhood through song - their hurts, struggles and pain - Prinnie's performance will cut to your core. Paying homage to the women who have shaped the history of music, this performance will feature some of the greatest hits from the likes of Billie Holiday, Etta James, Whitney Housten, Beyonce and more.
5. THE COOK UP WITH ADAM LIAW: LIVE, WOODVILLE TOWN HALL
Foodies - this is a dinner party you won't want to miss. Bringing you SBS's The Cook Up live for the very first time, join Adam Liaw and special guests for an evening filled with food and great company. As one of the most beloved personalities to come from the MasterChef franchise, The Cook Up is unsurprisingly the channel's most-commissioned series, with over 500 episodes aired. For a chance to see Adam live accompanied by great food, great conversation and culinary surprises, don't miss out on snagging tickets to this show before it's too late.
6. IN PURSUIT OF REPETITIVE BEATS, FREEMASONS HALL
Ever wondered what the UK rave scene was like in 1989? Step into the shoes of the rave culture pioneers at In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats - a multi-sensory virtual reality adventure transporting you back to the heyday of the UK's rave scene in the 1980's. Designed by award winning immersive artist Darren Emerson, this interactive virtual reality captures the essence of the UK rave scene - one of the most important cultural revolutions in UK history. From poster strewn bedrooms to pirate radio stations and police headquarters - experience In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats with friends and be transported into a typical rave scene accompanied by the sounds of Acid House.
7. ESCAPE ROOM: PRISON BREAK
You've been sentenced to life in prison for crimes you've never committed - who do you want to help break you out? Taking escape room to the next level of anxiety inducing exhilaration, in this escape room you only have 45 minutes to rewrite your fate. Set deep within the Migration Museum, whispers from the walls that have seen countless stories, blend in with the cold steel of old prison cells. Will you emerge victorious or trapped in history's shadows?
8. INFAMOUS
For the first time at Fringe, Infamous The Show delights its audience with captivating adult cirque in a purpose-built spiegel big top tent in Ellis Park. Bringing the excitement of circus to life, this show guarantees an action-packed, hilarious and sexy production inside a comfortable tent - fitted with its very own bar. For an immersive adventure filled with nostalgia and awe, this intimate and breathtaking performance will ensure a night of entertainment you won't forget.
Fringe Festival Venues In Surrounding Suburbs and Greater South Australia
9. SLEEP'S HILL TUNNEL, MITCHAM
Set within Adelaide's Sleep's Hill Tunnel in Mitcham is an installation of light and projections, illuminating the colourful history of the tunnel. From the steam train era to the mushroom farm years, this installation features work from various artists including Stephen Axford whose work boast a kaleidoscope of colourful fungi species. Open every Tuesday to Sunday for the duration of the Fringe festival, this family friendly event invites you to learn about Adelaide's history through art.
10. DUPANG PANGARI (COORONG SPIRIT) Festival
Come together on Ngarrindjeri Lands on the beautiful shores of the Coorong and connect to country with Elder Major Moogy Sumner for a camping festival and corroboree. Arriving Friday afternoon, set up camp and join at sunset for the welcome smoking ceremony before settling in for a weekend of workshops, dancing and storytelling. From a range of workshops lead by First Nations artists, including basket weaving and boomerang throwing, the weekend will wrap up with a closing ceremony lead by Uncle Moogy. This unique camping experience is one to remember, so round up the family and enjoy some much-needed time reconnecting with nature and country.
Got a taste for festivity?
The frivolity doesn't have to stop in March. South Australia is home to world-class events and festivals year-round, including Tasting Australia. Check out our live South Australian Festivals and Events Calendar to discover more.
