Regional Events to Highlight South Australia Year-Round

A total of 37 regional events and festivals across South Australia have today received a collective $531,500 financial boost in the latest round of the South Australian Tourism Commission's Regional Event Fund.

The Regional Event Fund aims to support the development of new and innovative regional events and grow existing events, while driving visitation and economic stimulus across regional South Australia.

The 2024-25 Fund supports events that are staged from 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025.

Among the events being supported this year are a music festival in the Riverland, a 10-day showcase of art and culture in the Yorke Peninsula, and an event which returns in a reimagined format to Port MacDonnell in the Limestone Coast after a 5-year hiatus.

Other long-standing events and festivals that are supported by the Regional Event Fund include the Bay to Birdwood, Barossa Vintage Festival, and the Kangaroo Island Cup.

Recent events which have benefited from the support of the Fund include SALT Festival held over 10 days in April in Port Lincoln. Since the inaugural SALT Festival in 2017, it has become a 'launch pad' for creativity, innovation and ideas, growing over the years to attract 15,500 attendees in 2024 - its biggest audience yet.

The new Port MacDonnell Bay Festival to be held in February 2025 will showcase the unique cultural, natural and historic assets of its unspoiled coastal destination.

Last held in 2020 as the Bay Escape, the refreshed festival format aims to appeal to a broader audience both intra and interstate, with events on offer to include culinary experiences, immersive Aboriginal cultural experiences, and a citizen-science meets art project.

Minister for Tourism, Zoe Bettison said it is a thrill to see such a diverse range of events supported in this year's Regional Event Fund, which are set to showcase the best of South Australia's unique regions and world-class hospitality.

"Delivered through the South Australian Tourism Commission, the Regional Event Fund is an important initiative that supports a thriving events calendar across our state, helping trigger visitation as those thinking about exploring our state commit to a trip," Minister Bettison said.

"With 43 cents in every tourism dollar spent in the regions, it is important we continue to drive visitation across regional South Australia and this Fund aims to do just that."

Port MacDonnell Bay Festival spokesperson, Stephen Johnstone said the Bay Festival is an exciting opportunity for local businesses to come together to celebrate Port MacDonnell with thousands of festivalgoers.

"After a five-year hiatus, the reimagined festival will benefit from the Regional Event Fund support, allowing us to spread the word far and wide, enticing people to discover what makes Port MacDonnell such a special destination," Mr Johnstone said.

"We want the Bay Festival to grow year on year and gain national and international attention for Port MacDonnell as a world-class nature and sustainable tourism destination."

Events receiving funding in the 2024-25 Regional Event Fund: