Adelaide is renowned for its vibrant culture and lively atmosphere, and there's no better time to experience it than during the wildest month of the year: Mad March. Locals have affectionately given this month its nickname due to the sheer number of festivals and events that take place. From the Adelaide Festival to WomaDelaide, there's something for everyone to enjoy. The Adelaide Festival is the mother of all festivals in South Australia.
It's Australia's premier artistic event, drawing the best artists and international visitors from across the country and abroad. The festival was first held in March 1960, spearheaded by Bishop with the help of Ian Hunter, artistic director of the Edinburgh Festival. The Adelaide Festival Centre was built in 1973, and the festival has gone from strength to strength ever since. In addition to the Adelaide Festival, there are several other events that take place throughout the month.
WomaDelaide is a four-day global music event, while the Adelaide Writers' Week is a literary festival. There's also the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in June, the Adelaide Guitar Festival and Sala Visual Arts Festival in August, OZAsia in late September, and the Adelaide Film Festival in October and November. The Adelaide Festival has been a major force in bringing world-class cultural exhibitions to South Australia since 1960. It was created with the efforts of Sir Lloyd Dumas and has been supported by the Government of South Australia ever since.
The Adelaide Fringe Festival also attracts more than one million spectators annually. The Adelaide Festival Centre and River Torrens are often at the heart of Mad March events, while Elder Park hosts opening ceremonies. In 1998, the Adelaide Festival Corporation was created as a statutory company by the Adelaide Festival Corporation Act 1998 (AFC Act), which was under the Ministry of Arts.
