A Bigger and Better Winterfest for 2018

We are so excited to be again delivering one of Port Adelaide’s most successful activations, Winterfest, in 2018 and 2019.

Last year, over 57,000 people attended the inaugural 10-day event with a northern European theme, held in the heart of the Port at Hart’s Mill.

This year’s Winterfest will be bigger and better, thanks to the overwhelmingly positive response from the community and local businesses in 2017.

Check out the full program

This year’s Winterfest 2018 has been expanded to 17 days to include all weekends in the July 2018 school holidays. We are hoping to draw even more families, the young and the young at heart from the Port Adelaide area and beyond.

A waterfront ice rink will again be the centrepiece of Winterfest, offering the chance for everyone to pull on some skates or watch accomplished skaters make it look easy. Other returning attractions will include workshops, children’s activities, food trucks, bars, market stalls, roving performers and free parking.

Once again the Winter enchantment will be in abundance with crackling open fires, twinkling lights, an alpine style bar and a bonfire singalong.

The Winterfest activities and entertainment line-up will be expanded this year, with crafts for children and adults during the day in a new pop-up venue, the ‘Ice Cube’, to be constructed near the historic Flour Shed building. By evening, the Ice Cube will become the coolest place to be for comedy and live music.

Another new addition in 2018 will be ‘Short Days, Long Lunches’, which will give local chefs the chance to showcase their talents with three-course meals and matched wines.

Activations such as Winterfest generate significant economic activity for local businesses and build on growing momentum and confidence in the Port.

The activations are part of Renewal SA’s long term vision to encourage more people to live, work, invest and spend time in the Port.

To help make that vision become a reality, Port Adelaide businesses and start-up entrepreneurs can apply to the new Port Business Makers Grant Program which has funding of $270,000 or for mentoring and other support through the Business Support Program.

With major construction works starting late last year in Dock One, as well as the recent successes of the Laneways Festival and Wonderwalls and the re-opening of the new Port Admiral Hotel it is clear that the Port is transforming into a sustainable commercial market.

Winterfest will be held from Friday 6 July to Sunday 22 July at Hart’s Mill Port Adelaide. The program will be launched in May where tickets for ice skating, entertainment and activities will go on sale.