Images: FLAME Festival, Visit Copper Coast
The Copper Coast will come alive this weekend, as the beloved FLAME Festival makes a grand return from May 8th to 10th. The festival is bringing a full weekend of food, light, art, music and entertainment to Kadina, Moonta and Wallaroo, making it the perfect excuse to visit this stunning slice of South Australia.
Now in its third edition, the biennial festival has quickly become one of the region’s most exciting cultural events, transforming the coastline into a celebration of creativity and community.
“FLAME Festival is a vibrant celebration that lights up the Copper Coast with creativity, colour, and community spirit,” shared Copper Coast Council Mayor Roslyn Talbot. “Now in its third year, the FLAME Festival continues to grow, with each program building on the success and imagination of the last.
“The name FLAME reflects the heart of this event: Food, Light, Art, Music and Entertainment – the elements that bring people together and showcase the best of our region.”
One of the highlights of this year’s program is the Wallaroo Silo Light Show, which will see colourful projections that turn the towering silos into a moving canvas each evening at 6pm. The show is best viewed from Jetty Road, with great vantage points across Wallaroo and North Beach. For the full experience, tune your car radio to 88.3 FM for synced audio.
The weekend kicks off on Friday night at the Wallaroo foreshore with Winda the Owl: Stories in Fire and Lanterns, a powerful community-led performance bringing a Nharangga Dreaming story to life through song, dance, puppetry and fire. Developed in collaboration with the Nharangga community, local schools and artists, it will definitely be a standout cultural moment for the festival. Food trucks will be on-site from 4pm, making it an easy, family-friendly evening by the sea.
Saturday will see the main event move to the Kadina Showgrounds for Grounds of Delight. Running from 2pm to 8pm, there will be artisan stalls, food vendors, live entertainment, light installations, art and hands-on activities. From handmade fashion and crafts to specialty coffee, desserts and local eats (including vegan and gluten-free options), it’s a showcase of the region’s creative talent. The night wraps with a fireworks finale, lighting up the sky and closing out the day in style.
On Sunday, the festival heads to Moonta for Mayfair at Queen Square, combining the popular local markets with an exciting program of food, family activities and live demonstrations. A major drawcard this year is celebrity chef Callum Hann, who will host three live cooking demos throughout the day, alongside meet-and-greet sessions. Known for his passion for local produce and approachable cooking style, his appearance is set to be a huge drawcard for foodies.
Across the weekend, there are also heaps of experiences outside of the major events that add an extra layer of spectacle to an already packed program. Think skydiving, fire festivals, street parties and more. Best of all, entry to the FLAME Festival is completely free, making it an easy addition to a weekend road trip or a reason in itself to explore the Copper Coast.
So if you’ve been looking for a chance to experience something uniquely local, FLAME Festival 2026 is shaping up to be one of the state’s most exciting regional events this season. Catch all the fun this weekend!
FLAME Festival
When: May 8th to May 10th
Where: Copper Coast
For more information, click here.
