Image: Salisbury Community Fun Day
As each week comes and goes, the kids are always looking for something new to do, and it’s not always easy to find the best activities, events and exhibitions happening around Adelaide.
So, we’ve done the hard work for you and rounded up some of the best free and low-cost, family-friendly things happening this weekend. Enjoy!
Little Library Opening Weekend
When: Saturday August 22, 10am–4pm and Sunday August 23, 12pm–4pm
Where: State Library of South Australia, North Terrace, Adelaide
Cost: Free; timed bookings required to enter Little Library
The State Library is opening the doors to its brand-new Little Library this weekend, with two full days of free family activities taking over the North Terrace institution.
Designed especially for children aged 0 to 11, Little Library is a new purpose-built space where kids can read, play, sing, explore and discover stories in a setting created from a child’s perspective. Families can browse and borrow books, settle in for a story or explore the interactive space at their own pace.
Entry into Little Library itself is through free timed sessions, but there will also be free drop-in activities happening throughout the wider State Library across both days, including stories, games, making, dancing and other surprises, with no booking required for those activities. It’s also particularly easy to reach, with the tram stopping directly outside on North Terrace.
More info, https://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/little-library
Pico’s Puppet Palace
When: Saturday August 22, 10.30am–11.15am
Where: Mawson Lakes Library, 2–8 Main Street, Mawson Lakes
Cost: Free, bookings required
For a free Saturday morning outing, Mawson Lakes Library is hosting a 45-minute live puppet show complete with music, adventure and a little environmental learning.
Pico and the Golden Lagoon follows Pico as she takes off around the world in her yellow bi-plane, meeting new characters and discovering ways to care for the natural world. The story explores courage, friendship and eco-conscious living in a format designed for young audiences.
The performance is completely free, although bookings are required.
More info, https://www.salisbury.sa.gov.au/activities/events/picos-puppet-palace
Eastern Eats
When: Saturday August 22, 4pm–8.30pm
Where: Beefacres Reserve, 14 Pittwater Drive, Windsor Gardens
Cost: Free entry
Beefacres Reserve will come alive on Saturday afternoon for Eastern Eats, a free celebration of Asian food, art, music and culture.
Alongside the food trucks, families can try their hand at lantern making, origami, mahjong and woodblock printing, watch cooking demonstrations and catch a program of DJs, musicians, drumming groups and dancers.
A community-created lantern display will also light up the reserve, with the works made during workshops held across the City of Port Adelaide Enfield in the lead-up to the festival.
More info, click here.
Fire & Tide at Fort Largs
When: Saturday August 22, 4pm–10pm
Where: Fort Largs Eatery & Markets, 5 Strathfield Terrace, Taperoo
Cost: Free entry
For another free Saturday evening option, the historic Fort Largs precinct is hosting Fire & Tide, bringing food, markets and live music together by the coast.
The winter gathering will feature artisan makers, food, glowing fire pits and entertainment throughout the evening, giving families a chance to explore the Fort Largs precinct after dark.
Entry is free, with the event running from late afternoon through to 10pm.
More info, click here.
Salisbury Community Fun Day: Dinosaurs & Science
When: Sunday August 23, 10am–1pm and 1.30pm–4.30pm
Where: Salisbury Community Hub, 34 Church Street, Salisbury
Cost: Free, registration essential
National Science Week wraps up with one of the biggest free family events of the weekend, as Salisbury Community Hub fills with dinosaurs, wildlife, experiments and hands-on science.
The program includes SA Museum dig pits and touch tables, Nitro Nat’s colourful chemistry and physics shows, Wilbur’s Wildlife, Butterfly SA, Bugs & Slugs displays and roaming dinosaurs.
Kids can also try an Orbit 360 zero-gravity ride, jump on a Mad Scientist bouncy castle, explore virtual reality and meet organisations including the Bureau of Meteorology and solar car racing teams.
The event is aimed particularly at children aged five to 14, although all ages are welcome. Families need to register for either the morning or afternoon session.
More info, https://www.salisbury.sa.gov.au/activities/events/salisbury-community-fun-day-4
Kids go free at Adelaide Zoo
When: Every day throughout August
Where: Adelaide Zoo, Frome Road, Adelaide
Cost: Children up to 14 free; supervising adults require a paid ticket or membership
August is also a particularly good time for families considering an Adelaide Zoo visit, with children aged up to 14 receiving free admission throughout the entire month. The special offer is celebrating the birthdays of Adelaide Zoo’s giant pandas, Yi Lan and Xing Qiu, and families can also explore more than 200 species across the zoo during their visit. Each child still needs to attend with a supervising adult who has a valid ticket or Zoos SA membership, with up to three free child tickets permitted per supervising adult.
More info, https://www.adelaidezoo.com.au/event/kids-go-free-august-2026/
Know of any other events? email [email protected]
For more news and events, check out our calendar here.
