For previous generations, a night out often meant heading out to a bar, club, or pub. But for a growing number of young Australians, socialising is starting to look a little different.
Coffee raves are popping up across Australia, offering an alcohol-free alternative to the traditional night out.
And now, SA’s first ever shopping centre AM Coffee Rave is kicking off at Harbour Town on Saturday the 12th of September, with free lattes, live DJs, and exclusive discounts on offer.
The free event will transform the shopping centre into a morning dance floor, with Fresh FM DJ Luke Hansel spinning upbeat dance hits while Bad Neighbour café serves up complimentary canned iced lattes and matcha to the first 100 attendees.
“We’ll also have all the usual Bad Neighbour favourites going — our sandos, coffee, matcha and iced drinks – plus we’re working on a special drink for the event,” the Bad Neighbour team teased.
“There’s something pretty fun about grabbing a coffee and a sando while there’s a DJ and a crowd outside at 9 in the morning. It’s not your standard Saturday coffee run and that’s exactly the point.”
The AM Coffee Rave will take place in the undercover Premium Mall, where Bad Neighbour will be serving up 100 free iced canned specialty coffees and matcha.
Lia Wilson, who helped organise the Harbour Town rave, said the idea came after seeing the format work at the centre’s sister property on the Gold Coast.
“AM Coffee Raves have been trending right across the country,” she said.
“So we thought, why not bring it to Adelaide?”
“With warmer weather on the way, the timing felt perfect.”
Young Australians are drinking less than previous generations, with research from UNSW finding the proportion of 18 to 24-year-olds consuming alcohol less than once a month has increased substantially since 2001.
That changing relationship with alcohol has coincided with a rise in social activities that don’t revolve around drinking, from run clubs and wellness events to the increasingly popular coffee rave.
“I think young adults are looking for healthier ways to socialise and have fun,” Lia said, promising “high energy, great dance moves and even better lattes.”
Harbour Town is encouraging attendees to RSVP online to help manage demand – but note, that doesn’t secure you a free drink so get there early!
And because it’s happening alongside the Get Outlet Sale, there’ll be plenty of reasons to stick around after the dancing stops.
Sale offers of up to 80% off recommended retail prices drop from Wednesday September 9, with new centre arrivals including M.J. Bale, Hoka and Professionail also joining the shopping mix.
There’s even a Putt & Win activation with Golf Park Adelaide, giving shoppers the chance to win prizes from brands including Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, New Balance, 2XU and Michael Kors.
And if the caffeine-fuelled dance floor proves a hit, it sounds like this might not be a one-off.
“We’d love nothing more than to bring it back and make it a regular thing,” Wilson said.
AM Coffee Rave at Harbour Town
Where: Premium Mall, outside Bad Neighbour, Harbour Town Premium Outlets
When: Saturday 12 September, 9am to 11am
Cost: Free to enter, but RSVP for numbers is encouraged
To find out more and RSVP, click here.
