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One of our state’s most exciting weekends is just around the corner, with Gather Round bringing people from all over the country to our city for an absolutely jam-packed four days of footy action. So if you find yourself in our beautiful city as a local or a tourist looking for something to do, there’s one family-friendly foodie event you won’t want to miss. That’s right, the Norwood Food & Wine Festival is back in 2026, bringing a full day of incredible South Australian food, wine and live entertainment to The Parade.
Kicking off at 11am on Sunday, April 12th, the now annual street party is set to draw tens of thousands of visitors, after pulling a crowd of more than 90,000 last year.
For one day only, The Parade will transform into a free open-air festival, with local restaurants, cafes and bars setting up on the street alongside pop-up food stalls, producers and drinks vendors. On offer will be everything from fresh seafood and handmade pasta to flame-cooked favourites, all paired with some of South Australia’s best wines, beers and spirits.
The event coincides with the midday Geelong v West Coast game at Norwood Oval, making it the perfect pre or post game plan. If you don’t have match tickets, the festival will still be one of the best places to be, with big screens set up along the strip so you won’t miss a second of the clash. There will also be DJs, roving performers and live music to keep the vibes high throughout the day.
Of course, foodies are in for a total treat, with a stacked lineup of local talent serving up signature dishes all day long. Pseudo Spaghetti will be dishing out chicken cotoletta and ricotta gnudi, smoky oysters and kingfish will be on the menu at Fair Seafood, and Enoteca will be tossing pasta through a parmesan wheel, just to name a few. Over at arkhé, flame-cooked wagyu beef burgers will be hitting the grill, paired with top drops from some of the state’s most loved producers.
There’s also a strong focus on collaboration, with chefs and producers teaming up across stalls. Try everything from Algerian-style paella with Le Souk to bold, spice-driven dishes from Ragini Dey. Drinks-wise, you’ll find everything from boutique wines and craft beer to local spirits, making it easy to try the best of the state in one afternoon.
Plus, the Tasting Australia Kitchen will host live cooking demonstrations from some of the country’s top culinary talent, including Kane Pollard, Laura Sharrad and Duncan Welgemoed. To see out the day, The Presets will be headlining a free concert from 5:30pm.
The event has quickly become a key part of the Gather Round calendar, not just for footy fans but for anyone keen to experience South Australia’s food and wine scene at its best. South Australian Tourism Commission Chair David Koch said, “We are so lucky that with thousands of visitors coming to our state, we can put on a sensational smorgasbord to tantalise their taste buds and give them the best taste of SA.
“Like so much around AFL Gather Round, the Norwood Food & Wine Festival is a brilliant opportunity for local businesses to capitalise on the influx of footy fans from here and from interstate, and show them some top-notch South Australian hospitality.”
It also delivers a major boost to local businesses, with millions in hospitality spending generated across the weekend.
“We put on events better than anybody else, we are seeing that with the AFL Gather Round, and the Norwood Food & Wine Festival alongside it will act as the perfect entrée to Tasting Australia presented by Journey Beyond in May,” added David. “Fantastic footy, plus top-quality South Australian food and wine? It doesn’t get much better than that.”
With plenty of food to try and amazing festival atmosphere, the Norwood Food & Wine Festival is shaping up to be one of the biggest and best days out this April.
Catch all the action on Sunday, April 12th!
Norwood Food & Wine Festival
When: Sunday, April 12th, from 11am
Where: The Parade, Norwood
For more information, click here.
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