Looking for a fun – and free – way to spend a blistering hot South Aussie summer? Look no further than the Summer Festival 2026, a five-week celebration of long evenings, family-friendly entertainment and classic summer vibes, hosted by the City of West Torrens.
Running every Saturday from January 10 until February 7, the festival is set to transform warm summer nights into easy, low-cost adventures for families, friends and anyone keen to soak up the season without blowing the budget. Across five epic events, locals can expect a rotating mix of live music, outdoor cinema experiences, giant water inflatables to beat the heat, mouth-watering food options and even a silent disco designed to keep kids moving long after the sun goes down.
Saturday, January 10 – Open Air Cinema
EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO HEAT – POSTPONED TO MARCH 28
The festival kicks off at 5.00pm at Golflands Reserve in Glenelg North. Settle in for a night of children’s entertainment including Amazing Drumming Monkeys, Junkyard Play, inflatables and face painting, and enjoy watching the sunset during a screening of The Wild Robot (PG) on a giant 7.5-metre outdoor cinema screen.
Saturday, January 17 – Splash!
Prepare for the ultimate cool-down! Head down to Mellor Park Reserve at Lockleys for giant water slides, messy mud play, and sparkling glitter tattoos. All that playing is sure to make the kids hungry, so rest assured, food and beverages will be available for purchase…including some amazing coffee for all the caffeine-lovers out there.
Saturday, January 24 – All Together Now
Celebrate SA’s wonderful multi-cultural community through the brilliance of music and dance, with live performances from Jambu Loco, African Soul, and Cartel Afinke. Held at Weigall Oval in North Plympton, enjoy some finger-licking food from the food trucks, or spread out on the lawns with a pre-packed picnic and some ice-cold drinks. Expect entertaining acts from Amazing Drumming Monkeys, PLAI, Dig-a-dino and CircoBats, plus inflatable slides.
Saturday, January 31 – Touch-a-truck
Do your kids love everything about automobiles? They’ll love this event at Apex Park in West Beach, which allows them to get up close and personal with massive trucks, electric go-karts, a model train display, and tonnes more. Have they got a bicycle? They can even ride the bike in and try out the BMX track. Wow!
Saturday, 7 February – Music and Markets
The final event of the Summer Festival 2026 is something that can be enjoyed by the whole family, not just the kiddies. With market stalls curated by Lollipop Collective, this event at West Torrens Memorial Gardens is presented in partnership with the City of West Torrens’ Youth Advisory Committee and features activities designed for young adults aged 12 to 25. The perfect way to cap off this summer festival, this evening offers entertainment in many forms, including a rock-climbing wall, an airbrush tattoo artist, and a silent disco, among many other things.
With five epic events across multiple locations, the Summer Festival 2026 is an easy win for families looking to make the most of summer without spending a cent.
Summer Festival 2026
When: Saturday 10 January – Saturday 7 February, 2026
Where: Multiple locations in Adelaide’s West
Cost: Free
For the event schedule and more info, click here.
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