As the weather starts to heat up, leaving the coldness of August behind for the blossoming flowers of spring, Adelaide still has plenty to do. Whether it’s history, culture or theatre, there’s something for everyone this month, and On The Record has curated the best.

By Jackson Gaylard | @gaylardjackson

50 years of Rundle Mall

Tuesday, September 1 marks 50 years since half of Rundle Street was permanently closed to traffic to create Adelaide’s iconic pedestrian strip, Rundle Mall. 

To celebrate, there will be a range of activities throughout the week, including a free merry-go-round and photobooth, a memory lane display at the Gawler Place intersection, and a parade on September 4 with performers and musicians. 

Full details can be found here.

The Adelaide Town Hall is also hosting an exhibition called The City Dressed Up: Adelaide’s Golden Age of Department Stores.

The exhibition showcases how Adelaide’s department stores turned shopping into a cherished social occasion and helped influence the social, cultural, and commercial life of the city in the 20th century. 

It will run until July 2027, and more information can be found here.

The Royal Adelaide Show

The Royal Adelaide Show returns, running from Saturday, September 5, to Sunday, September 13, with much-loved favourites such as the showbags, rides, milk barn, and animal competitions.

Featuring entertainment including performances by The 60 Four, Hot Wheels Super Trucks, Old Town Road and a human cannon, it is sure to be another showcase of the best of South Australia. 

You can find out more about this year’s show here.

Arts and culture

For the film fans and cyclists of Adelaide, The Big Bike Film Night brings you a two-and-a-half-hour collection of the best cycling-themed short films.

You’ll find action, drama and humour all set in the world’s most iconic landscapes.

Screenings are on Monday, September 7 at Palace Nova Eastend or at Wallis Cinemas Mitcham on Tuesday, September 8. 

You can find more information and purchase tickets here.

For Adelaide’s theatre lovers, the classic fairytale Sleeping Beauty will be brought to life at The Arts Theatre on Saturday, September 5.

Ballet of Lights: Sleeping Beauty in a Sparkling Show features classical dance, radiant glow-in-the-dark visuals, and a fresh theatrical twist. Tickets can be purchased here.

The MOSAIC Festival, South Australia’s largest youth-led intercultural festival, will return for its eighth event on Saturday, September 19. 

Featuring a vibrant market, food and activities, visitors can engage with different cultures and learn about some of their experiences and challenges. 

More information, including tickets, can be found here.

For the fans of cars, South Australia’s neon-lit car show, Octane Underground, will be returning for its second edition at Plant 4 Bowden on Saturday, September 12. 

There will be a collection of some of Adelaide’s best vehicles, neon lighting, DJ sets, and wood-oven pizza. 

More information can be found here.

Community

As the weather warms up, Government House is opening the gates to the public on the first Friday of each month for a picnic at Lunch on the Lawns.

The first of the 2026-27 season will be on Friday, September 4 from 12pm to 2pm and features music by The City of Adelaide Concert Band. 

Visitors can also book a tour of the gardens, which will run from 10:45am to 11:45am on the same day. 

Additional information, and tour bookings can be found here.

Adelaide’s big fun run, the City to Bay, returns on Sunday, September 20, where participants can either walk or run three, six, 12 or 21 kilometres from the top of King William Street to the end of Glenelg’s Jetty Road. 

Registrations close 10am on Saturday, September 19, and yes, there are prizes for best costume. 

More information can be found here.

Be sure to check back in with On The Record next month for a snapshot of what’s happening in Adelaide in October.