Gather 'round for Opening Weekend of Adelaide Fringe Festivities

Published by: Adelaide Fringe Festival 2019 | 13-Feb-2019
The 2019 Adelaide Fringe is inviting festival-goers to the city's biggest party of the year lasting 31 days and nights - and it all starts with the spectacular Opening Night festivities from 6pm tomorrow.
Celebrations will kick off with a Street Party and Night Market along War Memorial Drive between King William and Frome Street featuring two stages hosting 35 different acts. These include a 'Frusic' space featuring local musicians in conjunction with Music SA.

The banks of the River Torrens/Karrawirra Parri will also be the site of a moving Tindo Utpurndee - Sunset Ceremony at 8.15pm before the stunning cultural interactive projections experience Yabarra: Gathering of Light switches on at 8.30pm. The free immersive installation along both sides of the river near the University of Adelaide footbridge will run for all 31 nights.

Adelaide Fringe Director and CEO Heather Croall said the River Torrens would come alive with powerful cultural storytelling and dazzling performances to kick off a month of divine madness.

"We're so excited to be activating such a beautiful part of Adelaide's CBD and transforming it into a lively gathering place where festival-goers can come down for our Opening Night fun and frivolity," Ms Croall said.

"Then on every night of the festival we'll have the amazing large-scale light and sound installation lighting up the river sharing the ancient local Kaurna culture through modern technologies like digital projections, giant inflatable animals and other interactive projects along the riverbank.

"We owe a great deal of thanks to Yabarra: Gathering of Light Creative Cultural Producer Karl Telfer for his vital input into making this inaugural event happen, along with Cindi Drennan and her team at Illuminart for putting together a truly stunning collection of digital projections and installations that will take the audience on a journey that is like nothing Adelaide has seen before."

This year's Adelaide Fringe will be more accessible than ever with a recently appointed Diversity and Access Co-ordinator overseeing new initiatives such as a 2019 Access Guide and the recruitment of 20 volunteer Access Champions to review the accessibility of Fringe venues and support patrons with their access requirements.

Earlier tomorrow, free performances will begin at Fringe in the Mall under the Gawler Place Canopy, Rundle Mall, with artists taking to the stage from 11am to 2pm and 5pm to 8pm. If audience members like what they see, they can purchase tickets from the self-collect ticket machines on site or at the nearby FringeTIX Rundle Mall Box Office.

On Saturday, Fringe at IKEA Adelaide will see free Fringe performances pop up in the store from 11am as part of a new partnership with the international retailer.

The 2019 Adelaide Fringe program is bursting with 1326 events presented by more than 7000 artists across a variety of genres - comedy (340 events), music (276), theatre (156), cabaret (135), visual art & design (86), children's events (77), events (75), circus & physical theatre (52), dance (36), interactive (36), magic (25), workshops & talks (22) and film & digital (10).

Of the 517 venues hosting Fringe events, new additions include A Club Adelaide, The National Wine Centre, the GC at Grand Central and the SA Jockey Club at Morphettville Racecourse. Returning favourites include The Garden of Unearthly Delights, Gluttony and RCC Fringe - along with Tandanya, Rhino Room and Holden Street Theatres.

"The 2019 Adelaide Fringe has so much to offer for all tastes and budgets - there is big spectaculars and lots of wild, weird and wonderful Fringe experiences to be had. All you have to do is take a look at our program to see that there's something for everyone as long as you're willing to take a risk and explore different venues," Ms Croall said.

Ticket sales for this year's festival have so far exceeded 200,000 (worth more than $5 million) and are up by 25 per cent on the same time last year.

The 2019 Adelaide Fringe will run from February 15 to March 17. For more information, including Opening Night road closures, visit adelaidefringe.com.au.

Adelaide Fringe would like to thank its Principal Partner of 14 years, BankSA; Opening Night Partners City of Adelaide and Channel Nine and all other Corporate Partners for their ongoing support.

ADELAIDE FRINGE OPENING WEEKEND EVENTS - FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15

Fringe in the Mall

"¢ Visit the Fringe in the Mall stage under the Gawler Place Canopy for FREE entertainment throughout the Fringe.
"¢ Get a sneak peek of Fringe shows and if you like what you see, grab a ticket from the self-collect ticket stations on site or visit the Rundle Mall box office.
"¢ Stage time on Friday, February 15: 11am to 2pm and 5pm to 8pm
"¢ More information: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/fringe-in-the-mall-af2019

Adelaide Night Market

"¢ Soak up the atmosphere at War Memorial Drive from 6pm - including live music, guest performers and a wide selection of scrumptious street food plus artisan, fashion and jewellery stalls.
"¢ More information: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/adelaide-night-market-af2019

Opening Night Party

"¢ War Memorial Drive will be transformed into one big Fringe venue from 6pm to 10.30pm.
"¢ Includes live music from artists on the Frusic and Caravan Stages from 6pm to 10.30pm
"¢ More information: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/opening-night-af2019

Tindo Utpurndee - Sunset Ceremony

"¢ To officially open the 2019 Adelaide Fringe, everyone is invited to this special Sunset Ceremony on the banks of River Torrens, War Memorial Drive between Frome Rd Bridge and King William Road Bridge from 8.15pm to recognise the living culture of the First Nations and to pay respect to the spirit of the land.
"¢ More information: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/tindo-utpurndee-sunset-ceremony-af2019

Yabarra: Gathering of Light

"¢ The official 'switching on' of the Yabarra projections will take place directly after the Sunset Ceremony at 8.30pm. "¢ Watch as the banks of River Torrens come alive every night of the Fringe with a spectacular story of light and sound guide you through a cultural landscape. More information: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/yabarra-gathering-of-light-af2019

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16

Fringe at IKEA Adelaide

"¢ Join Adelaide Fringe at the IKEA Adelaide store on the first official day of Adelaide Fringe as some of the best acts to grace the 2019 Fringe perform from 11am!
"¢ More information: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/fringe-at-ikea-adelaide-af2019

FEBRUARY 15 TO MARCH 17

Street Art Explosion

"¢ Blank walls of Adelaide will again burst into life for the 2019 Street Art Explosion! Featuring brand new works that will erupt with colour and creativity in Adelaide CBD alongside existing works throughout the city and surrounding suburbs.
"¢ More information: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/street-art-explosion-af2019

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