You'd be forgiven for thinking the show is all petting zoos and dagwood dogs, but our guide goes beyond to highlight the food and entertainment that makes for a great show day no matter your age.
September 4, 2024
Happening
CityMag’s Royal Show guide
Haven’t been to the show since you got a Show Day off at school? You may remember woodchopping events, petting farms and show bags galore. While the memories are fond, we found a lot of the Gen Zs and Millenials in the CityMag newsroom were thinking of skipping the Royal Adelaide Show, so we searched for a range of experiences to draw you in that diverge from the activities we loved as kids.
As the second week of the Royal Adelaide Show swings around, it’s not too late to check out the below.
Eat and Drink
Ice Cream Cellar Door
Nothing beats the taste of local ice cream on a spring weekend. Bush Tucker Ice Cream uses 100 per cent South Australian milk and cream, with locally-sourced fruit to create their flavours. The cellar door experience offers a unique list of flavours, including Wattle seed, Lilly Pilly and Wild Ginger. Find them at Taste SA, next to Aggies’ Farm, with sessions held at 10:45am and 11:45am.
Lunch with Sookii La La
Take a break between rides with some Southeast Asian street food from Sookii La La. With popular fluffy bao buns and tasty salad noodle bowls, look out for the colourful truck located at Kingsway Gourmet. The food truck caters gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options, ensuring everyone can enjoy South Australian regional and seasonal produce. You’ll recognise Sookii La La as a reliable festival feed, popping up at WOMADelaide and Wildlands earlier in the year. CityMag‘s pick is their famous succulent katsu sando.
This picture: Sookii La La, via Facebook
Viral Mochi Donuts
Ready for dessert? A fusion of American-style doughnuts and Japanese mochi, Shibui’s famous mochi doughnuts might just replace the fairy floss. Just for the show, they’ve spruced it up with cinnamon sugar mochi doughnuts, recreating the classic cinnamon doughnut, a show staple. The dessert restaurant is also offering their viral toasted marshmallow fluff cups, which were recently featured in CityMag’s list of Adelaide’s best hot chocolates. This weekend is your opportunity to finally try the foods that may have surfaced on your TikTok feed. Shibiu is located across from Aggies Farm and next to the Main Arena.
Shibui’s hot choc will fluff up a cool spring evening. This picture: Claudia Dichiera
Whites Valley Jalapenos
Spice things up this weekend with Whites Valley Jalapenos, located at the Taste SA pavilion. Open this Sunday from 8:30am to 12:30pm, the stall offers homegrown hot sauces and chilli jam. This brand is a farmer’s market staple, using chilis grown in the Fleurieu by husband and wife, Norma and Andrew. All chillis are processed into products within hours of being picked and slow smoked – no liquid smoke here. With free entry, you can try a range of the award-winning products and unique flavour combinations. There are chilli-infused mustards, sauces, pastes, relishes, dukkah, rubs and more to spice up your life.
The chipotle sauce is CityMag’s favourite. This picture: David Simmons
Wine tastings
Another one in Taste SA – can you tell it’s CityMag’s favourite pavilion? Sample up to four wines in a tasting session guided by a professional wine taster. The cellar door experience runs every day on the hour between 2pm and 5pm. Tasting seats are available for a gold coin donation to the Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society of SA Education Foundation. You may want to get in early though, as seats are limited and allocated on a first-served basis.
Watch
80s Ladies
Head to Boulevard Stage at 6:10pm on Saturday or Sunday for a hair-raising performance. Presented by Gluttony, 80s Ladies will take you back in time with a performance of timeless 80s bangers. This feel-good activity is free with show entry, meaning that you can dance the entire evening away. Boogie like no one is watching with a guilty-pleasure list of songs from your throwback playlist. Led by artist Chloe Castledine, and first performed to audiences at the Adelaide Fringe, this performance will blow your scrunchie off.
DJ Nelya
DJ Nelya is serving up chaotic mixes and global beats at the Boulevard Stage this Friday or Sunday at 8:15pm or this Saturday at 9:15pm for a night of music. Nelya has played at music festivals including Laneway, Darwin Festival and Groovin the Moo. The local artist has also supported acts including Peaches Kira Piru and Half Queen. Nelya hosted a Kyle Minogue-themed party earlier this year at My Lover Cindi, and is known for revving up a crowd.
DJ Nelya Valamanesh. This picture: Daniel Marks
V8 Ute Precision Team
For the car lovers out there, this one is for you. Two Fords and two Holden Utes will perform some precision driving by the old Hold Precision Driving team of the 70s, 80s and 90s before they line up for a head-to-head race to finish the performance. The event will be held at the Main Arena, with starting times being Friday 4:15pm, Saturday 4:15pm and Sunday 12:30pm.
Wham Glam Circus Man
Share a laugh with your mates this weekend with a performance from Wham Glam Circus Man. Another presented by Gluttony, Wham Glam Circus Man performs death-defying circus stunts and comedy while playing rock n’ roll music. The performance will have you laughing, cheering and shocked — all while he juggles a chainsaw. Having popped up at the Fringe several times, Wham Glam Circus Man puts on a confident show.
Shop
Australian Native Food Co
You can find Australian Native Food Co. in the Taste SA pavilion and Market Bazaar, showing off their tasty native dessert dukkah and other ethically sourced artisan food products. They offer plant-based and gluten-free options and showcase Australia’s culinary and botanical riches.
CityMag recently stocked up on Australian Native Food Co. goods for a special photoshoot you’ll find in our next print magazine. This picture: Ben Kelly
Shapeshifter Brewing Co.
Located in Findon, Shapeshifter is a small-batch craft beer brand and for the week, they’re set up in the Goyder Pavillion. Their beers have fun names like Party Shirt (a colourful, easy-to-drink, hazy session ale), Sunshowers (a California pale) and The Craic (an Irish stout, of course). They also have hats, tees and hoodies on offer, so you can show your local love.
Shapeshifter co-founder James McCall. This picture: David Simmons/InDaily
XJ Tattoo
If you follow CityMag on social media, you’ll know we love seeing tattoo pop-ups at festivals. When browsing the Market Baazar offerings, we were pleased to see XJ Tattoo Studio on offer for those wanting to get inked. Based on Wright Street, XJ Tattoo Studio artists specialise in traditional Japanese styles, fine line, watercolour, black & grey and realism tattoos. Check out the types of flash designs available on their Instagram.
Winterberry Boutique
Head to Market Bazaar Ridley Pavilion and pick some unique jewellery from Winterberry Boutique. The local jewellery designer is back for the third year in a row, offering handcrafted polymer clay earrings and accessories. The jewellery stand is open from 9am ’til 9pm, meaning that you can cop an accessory anytime. From detailed charms to statement earrings, the stall offers a variety of local goods.
Share —
