More regional events, more often - part of million-dollar boost

South Australian Tourism Commission

Regional South Australia will welcome more events more often, with nearly 40 regional events today receiving a financial boost to help them attract more visitors and support more regional jobs.

Round one of the South Australian Tourism Commission's Regional Event Fund will support 37 regional events - including 16 events receiving support through the Fund for the first time, and eight which are entirely new events to SA.

Premier Steven Marshall today announced the expansion of SA's regional event calendar as A Little More Barossa and the state-wide SALA kick off their month-long festivals. They are among the many events set to share in an extra $1 million allocated to regional events by the State Government.

"We are doing exactly what we said we'd do - more events, more often, delivered across all of South Australia to create and sustain jobs across the state," Premier Marshall said.

"With an extra $1 million for regional events, we're strengthening the state's regional event calendar and helping bring new events to SA, from the Flinders Ranges to the Limestone Coast.

"Regional tourism is going gangbusters, with regional SA breaking all-time occupancy records for seven consecutive months since December. With more and new events across the state, we're giving more reasons for locals to keep seeing SA and we're driving South Australia's economic recovery."

Events to receive grants in round one of the 2021-22 Regional Event Fund include the upcoming Feast Festival in November held at venues across Adelaide, Grapes of Mirth the Festival in the Barossa to be supported through the Fund for the first time, three new events to the Clare Valley, two new events to the Eyre Peninsula, and continued support for popular regional events such the Adelaide Hills wine festival, Winter Reds.

SALA runs from 1-31 August and is the largest community-based open-access visual arts festival in Australia. Supported by the Regional Event Fund, SALA has exhibitions across the state and organisers are delighted the festival is "full-steam ahead".

SALA operations manager Bridget Alfred said in its 24th year, the South Australian Living Arts festival has over 600 exhibitions from the Limestone Coast to the Flinders Ranges, and the program has been largely unchanged by the recent lockdown.

"This year's SALA Festival boasts a huge program of exhibitions in venues from galleries, retail stores and cafes, to studios community spaces. After a heavily virtual 2020 event, we've seen a strong shift back to seeing the work of South Australia's incredible artists in person - we have a record number of 9,167 artists, an increase in the number group shows and we've launched our inaugural regional SALA Weekend in partnership with the Port Pirie Council. There's such a range of art to be explored from border to border, so, download the SALA app to check out what's on and get out across SA this August."

With the support of the Fund, a new month-long food and wine festival in the Barossa, A Little More Barossa, offers more than 70 events at venues across the region.

Barossa regional tourism manager Jess Greatwich said: "We are thrilled to be presenting A Little More Barossa right across the month of August, highlighting the hidden gems, new discoveries and generational tales of our region. With this support we're able to put on such a significant event, featuring the region's diverse and vibrant wine and food offerings and which will generate significant economic benefit for the Barossa."

The Regional Event Fund is managed by the SATC, through Events South Australia, and was allocated additional funding to support more events through a greater range of purposes such as the engagement of short-term specialised personnel, hire of temporary infrastructure, strategic plan development and marketing costs.

The 2021-22 Fund supports events held from 1 September 2021 to 30 August 2022, with grants available from $5,000 to more than $50,000 under four categories. Round two is open from 1 August - 30 September 2021.

Events receiving funding in round one of the 2021-22 Regional Event Fund:

Event

Event date**

Region

Feast Festival

6 - 28 Nov 2021

Adelaide

The Bay Sheffield

27 & 28 Dec 2021

Adelaide

Blitz Golf - South Australia Series *Newly supported event

4, 6, 7 & 9 Jan 2022

Adelaide

Vegan Festival Adelaide *Newly supported event

30-31 Oct 2021

Adelaide

2021 Over 50's National Cricket Championships *Newly supported event

13 - 18 Nov 2021

Adelaide

Bay to Birdwood

26 Sept 2021

Adelaide Hills

Winter Reds

29 - 31 July 2022

Adelaide Hills

Adelaide Hills Chardonnay May

1 - 31 May 2022

Adelaide Hills

Hahndorf. Handmade. Handcrafted. Handpicked. Festival *Newly supported event

Sept 2021

Adelaide Hills

Grapes of Mirth the Festival *Newly supported event

23 & 24 Oct 2021

Barossa

Auburn French Fest *New event

10 - 12 Sept 2021

Clare Valley

Polo in the Vines, Clare Valley *New event

9 Oct 2021

Clare Valley

Steinfeld Country Beer and Cider Festival *New event

10 & 11 Sept 2022

Clare Valley

Clare Valley Festival of the Lamb *Newly supported event

22 - 27 Sept 2021

Clare Valley

Tunarama Festival

21 - 23 Jan 2022

Eyre Peninsula

@ the bay and Colour Tumby Street Art Festival

11 - 14 Mar 2022

Eyre Peninsula

A Celebration of Seafood @ Streaky Bay *New event

11 - 12 Sept 2021

Eyre Peninsula

Cleve Music Festival *New event

30 Oct 2021

Eyre Peninsula

Rodeo by the Sea

27 Nov 2021

Eyre Peninsula

Fleurieu Beer Festival *Newly supported event

22 Dec 2022

Fleurieu Peninsula

Festival of Nature

15-19 Sept 2021

Fleurieu Peninsula

500 Miles of Music

June/July 2022

Flinders Ranges & Outback

Tarnanthi Festival *New event

11 Sept - 30 Nov 2021

Flinders Ranges & Outback

Flinders Ranges A Brush with Art

4 Sept - 10 Oct 2021

Flinders Ranges & Outback

Kangaroo Island Racing Club Cup Carnival

17 - 19 Feb 2022

Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K

7 May 2022

Kangaroo Island

Coonawarra Cabernet Celebrations

1 - 31 Oct 2021

Limestone Coast

Generations in Jazz

6 - 8 May 2022

Limestone Coast

Pines Enduro

15 - 17 Oct 2022

Limestone Coast

Crayfish Festival *New event

4 - 6 Mar 2022

Limestone Coast

Fantasy Medieval Festival *New event

23 & 24 Apr 2022

Limestone Coast

National Historic Road Race Championships *Newly supported event

29 - 31 Oct 2021

Limestone Coast

Sounds by the River

15 Jan 2022

Murray River Lakes & Coorong

Dash 4 Cash and Dinghy Derby Race Events

4 Feb 2022

Riverland

Riverland Rose Festival

15 - 24 Oct 2021

Riverland

Riverland Wine & Food Festival

22 - 24 Oct 2021

Riverland

Seafood on Spencer

2 April 2021

Yorke Peninsula

**Note: Some dates still to be confirmed and therefore may change.

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