SA events, shows, celebrations cancelled or postponed
NYE fireworks at Elder Park, Feast’s Picnic in the Park, arts performances, SkyCity’s launch events, and convention centre functions are on the list of cancelled events.
SA Business
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The already-struggling hospitality, events and tourism sectors in South Australia are bracing for another hit as major community gatherings, shows, and functions are cancelled or postponed.
The Adelaide City Council has taken the extra precaution of cancelling its New Year’s Eve public event at Elder Park.
The growing list of events already cancelled include the ongoing Feast festival’s Picnic in the Park celebrations, which was scheduled for November 29. There may be reduced attendance at some of its other events.
“The COVID resurgence in SA is devastating news. Picnic in the Park is the final event for Feast Festival attracting over 3500 people and connecting LGBTIQ+ and allied communities in a vibrant celebration of inclusivity and diversity,” said Feast chief executive Helen Sheldon.
New health restrictions in SA, which came into effect midnight on Tuesday, led to the immediate cancellation of 23 scheduled events at the Adelaide Convention Centre and milestone events at least until November 30.
The convention centre said it had “made the difficult decision” to temporarily close the Adelaide Convention Centre to all organised gatherings at least until November 30, which includes graduation events for Adelaide High School, Nazareth Catholic College and St Michael’s College as well as this week’s Business SA State Budget lunch.
“This has affected 23 local events that were scheduled here at the Centre across this period, with a proposed attendance of approximately 9,000 guests,” convention centre general manager Simon Burgess said.
“We are in the process of working with clients to reschedule as many of these events as possible. Regrettably, this also means that our event staff have seen their casual shifts cancelled across this period,” he said.
SkyCity Adelaide general manager David Christian said all large planned launch events related to the completion of its $330m expansion, including the public opening of The District and the SkyCity expansion were cancelled.
Sean’s Kitchen, Madame Hanoi and The Guardsman restaurants remain open with the casino operating under a limited and further “tightly controlled” model.
Meanwhile, State Opera cancelled its remaining performances of The Summer of the Seventeenth Doll at Her Majesty’s Theatre on Wednesday and Friday.
The production had only opened on Saturday with COVID-safe checkerboard seating, selling out its 50 per cent capacity. Ticket holders for the cancelled performances are entitled to a full refund from BASS.
State Theatre Company has cancelled the opening week of its show Ripcord at the Dunstan Playhousein response to the new density requirements implemented by the state government. The affected performances are from tonight (Nov 17) until Saturday (Nov 21).
Organisers of the Adelaide Festival have delayed its 2021 program launch, which was due to take place this Thursday, November 19, for two weeks on a directive from the Premier.
Next year’s Festival will run from February 26 to March 14.
A decision on the Adelaide Rally, which was scheduled for the end of this month, is still under review.
Adelaide Oval management said it will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely and will follow all advice and guidelines issued by SA Health.
“For now, any event that can be held in a COVIDSafe manner will continue and we remain in close consultation with all function clients, a Stadium Management Authority spokeswoman said.
In terms of regional events, the Murray Bridge Riverfront Christmas Festival, scheduled for Saturday has been cancelled.
SA Tourism Commission said it was continuing to work closely with the tourism sector to ensure the visitor economy returns to its record levels.
“We need to get South Australians back to work, welcoming guests to our state and helping to showcase everything we have on offer here,” chief executive Rodney Harrex said.
“The advice issued yesterday from the South Australian Government and SA Health is that unnecessary travel within SA is discouraged but not restricted – it’s a tough call but it is advice that we need to heed, out of an abundance of caution.”
SATC was not aware of any impact of the changes on Great State voucher bookings while it was also too early to estimate how much the restrictions had cost in terms of interstate booking cancellations.
Industry body Business SA, which has more than 3000 members, said there were unanswered questions around the new restrictions for businesses.
These ranged from managing employees visiting COVID-19 hot spots, including directing them to get tested, directing them to work from home and how wages should be paid.
There was also confusion around mandating work from home and use of masks.
CANCELLED/POSTPONED
– Adelaide City Council’s NYE public event at Elder Park
– Feast Festival’s Picnic in the Park, Tarntanya Wama/ Pinky Flat, Corner War Memorial Drive and Montefiore Road, Adelaide
– West End Art Talks cancelled; Samstag Museum of Art closed
– State Opera’s The Summer of the Seventeenth Doll shows, Her Majesty’s Theatre
– State Theatre Company’s Ripcord performances, Dunstan Playhouse
– All business and other events, Adelaide Convention Centre
– SkyCity’s District, other launch events, North Tce
– The Murray Bridge Riverfront Christmas Festival
– Adelaide Festival program launch
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