Why Adelaide is the best city in Australia during the Fringe Festival

There’s one city in Australia that’s woefully underrated. In fact, during March, it’s easily the best city in the country to visit.

I once heard a comedian in Canberra say on stage: “I went to a great ’80s-themed event the other day … it was called ‘Adelaide’.”

Firstly, not a very funny joke. Secondly, the nerve of someone from Canberra to make a joke about another city … I mean, pots and kettles!

Adelaide is certainly not a city to be mocked. In fact, after a whirlwind trip to South Australia over the weekend to experience the Adelaide Fringe Festival, I’ve come to the conclusion that Adelaide is in fact the greatest city in Australia … (in March).

Here’s my argument.

The shows: There are over 1000 events to check out during the Adelaide Fringe Festival, making it the biggest arts festival in the southern hemisphere.

The majority of the country’s top comedians, including Rhys Nicholson, Judith Lucy, Tommy Little, Tom Gleeson, each have shows during the festival.

There are international comedians too, including Stephen K Amos, Arj Barker and Ross Noble.

If cabaret’s more your thing, you can check out Reuben Kaye or even America’s Got Talent star, Hans.

Hugh Sheridan has a show called ‘My Way’ at the Fringe. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Hugh Sheridan has a show belting out some classic tunes – and there’s a stunning drone show in McLaren Vale called Sky Song with hundreds of drones flying in formation to a soundtrack of First Nations storytelling through poetry and song.

There’s magic, there’s circus, there’s dance … honestly, there really is something for everyone.

Show me another city in Australia that has such a wide array of shows available to see in March … you can’t, can you!

Drones flying overhead during the Sky Song show in McLaren Vale. Picture Matt Turner

City is pumping: The Fringe Festival is like a giant defibrillator on the chest of Adelaide. It brings the city back to life.

The month-long event transforms the CBD into one big party.

Some of the streets are closed to traffic with restaurants spilling onto roads, with extra tables and makeshift bars brought in to accommodate the thousands who flock to the CBD each night to see a show or to simply soak up the atmosphere.

There’s music everywhere, there are street performers, and trust me, there’s a real vibe in the air.

Show me another city in Australia that has a party atmosphere for one whole month in the middle of the CBD … you can’t, can you!

A busker entertains the crowd on East Terrace. Picture Dean Martin

The happiest place on earth: Forget Disneyland, the happiest place on earth is The Garden of Unearthly Delights.

It’s basically a giant outdoor festival area based in parklands in the Adelaide CBD – and it’s the heart of the Fringe Festival.

It has multiple performance venues including the legendary Spiegeltent. There are bars, carnival rides, food and market stalls, and people, so many people.

Walking through the Garden, you can’t help but get swept up in the Fringe spirit. Even if you don’t have a ticket to one of the shows, just walking through the area is almost a show in itself.

Show me another city in Australia that has such a lively festival hub based in the CBD in March … you can’t, can you!

The Garden of Unearthly Delights is massive. Picture: Emma Brasier

The people: A city is only as good as its people, and the people of Adelaide are some of the most lovely I have ever encountered.

Allow me to give you an example. My mate and I went to Sky Song last Friday night in McLaren Vale, which is about a 45-minute drive from the Adelaide CBD.

We had bus tickets to take us there and bring us back into the city, but we were a bit slow to leave the venue at the end and missed the bus.

Rather than spend hundreds on an Uber, we decided to ask some strangers for a lift.

We approached a middle-aged couple who were leaving the venue and told them our predicament.

Without hesitation, they said they were happy to drive us to a train station just outside the city centre.

Some of the drones before the Sky Song show. Picture Matt Turner

As we jumped in their car, we got to chatting and they mentioned that their daughter lived nearby in McLaren Vale.

They jokingly suggested that we should all pay her a visit – and their faces lit up when we said from the back seat, “Sure, why not.”

So this lovely couple drove us to their daughter’s house where we met her and her partner and their son, Jack.

They welcomed us into their home, cracked open a bottle of wine, and we spent the next two hours chatting to the family before they drove us into the city.

How unbelievably nice (and random) is that?

Show me another city in Australia that’s filled with people so friendly that they’ll literally give a lift and a couple of glasses of wine to complete strangers … you can’t, can you!

Food, glorious food: I don’t know about you, but when I think of festival food, I tend to think of sh**ty hotdogs and burgers with soggy chips.

That is most certainly not the case at the Fringe.

The Garden of Unearthly Delights is filled with food stalls from local restaurants, and the beauty of the Fringe being based in the CBD is that you have easy access to the city’s top restaurants.

I had a dish at a restaurant called Fino Vino (eggplant, tomato and capsicum sugo, yoghurt, farinata) that was almost life-changing.

Fino Vino restaurant manager Sharon Romeo and chef David Swain. Picture: Tom Huntley

I had a sandwich at a place called Fugazzi (mortadella finger and salami sando, mayo, pickled shallot, pecorino) which will live on in my memory for years to come.

And don’t even get me started on the pan-fried chive cakes at Soi 38 … incredible.

Show me another city in Australia that boasts as many amazing dining options during a festival … you can’t, can you!

The Adelaide Fringe runs until March 31 so there’s plenty of time left to experience this truly remarkable festival – and the city it’s based in.

Just book a flight – check it out for a couple of days – and I think you’ll quickly come to the same conclusion that I did, that Adelaide is the best city in Australia (in March).

This writer was a guest of the South Australian Tourism Commission