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Adelaide didn't get the nickname "Festival City" for nothing. There's an event for every taste during the summer months, when the city plays host to music, performance, cinema and major sporting events.
December
3-7
Vodafone Ashes Series 2010-2011
The Adelaide Oval hosts the second Test in the Ashes cricket series between Australia and England. Dating back to 1882, the Ashes is one of cricket's most celebrated rivalries. Catch Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Mitchell Johnson and the rest of the Australian team in action.
saca.com.au
January
11-13
World Tennis Challenge Adelaide
An entertaining tournament between four regions (Americas, Australasia, Europe and International), WTC features a current and a former player - previous participants have included John McEnroe and Pat Cash - in each team. Memorial Drive Tennis Centre. worldtennischallenge.com
16-23
Santos Tour Down Under
First held in 1999, the Santos Tour Down Under is the biggest cycling race in the southern hemisphere, and the first race on the international cycling calendar. The week-long, six-stage race passes through the Barossa, the Adelaide Hills and McLaren Vale, finishing in Adelaide. Catch Cadel Evans and Lance Armstrong - in his last professional race outside the US - in action. Keen cyclists (adults and children) can ride sections of the race route in the Skoda Breakaway Series.
tourdownunder.com.au
30
Crush 11
Adelaide Hills celebrates the best of its wine and food. crushfestival.com.au
February
12-13
Italian Carnevale
Adelaide's Italian community celebrates its culture with food and wine, opera, fashion and more.
carnevale-adelaide.com
18 - March 13
Adelaide Fringe
Over 24 summer days and nights the Adelaide Fringe, the largest open-access arts event in the southern hemisphere, takes over the entire city with art, music and performance in parks, squares, laneways, old buildings, circus tents, art galleries, theatres and pubs. The traditional opening-night party and parade turn the east end of the city into a giant carnival.
adelaidefringe.com.au
24 - March 6
BigPond Adelaide Film Festival
The film world as well as movie-loving locals converge on the east end of Adelaide for premieres, screenings and discussion forums about Australian and international features, documentaries, animations, shorts and experimental films.
adelaidefilmfestival.org
March
11-14
WOMAdelaide
Adelaide's annual festival of world music and dance is held in Botanic Park. The 2011 lineup features Angus and Julia Stone, the Creole Choir of Cuba, the UK's Afro Celt Sound System and Indian flautist Rajendra Prasanna. A visual arts program, children's activities and international food add to the global flavour.
womadelaide.com.au
17-20
Clipsal 500
Australia's largest domestic motor-sport event, the Clipsal 500 V8 Supercar race takes over the east end of the city for four days. V8 Supercar drivers, who claim Adelaide's street circuit is more challenging than Bathurst, compete in two 250-kilometre races; other categories include the Australian GT Championship, V8 Utes, Aussie Racing Cars and Touring Car Masters. Twilight racing is a new feature in 2011, and air shows and concerts add to the action.
clipsal500.com.au
April
2-3 International Rugby Sevens Adelaide
The Adelaide Oval becomes the home of seven-a-side rugby for the International Rugby Sevens, with 16 teams competing for points towards the International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens series.
adelaidesevens.com
23 & 25
Oakbank Racing Carnival
Held over Easter, this is Adelaide's answer to Melbourne's Spring Carnival.
oakbankracingclub.com.au
This article published with support from the South Australian Tourism Commission.
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