Back and bigger than ever, we bring you our selections from the 2025 Adelaide Italian Festival program

The lively and vibrant Adelaide Italian Festival is back for its 49th year of celebrating culture and community right in the heart of the city.

From the infamous opening event, to long lunches, and live music performances, here are some of our top picks from the program’s jam-packed 2025 lineup.

Opening Event:
Festa in the Plaza
Friday 7 November & Saturday 8 November
11am-11pm
Free entry

Kicking off the 49th annual Adelaide Italian Festival is the quintessential Opening Event that we’ve all come to know and love. Running over two days in the Festival Plaza, the heart of the city will transform into a spectacular, vibrant Italian piazza. From AM to PM, watch as the celebrations unfold before your eyes with exclusive dining hotspots turning up the heat (think The Taste Lane, The Heartbeat, and Terrace Kitchen) and a huge entertainment line-up that brings something for everyone. While daytime takes it slow and steady with acoustic music, workshops and kid’s activities, the evenings are set to bring high-energy with live bands and DJ’s keeping the night young, the drinks flowing, and the bodies dancing. Whether you’re looking for a long lunch with friends under festoon lights, a post-work tipple at one of the lively bars, or a sneaky Aperitivo, Festa in the Plaza has it all, and then some. Marking the official start to the 2025 Festival, the Opening Event sets the tone for the week-long occasion, bringing together the best of Italian culture in one huge, unforgettable celebration.

La Grande Gita
Sunday 2 November 8am-3pm
Serafino Wines, 39 Kangarilla Road, McLaren Vale
Bookings are essential (for riders only): registration starts from $55, under-16s ride free. Event Village: Open to all. Free entry

La Grande Gita is back, and this year’s event is shaping up to be an epic one. Choose your trail (varying in distance and route), purchase your ticket, and get your bike in tip top shape ready to ride in style throughout the McLaren Vale and Fleurieu region. With plenty of rides to choose from, and plenty of pit stops to make along each route, La Grande Gita caters to everyone from families with little ones, to long distanced cyclists – the choice is yours! Starting and ending at Serafino Wines, the event village will await participants at the end of the day, with live entertainment from Pulse Band and face painting for the kids.

Enjoy great food from local businesses; Pizza Aesthetics, cannolis from Bellieri Bakery, Gelato Bello, paninis and bacon and eggs rolls from Saint Hilarion and Canela Cartels. Paired with plenty of coffee, beer, and wine to toast to a day well spent.

SA eBikes will also be offering a ‘Come N Try’ day, for everyone to enjoy and explore McLaren Vale, as part of La Grande Gita.

Movie Night
Tuesday 11 November 5:30pm-9:30pm
Palace Nova Eastend, 3 Cinema Pl, Adelaide
Tickets $60 per person

Brush off your finest attire and get red-carpet-ready for a glamourous mid-week evening at Place Nova Eastend. Featuring Ridley Scott’s drama-fuelled House of Gucci, guests will be welcomed to the event with drinks, an authentic pasta bar, and live Italian music, setting the scene for an evening of fun and passionate storytelling about power, betrayal and the iconic fashion house that is Gucci. Included in tickets, guests will have access to the pasta bar, popcorn, and beverages.

Journey Mass
Saturday 15 November 3:30pm-5:30pm
St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral, 39 Wakefield St, Adelaide
Free entry

A tribute to the Italian migrants who created a home here in Adelaide, the Journey Mass is an afternoon to reflect on and honour the resilience, traditions, and faith of generations of Italian spirit that continues to grow. Held in St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral, the event is free for all to attend and encourages the celebration of the cultural legacy carried over oceans and passed down through the generations. Through music, prayer, and reflection, this special service weaves the story of migration into the spiritual fabric of Italian communities, connecting once more, the soul of Italy with the heart of Adelaide.

Pranzo in the Piazza
Sunday 16 November 12-4pm
Roma Adelaide, 11 Waymouth St, Adelaide
Tickets $175 per person

Nestled in the heart of the CBD, Roma Adelaide invites you to join them for a luxurious long lunch alfresco style in the warmth of the Spring sun. With their Rome inspired piazza, the open-air dining venue is gearing up for an unforgettable day, and a delectable Italian feast. The ultimate Sunday afternoon for those who enjoy a moment of indulgence, Pranzo in the Piazza will feature a modern, curated menu with paired wines by Amadio Wines and Babino and Babo wines, featuring live music creating the ultimate backdrop for an unmistakably Italian event. Gather your friends, dress to impress, and be part of the festival’s ultimate food and wine celebration.

Italian International Sports Day
Sunday 2 November 9am-2pm
Adelaide City Park, Hilltop Drive, Oakden
Free entry

Celebrating South Australia’s Italian heritage through soccer, the Italian International Sports Day will showcase junior boys’ and girls’ lightning matches alongside feature U17 women’s and men’s games. Promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this will be a fun-fuelled day of honouring Italian sporting traditions and the role soccer has played in uniting generations and strengthening community ties.

An Italian Creative Escape: Paint & Sip @ Coccobello
Sunday 16 November 3-5pm
Coccobello Restaurant e Pizzeria, 209 Glen Osmond Road, Frewville
Tickets $59 per person

Guided by a local artist, create a unique piece of art to take home with you in the company of friends. All materials are supplied – all that’s left to do is show up, BYO snacks and drinks, and enjoy the creative atmosphere.

An Evening in Roma
Friday 7 November 6:30pm
That’s Amore, 999 Lower North East Road, Highbury
Tickets $75 per person

That’s Amore in Highbury is celebrating authentic Italian dishes with an evening of Roman cuisine, warm hospitality, and a taste of Italy’s Eternal City right here in Adelaide. Purchase your tickets, grab your friends, and make it a night to remember as your palette comes to life.

Call to book: 08 8263 5287

Canzone D’Amore
Saturday 15 November 6pm & 8pm
Star Theatre, 145 Sir Donald Bradman Drive, Hilton
$50 per person (two shows available)

Presented by Cartella Entertainment, Canzone D’Amore is a stunning evening bringing the romance and passion of Italian love songs to Star Theatres. Audiences will be treated to heartfelt renditions of classic and contemporary Italian melodies, performed by talented musicians and vocalists.

The Adelaide Italian Festival
Nov 7-16 2025
adelaideitalianfestival.com.au

@adelaideitalianfestival