No midwinter blues
by Carla Caruso
Earlier this month, Adelaideans endured the city’s coldest July morning in more than a century (Wednesday July 3).
A low of 0.6C was recorded by the Bureau of Meteorology on West Terrace at 7.35am – a temperature that hasn’t been seen here since July 24, 1908.
Despite the record-breaking chill, it certainly hasn’t caused the city – including your Adelaide Park Lands – to go into hibernation.
Annual winter event Illuminate Adelaide kicked off on July 4 and is lighting up the city with its “celebration of art, light, music, and technology” until the 21st. It’s optional whether you wear light-up accessories to the event!
Among the Illuminate activities, the Adelaide Botanic Garden in Park 11 is playing host to the ticketed event, Fire Gardens, featuring “thousands of handcrafted giant firepots, captivating kinetic sculptures, live music, and candlelit arched pathways”.
‘Fire Gardens’ event at the Adelaide Botanic Garden (Park 11). Photo: Chris Colhoun.
The Adelaide Zoo, also in Park 11, is staging a new, ticketed experience, Universal Kingdom: Prehistoric Nights, boasting “state-of-the-art puppetry [and] new purpose-built installations … exploring the prehistoric era”.
‘Universal Kingdom: Prehistoric Nights’ is a ticketed event at the Adelaide Zoo (Park 11). Photo: Illuminate Adelaide.
Pop-up village Base Camp has moved this year from Rundle Park / Kadlitpina (Park 13) to Lot Fourteen (also in Park 11). It’s free to enter and is said to be “filled with food, firepits, and winter’s best entertainment”.
The pop-up village, Base Camp, is in Lot Fourteen (Park 11) this year. Photo: James Elsby.
City Lights is a free Illuminate program, in which you can wander the CBD and see artworks showcased on iconic institutions and in secret hideaways. Sites along the way include the Festival Plaza in Tarntanya Wama (Park 26). Download the City Lights map here.
‘ChronoHarp’ by Amigo & Amigo in the Adelaide Festival Plaza (Park 26) - part of the free ‘City Lights’ trail (also main image, top). Photo: James Elsby.
‘Kaktos’ by Amigo & Amigo at Flinders University's Festival Campus - part of the free ‘City Lights’ trail. As shown, not all the inflatable cacti could withstand the wind on July 6! Photo: James Elsby.
Installation across from the Adelaide Oval in Park 27. Photo: James Elsby.
‘The World Has Gone Pear-shaped’ installation by Tine Bech Studio on North Terrace’s War Memorial Lawns - part of the free ‘City Lights’ trail. Photo: Eric Li Yee.
Adelaide has truly become the city that never sleeps!
Here are some more winter pics from around your Park Lands to inspire you to pull on your thick socks and brave the ‘brrr’.
Rick Mignon captured this 'yarn bombing' project in Hurtle Square / Tangkaira - the 'Forest of Dreams'. The installation, care of the City of Adelaide, will add colour to the city square for a few weeks. More info here.
Even orangutans feel the chill … Kevin Roberts captured this image at the Adelaide Zoo in Park 11.
APA follower John Sharp shared this photo when he was heading off to work on Wednesday - Adelaide’s coldest morning in a century.
A ‘winter solstice’ moon snapped by APA follower Sue Lewis in the inner city.
Chris Colhoun photographed these raindrops in Lefevre Park / Nantu Wama (Park 6).
Samantha Buttery caught this puddle reflection of the historic Palm House at the Adelaide Botanic Garden (Park 11).
Fog in Lefevre Park / Nantu Wama (Park 6), thanks to Tina Nilsson.
Please note: those experiencing homelessness cannot be forgotten during the cooler months.
Here is a list of homelessness services and support for vulnerable people, care of the City of Adelaide.