South Australia’s History Festival | 1-31 May 2024

April 7, 2024

South Australia’s 2024 History Festival is a celebration of the past, with a focus on the theme of power. Held throughout May each year, South Australia’s History Festival explores the state’s places and spaces, stories, collections and ideas that make us who we are.

History Festival is one of the largest open-access community events in SA with hundreds of fascinating places to explore, and exciting events and activities suitable for the whole family, such as talks and tours, walks and workshops, exhibitions and open days.

Events happen anywhere: urban and rural, towns, cities and suburbs; in museums and libraries; in boats, trains and buses and mysterious buildings; on the street, by the beach and in nature.

With so many family-friendly events held across South Australia, there are plenty of opportunities for children to spark their curiosity and engage with our state’s history.

2024 Theme: Power

The theme for South Australia’s History Festival 2024 is POWER.

Power means a lot of things, in a lot of places and spaces. There is power in science, power in art, power in the food we share and the clothes we wear. There is power in industry. There is power in storytelling. Above all, there is power in people.

Every single one of us has a story. Some of these stories are grand and far-reaching; others are quiet and personal, held close. Some are handed down as lasting relics; others are broadcast widely or uploaded with fleeting regard for their permanence.

We carry these stories with us; some of them are written across our faces. And every one of our stories is enmeshed with South Australia’s vibrant, living history.

Family Friendly Program Highlights

There are some fascinating places to visit and many events and activities for families with children at this year’s South Australian History Festival. You can use the search function on their website (or click the link below) to search for family friendly/childrens events. Many events are low-cost or free making them a great day out for families.

HISTORY FESTIVAL EVENTS FOR FAMILIES

FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENTS:

Port Adelaide Lighthouse Tour | 24 May 2024

Explore a Port Adelaide icon this May – the Lighthouse is open for visitors during the South Australian History Festival. First lit in 1869, the Lighthouse is still operational but did you know that it has been relocated several times? ...

Adelaide Gaol History Day | Thebarton | 19 May 2024

Adelaide Gaol’s annual History Day is back during South Australia's History Festival in May. As part of South Australia's History Festival Adelaide Gaol will be creaking open its doors to areas usually closed to visitors. Intrigued? Here’s what’s in store: ...

Open Day | Parliament House | 26 May 2024

Open Day at Parliament House Visit Parliament House on Sunday 26 May 2024 for an open day event as part of South Australia's History Festival. View special displays and historical objects, access parts of the building ordinarily closed to the ...

The Fort By Lamplight | Fort Glanville | 4 May 2024

Explore Fort Glanville as part of the South Australia's History Festival in a colourful and sometimes noisy event. The performance will feature nineteenth-century military drill, with cannon fire and musketry demonstrations, all in the soft glow of lamplight. This enables ...

SA State Emergency Service: Open Day | Enfield Unit | 11 May 2024

Explore historical items, buildings, interactive and static displays as well as activities for children at the Enfield Unit, SA State Emergency Service: Open Day as part of South Australia's History Festival in May. The origin of Enfield SES dates back ...

A Day in the Life of a Colonial Soldier at Fort Glanville | 19 May 2024

In this South Australia History Festival event, young visitors may find themselves in a drill squad at Fort Glanville experiencing what it was like to defend South Australian shores in the late nineteenth century. Fort Glanville was the key to ...

Loxton Historical Village | Self-Guided Tours | May 2024

Immerse yourself in the history of rural South Australia at Loxton Historical Village with more than 45 displays, each telling the story of the struggle, heartache, and ingenuity of pioneer settlers. Go on a self-guided tour during South Australia's History ...

RailFest Mount Barker Railway Heritage Festival | 26 May 2024

RailFest 2024 - Mount Barker Railway Heritage Festival A family-friendly open day at Mount Barker Railway Station, featuring steam locomotive-hauled shuttle train services* between Mount Barker and Bugle Ranges. For one day, the Mt Barker Rail Festival will be hosted ...

Falling Bombs & Floating Cards | Thebarton Air Raid Shelter | May 2024

Falling Bombs and Floating Cards is back as part of South Australia's History Festival Would you like to see a magic show? Join the oldest magic club in Australia in their underground club rooms for some history, nostalgia and a ...

Government House Open Day | Adelaide | 12 May 2024

Government House in Adelaide will open its gates to the public for a special History Festival Open Day with free entry. Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia, and Mr Rod Bunten are pleased to welcome ...

Kodomo no Hi Japan Festival | Torrensville | 5 May 2024

Kodomo no Hi Japan Festival, South Australia’s largest Japanese cultural festival, is celebrating 29 years in 2024. Kodomo no Hi is Adelaide’s largest Japanese Festival, held annually since 1995. The Festival is a celebration of the cultural and social links ...

Barossa History Fair | 5 May 2024

Enjoy a day at the Barossa History Fair during South Australia's History Festival. Ever wondered what treasures are tucked away in the Barossa Museum or wanted to try your hand at Kegel (traditional nine-pin bowling)? Join friends and family in ...

Pioneer Women’s Trail Walk | Hahndorf to Beaumont | 19 May 2024

Join the Pioneer Women's Trail Walk and experience the amazing journeys taken by our early German pioneer women as they carried their produce on foot from Hahndorf to Adelaide through the Adelaide Hills. The Pioneer Women’s Trail is approximately 26km ...

Birdwood Farm Day | National Motor Museum | 19 May 2024

Birdwood Farm Day partnering with the National Motor Museum in 2024 promises to have something to suit every member of the family. There will be crowd favourites - freshly baked damper and Devonshire tea, petting zoos, and a host of ...

Beaumont House Open Days | 2024

Visit Beaumont House during one of their Open Days. The Burnside Branch invite you to go along and visit one of South Australia's unique State Heritage listed properties, Beaumont House. Beaumont House is a State Heritage listed property built in ...

Glenelg Air Raid Shelter Open Days

Explore an important piece of WWII history in Glenelg - an Air Raid Shelter. Built in 1942, the Glenelg Air Raid Shelter was a valuable part of a World War II communications network. Air Raid Shelters were generally built to ...

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For more information and all enquiries please visit the History Festival website.

What: South Australia’s History Festival

When: 1 – 31 May 2024

Where: South Australia (various locations)

Who: Everyone

At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.

Image Source: SA History Festival

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