Nature Festival: Flow | South Australia | 25 Sept – 11 Oct 2026

Nature Festival 2026 – Family Friendly Events in Adelaide & South Australia

Nature Festival returns to Adelaide and regional South Australia from 25 September to 11 October 2026 with more than 350 nature-inspired events celebrating nature, gardens, wildlife, art, outdoor adventures, Aboriginal culture, and plenty of family friendly events to enjoy during the spring school holidays.

From Adelaide gardens and national parks to the coast, Flinders Ranges, Eyre Peninsula and Kangaroo Island, more than 350 Nature Festival events will encourage families to get outside, explore and discover South Australia’s natural environment.

Now in its seventh year, the 2026 festival theme is Seed, celebrating the small beginnings that can grow into something much bigger – whether that’s planting a seed in the garden, sharing knowledge, caring for the environment or helping children develop their own connection with nature.

The program covers everything from nature walks, gardens and outdoor adventures to art, music, food, wellbeing and Aboriginal culture, with events happening from Andamooka to Kangaroo Island and plenty around Adelaide.

Nature Festival is a collaborative event involving more than 200 community groups and organisations across South Australia.

Nature Festival events for kids and families

There are loads of ways for children to get involved in Nature Festival, with hands-on activities and outdoor experiences happening throughout the school holidays.

Here are some of the 2026 program highlights worth checking out with the family:

The Seedling Exchange | Adelaide

Stop by The Seedling Exchange outside the State Library and help create a growing community garden.

Visitors can plant a seed, give it some water and add it to the shared nursery, with individual seedlings gradually combining to create something much bigger over the course of the festival.

It’s a simple, hands-on way for children to learn about growing plants while contributing to a collaborative Nature Festival project.

Daily throughout Nature Festival | North Terrace, Adelaide

Spring into 140 Years at State Flora | Belair National Park

Head to Belair National Park to celebrate 140 years of State Flora with free family activities, a look back at the nursery’s history and plenty of native plants.

Rare archival photographs will show how State Flora and Belair have changed over the years, while the first 140 plant sales on the day will receive a free native plant tube.

It’s also a good excuse to make a day of it and explore Belair National Park while you’re there.

Saturday 3 October 2026 | State Flora Nursery, Belair National Park

Blossom & Bud: Springtime Picnic | Adelaide Hills

Experience spring in the Adelaide Hills with a guided walk through blossoming orchards and vineyards at Jauma Farm.

The walk is followed by a long picnic celebrating organic farming and seasonal produce, with stories about the journey from blossom and bud through to fruit and harvest.

Sunday 4 October 2026 | Jauma Farm, Lenswood

Here are 20 of the more family-friendly/kid-focused options from the list, with a good mix of nature play, animals, crafts, outdoor activities and free events.

• Get Your Nature On! – A free day of interactive storytelling, creative workshops and hands-on nature activities for all ages.
• How to Grow Seedlings From Seeds – For Kids – Kids can learn how to sow vegetable and flower seeds in egg cartons to take home and grow.
• Birds of a Feather – Discover Riverlea’s Wild Side! Join a Senior Ranger for a free family day discovering Riverlea’s birds and wildlife.
• Mega Fauna of the Great Southern Reef VR Experience – Dive into southern Australia’s underwater world through an immersive virtual reality experience.
• Seed Pod Play Festival – Explore, create and connect with nature through a day of play and activities at Mount Barker.
• Salt n Samphire – A free Nature Day at Price with salt tours, mangrove adventures and hands-on outdoor activities for all ages.
• Leaf Print Fossils – Get hands-on with leaves, ferns, seeds and clay to create nature-inspired art.
• Barossa Bushgardens Nature Play Festival – A free day of nature play, exploring and craft activities at the Barossa Bushgardens.
• Animals in the Library – Head to Payinthi for a free opportunity to meet some animals in the library.
• Catching the Sun for Nature Festival – Make a nature-inspired suncatcher using pressed flowers and seeds at the City of Adelaide Library.
• Nature Day in North Adelaide – Kids aged 1–12 can enjoy cubby building, seed bombs, potions, scavenger hunts, nature crafts and more in the Park Lands.
• Music in the Meadow with Peter Combe and the Juicy Juicy Green Grass Band – See much-loved children’s entertainer Peter Combe perform an outdoor concert on the lawns at Carrick Hill.
• Mud Kitchen – Kids can get messy, explore natural materials and use their imaginations at Climbing Tree’s free mud kitchen at Netley Community Garden.

The full Nature Festival 2026 program is now available to view.

Follow the Nature Festival SA Facebook page or Instagram page for updates.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL PROGRAM

For more information and all enquiries please visit the Nature Festival SA website

What:   Nature Festival 2026 

When:   25 September to 11 October 2026

Where:   South Australia

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: Ramsay Taplin

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