Olive Festival at Beaumont House | Review
Organised by the National Trust SA, as part of Nature Festival SA and held at the historic Beaumount House, the Olive Festival proved to be a fun, family friendly way to spend a Sunday.
Review by Angelica-Hazel Toutounji
There is something innately relaxing about a Sunday spent exploring an old house, discovering secret gardens, wandering through markets and indulging in olive-inspired experiences. Whilst an Olive Festival might not be your first thought when choosing a family friendly outing, the picturesque setting of Beaumont House turned out to be an enjoyable location for young and old.
Set in the picturesque eastern suburb of Beaumont on Glynburn Road, Beaumont House is a striking red brick mansion set alongside beautifully maintained gardens. The house and gardens were well and truly lively for the festival with tents and people all around. As we made our way to the entrance we were surprised to see the old arch was decorated with olive themed balloons, which the kids loved. We followed the garden path and came face to face with the beautiful home which was able to be explored throughout the day. There were many plaques to read, objects to inspect and it’s an absolute treasure for history lovers. With young kids in tow we raced through the house quickly in favour or getting a nice spot outside but if you have the time and patience, its worth a look!
With the sunshine upon us, we laid out a picnic rug and set up a picnic lunch. We brought our own sandwiches and veggie sticks but there were many tempting options all around. Moorish Bites, a Moroccan food truck was a popular choice, as was the pizza van and mobile coffee cart. There was ample space on the lawn for kids to run around, people to gather and adults to enjoy drinks around tables and chairs. After lunch we explored the beautiful gardens and the children found a pond brimming with fish that captivated them for ages.
Moving towards the back of the house we joined in on a tour of the olive grove next door. The tour leader spoke in great detail about the history of the house and its former owners, the first Anglican Bishop of Adelaide, Bishop Augustus Short and later the politician Sir Samuel Davenport. The children made it impossible to listen to the tales so instead we found a garden nearby and they were entertained finding bugs, snails and creepy crawlies dotted through out.
After exploring the old olive grove, we made our way to the artisan market and tasting stalls. There were crocheted cats, a henna tent and so many olive-related products to try. To add to the ambiance live music was played through out the day which added to the festive fun.
Whilst the Olive Festival was a one-day affair, if you are interested in exploring Beaumont house, they offer numerous events through out the year. Open house day tours are also offered on the 1st of each month and include refreshments, a biscuit and the chance to have a wander through the house and gardens. VIEW UPCOMING BEAUMONT HOUSE OPEN DAYS
What we liked about it
- A beautiful old house and gardens with lots of space for games and play, olive themed tastings and activities, house and garden tours and nature play
Things to consider
- To make the most of visiting Beaumont house its best to visit on a sunny day so you can wander through the gardens, have a picnic or explore the olive grove
Coffee and food options nearby
- Ballaboosta Burnside is just down the road and offers delicious Mediterranean food and great coffee
Location:
631 Glynburn Rd, Beaumont
For more information and all enquiries please visit the National Trust SA website. You can also follow National Trust SA on Facebook and Instagram.
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.
As per all our Play & Go reviews, this is not a sponsored post and our review is done completely independently. All photos are by Play & Go.
SUBSCRIBE
Follow Play & Go Adelaide on Facebook and Instagram
Want to get all the latest events and activities straight to your inbox?
Subscribe to our weekly email newsletter below to keep up to date with our latest posts and find out all the best events & activities for Adelaide families. Newsletters are only sent once a week, and you may sometimes get a special offer exclusively for our subscribers only!
