Illuminate Adelaide is taking place across three weekends from July 4th to July 21st, bringing art, music, technology and innovation to the heart of the city. Now in its fourth year, it also won the 2023 Gold Medal Award for Major Festivals or Events at the South Australian Tourism Awards.
Co-Founder and Festival Creative Director Lee Cumberlidge talks to The Write Drop for our At the Bar series.
My CITY
Adelaide.
FAVOURITE FOOD MEMORY
South Australia has so many food experiences on offer it’s hard to choose – but the one that stands out is Coffin Bay. We bought countless fresh oysters straight from the oyster farmers drove over the dunes in the national park to the back beaches and shucked them sitting on the sand with a bottle of bubbles watching the sunset.
FAVOURITE BAR
Bar Peripheral. I love that it only seats about 10 people, and you have to knock on the door to enter. Definite downtown Tokyo or Hong Kong vibes. The best cocktails and you have to put yourselves entirely in the hands of the owner who will mix you a drink like reading your palm.
DRINK THAT DESCRIBES YOU
Martini. It can be dry or with a twist depending on the mood. But never dirty.
BEST HANGOVER CURE
Bloody Mary…. or hot chips and a coke.
BEST INTERSTATE BAR
La Rue in Melbourne. It’s a beautifully tranquil intimate place with only eight seats. Incredible wine list and great cocktails and snacks.
FAVOURITE WINE
I love SA Shiraz. We recently hosted a dinner party where we served the Hercules Shiraz from Alpha Box and Dice which is a very bold velvety wine and great for a special occasion.
FAVOURITE WINERY
Hentley Farm. Their farm to plate menu at the restaurant is incredible and the wines are delicious.
NEXT DESTINATION
My next destination is Japan for a family holiday. We have two weeks touring around checking out Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo and the art islands of Naoshima and Teshima before spending two weeks skiing in Madarao and the Hakuba Valley.
TOP PICKS FOR ILLUMINATE ADELAIDE
Unsound Adelaide: We have an amazing international line-up of music from some of the most innovative artists you will ever see. Guaranteed to blow your mind.
Fire Gardens: The Adelaide Botanic Gardens will be completely transformed by French artists Compagnie Carabosse with 7000 giant flaming pots, kinetic sculptures and live musicians for three weekends.
Eden: Create your own utopian garden in this highly interactive video exhibition at ILA in Light Square created by Berlin based studio flora & faunavisions
And don’t forget to visit Base Camp – our food and beverage precinct at Lot Fourteen on North Terrace. Warm up with a meal land a hot chocolate or a mulled wine, beer or a cocktail. There are also installations and live DJs as we
