Hello everyone. Firstly, I want to say thank you. Last week we launched the Adelaide Hills Roadside Stalls illustrated map and the response has been incredible.
So many of you have jumped on board with this little project. I wasn’t sure if it would be something only I thought was a cute idea, so seeing how much you’ve embraced it has meant a lot. It’s not too late to place an order if you want it before Christmas. Order here.
This week I have pulled together an Adelaide Hills inspired Gift Guide. It is not exhaustive, so if you have a favourite maker, experience or very cool Hills find that deserves a spot, send it my way and I will add it in.
Let’s get into it.
WOODHOUSE SCHOOL HOLIDAY FUN
Outdoor adventures all day long
You know that funny little stretch of the year where school’s finished, work absolutely hasn’t and Christmas events keep multiplying every time you blink? Yep. We’re officially entering it. My house becomes a whirlwind of half-wrapped presents, snack negotiations and kids asking what we’re doing next… on a loop.
Every summer, the thing that saves me is locking in a couple of days at Woodhouse. It’s like handing the kids a giant bottle of fresh air and freedom. They head off into the trees, come back rosy-cheeked and wide-grinned, and suddenly the whole holiday rhythm feels a lot more human.
And because they’ve only just escaped the classroom, they’re not exactly begging to head straight back into anything that feels like school for OHSC. That’s why a couple of days at Woodhouse works so beautifully to break things up.
If you’re a grandparent wondering what to get the kids for Christmas, this is your golden ticket. It’s fun for the kids, super helpful for mum & dad and way more memorable than another plastic thing that goes missing by Boxing Day.
Also, to bring the cost down, Woodhouse have a few handy discounts; Scout families get 20% off, Club Woodhouse members get 10% off. With loads of different themes each week, as well as some returning Woodhouse favourites, there’s an activity theme to suit all types of kids. Book a spot and let the adventures begin!
ADELAIDE HILLS GIFT GUIDE 2025
Makers & Creators from the Adelaide Hills
I don’t know about you, but I find shopping at this time of year is full on. If it’s not Black Friday, it’s Cyber Monday and then suddenly it’s Christmas. I’m getting text messages left right and centre from brands. Lately, I’ve found myself gravitating towards purchases that I feel a connection to. It might be an original artwork from a local painter, a handmade mug from a potter, or a chopping board crafted from reclaimed timber by a local maker. I want to buy things that last, bring ongoing joy, and celebrate the people who make them.
It’s not easy creating things by hand with local materials. It takes more time, more effort, and a whole lot of skill. When someone chooses to make things that way, I want to celebrate it. I want to shout it from the rooftops.
I love knowing the backstory behind the things I’m buying. Where it comes from. Who made it. Why they made it. How they made it. Whether you’re from up the Hill or down the Hill, we are incredibly lucky to have so many brilliant, clever, creative makers in the Adelaide Hills. They are crafting beautiful things in back sheds, bushy studios, community workshops, and tiny main street shops where the lights stay on long after closing.
So I started pulling together a list of local makers. It’s not exhaustive and it barely scratches the surface, but it is a start. I would love to keep adding to it, so if you know a local Adelaide Hills maker who should be included, I’m sure there are hundreds, email me and I’ll add them in. Check out the Adelaide Hills gift guide here.
Got an event coming up? Let’s get the word out to thousands of people who love the Adelaide Hills.
It’s full festive vibes up at LOT.100 right now. They’re rolling out a huge outdoor cinema screen for a night under the stars and screening the ultimate Christmas favourite, Elf. Tickets are just twelve dollars, and you can settle in with LOT.100’s tasty eats and bevs from the Lawn Bar. With the starry Hills sky above and one of the best Christmas movies on the screen, it’s the perfect way to kick off the holidays with your crew. A fun, easy night out that brings all the Christmas cheer and those first summer feels. Friday 19th 6PM to 10PM, Tickets 12 AUD. Book your tickets here.
MARKETS
🎄 Lights of Lobethal Festival
| COMMUNITY | Lobethal
📅 Friday, 12 – Monday, 22 December | All Day
Experience a beloved Hills tradition as Lobethal transforms into a sparkling Christmas wonderland filled with lights, markets, and festive cheer. INFO
🛍️ Mount Pleasant market
| MARKET | Mount Pleasant
📅 Saturday, 13 December | 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Browse fresh local produce and handmade goods at this warm and community-driven weekly farmers market. INFO
🛍️ Oakbank Market
| MARKET | Oakbank Soldiers Memorial Hall, Oakbank
📅 Saturday, 13 December | 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Browse a friendly community market filled with artisan stalls, live music, kids activities and great local food and coffee. INFO
🌽 Adelaide Hills Farmers Market
| MARKET | 23 Mann Street, Mount Barker
📅 Saturday, 13 December | 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Meet local growers and makers while enjoying fresh seasonal produce and a warm community atmosphere. INFO
🎄 Meadows Christmas Market
| MARKET | Meadows Memorial Hall, Oakbank
📅 Sunday, 14 December | 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Explore festive stalls, crafts and produce at this cheerful Christmas edition of the monthly Meadows Market. INFO
🎄 Gathered Christmas Design Market
| MARKET | Alec Johnston Park, Hahndorf
📅 Sunday, 14 December | 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Browse over 110 local makers, food stalls and festive delights at this vibrant Christmas design market in the heart of Hahndorf. INFO
WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK
🎄 LOT.100 Christmas Movie Night
| OUTDOOR CINEMA | LOT.100 Hay Valley |📅 Friday, 19th Dec | 6PM - 10PM
Lot.100 is getting festive with a big outdoor cinema night on the lawn featuring Elf, with twelve dollar tickets, tasty eats and bevs from the Lawn Bar, and all the Christmas cheer you need for a fun, easy start to the holidays. INFO
💃 Dance Fitness Zumba
| HEALTH & WELLNESS | The Summit Community Centre, Norton Summit
📅 Wednesday, 10 December | 9:30 AM – 10:15 AM
Enjoy an energising Latin-inspired workout that's perfect for beginners and anyone keen to move, groove and get active. INFO
🎬 Monthly Movies
| COMMUNITY | Torrens Valley Community Centre, Gumeracha
📅 Wednesday, 10 December | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Settle in for an enjoyable afternoon film screening with snacks, an intermission, and complimentary tea and coffee among fellow movie lovers. INFO
🧰 Community Shed (The Green Shed)
| COMMUNITY | Torrens Valley Community Centre, Gumeracha
📅 Thursday, 11 December | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Enjoy a welcoming maker space where you can work on projects, repair items, or simply connect over a cuppa with friendly locals. INFO
🏓 Social Table Tennis
| COMMUNITY | Basket Range Hall, Basket Range
📅 Thursday, 11 December | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Join a friendly, all-ages table tennis session where you can pick up tips, get active, and enjoy some lighthearted fun. INFO
🎄 Woodside Christmas Parade and Fireworks Show
| COMMUNITY | Woodside
📅 Thursday, 11 December | 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Celebrate the season in Woodside with a festive parade, fireworks, and a call for local groups to join the fun with their own floats. INFO
🎶 Select Music Presents: FELIPE BALDOMIR
| MUSIC |The Scenic hotel, Norton Summit
📅 Thursday, 11 December | 6:00 PM – 11:30 PM
Experience an evening of coastal indie-folk with live looping, storytelling, and groovy instrumentals as Felipe Baldomir performs at the Scenic Hotel. INFO
🎄 Hahndorf Christmas Village
| FAMILY | Hahndorf
📅 Friday, 12 – Sunday, 14 December | All Day
Enjoy festive fun for all ages with Santa, live entertainment, local markets, boutique shopping, and holiday cheer throughout Hahndorf. INFO
🥃 Whisky Launch
| FOOD & DRINK | Union Bridge Brewery & Distillery, Cudlee Creek
📅 Friday, 12 December | 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Celebrate the launch of Union Bridge Cudlee Creek Whisky with drams, good vibes, and a festive atmosphere. INFO
🪶 Connection, Courage & Ceremony
| RETREAT | Strathalbyn
📅 Friday, 12 – Monday, 15 December | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Immerse yourself in a transformative women’s weekend of ritual, drum-making, movement, and sisterhood designed to restore, reconnect, and empower. INFO
🎄 Christmas Gift Hamper Making with Plants
| WORKSHOP | Strathalbyn Library, Strathalbyn
📅 Friday, 12 December | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Learn to create a stunning Christmas gift hamper with plants in this fun and informative one-hour workshop. INFO
🍾 Bubbles and Bumps
| FOOD & WINE | Karrawatta’s Sophie's Hill Cellar Door, Meadows
📅 Friday, 12 December | 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Enjoy a sparkling afternoon at Karrawatta’s Sophie's Hill Cellar Door with bubbly wines and seasonal vibes. INFO
🍜 Thai Banquet
| FOOD & WINE | Stirling
📅 Friday, 12 December | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Enjoy a hands-on Thai cooking experience preparing favourites like Pad Thai, dumplings, and Szechuan beef with chef Yukiko Anschutz. INFO
🎨 Ceramic Bauble Painting
| ART | The Aldgate Village Well, Aldgate
📅 Saturday, 13 December | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Create four beautiful ceramic baubles with alcohol inks, enjoy a Devonshire Tea, and contribute to a community peace tree in a festive, mindful session. INFO
🥘Essential Spanish
| FOOD & WINE | Stirling
📅 Saturday, 13 December | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Learn to cook vibrant Spanish dishes from garlic prawns to lamb skewers with chef Matias in a hands-on culinary journey. INFO
🔮 Psychic Medium Development Group
| SPIRITUAL | Mount Barker
📅 Saturday, 13 December | 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
A supportive space for developing psychics and mediums to practice, connect and join a special Christmas Tree Seance that also gives back to families in need. INFO
🎶 Recitals Australia End of Year Celebration
| MUSIC | UKARIA Cultural Centre, Mount Barker Summit
📅 Saturday, 13 December | From 2:30 PM
Celebrate a year of musical excellence with performances by all six Elder Conservatorium Fellows in a rich and varied afternoon concert. INFO
🌿 Return to Light ~ Cacao | Breathwork | Energetic Alchemy
| WORKSHOP | Belair Community Centre Inc., Belair
📅 Saturday, 13 December | 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Immerse yourself in a restorative afternoon of ceremonial cacao, breathwork, and energetic alchemy to release, reset, and reconnect with your inner light. INFO
🍜 Essential Thai
| FOOD & WINE | Stirling
📅 Saturday, 13 December | 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Learn to make classic Thai dishes from Tom Yum soup to sticky rice with mango under the guidance of chef Yukiko Anschutz. INFO
🎄 Native Botanical Christmas Wreath Workshop
| WORKSHOP | Petaluma Cellar Door, Woodside
📅 Sunday, 14 December | 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Craft your own festive Christmas wreath with seasonal botanicals while enjoying a glass of Croser sparkling wine in a scenic vineyard setting. INFO
🌿 Breathe In The Valley
| HEALTH & WELLNESS | Kersbrook
📅 Sunday, 14 December | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Enjoy a morning of Pilates, sound meditation, nourishing food, and farm connection in nature. INFO
🍪 Gingerbread House Making 2025
| WORKSHOP | Echunga Uniting Church, Echunga
📅 Sunday, 14 December | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Design and decorate your own festive gingerbread house to take home while enjoying a fun, community-filled afternoon. INFO
🎶 Christmas Show!! At the Three Brothers Arms
| MUSIC | The Three Brothers Arms, Macclesfield
📅 Sunday, 14 December | 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Enjoy a festive afternoon of live Christmas music with Alana, Ryan, Tom and friends for a family-friendly celebration. INFO
🧘♀️ Summer’s Embrace: A Yin & Sound Celebration
| WELLNESS | Montacute Community Hall, Montacute
📅 Sunday, 14 December | 2:00 PM – 5:30 PM
A soothing afternoon of yin yoga, sound healing and seasonal nourishment created to help you unwind and realign with summer’s gentle energy. INFO
🎶 Christmas Concert with MiniM Choir
| MUSIC | Bridgewater Arts Centre, Bridgewater
📅 Sunday, 14 December | 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Celebrate a uniquely Australian Christmas with beautiful performances from MiniM Choir, Robin and Dorothy Mann, and Leigh Newton. INFO
🎶 Harp2Harp - A Christmas Celebration
| MUSIC | Adelaide Hills Council Libraries (Coventry), Stirling
📅 Sunday, 14 December | 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Experience a magical holiday concert with two harps, enchanting vocals, and festive sing-along carols for the whole family INFO
🎨 Kids Summer School Art Classes
| FAMILY | Woorabinda Environment Centre, Stirling
📅 Monday, 15 December – Tuesday, 20 January | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Kids and teens can dive into a summer of creativity with hands-on workshops in watercolour, clay, drawing and more throughout the holiday break. INFO
🎨 Gingerbread House Decorating
| FAMILY | The Oak Community Centre, Bridgewater
📅 Monday, 15 December | 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Kids can enjoy a festive afternoon decorating their own gingerbread house with all supplies provided, perfect for gifting or enjoying at home. INFO
🎄 Reusable Christmas Crackers
| WORKSHOP | Mount Barker Community Library, Mount Barker
📅 Monday, 15 December | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Get creative and eco-friendly this festive season by making your own reusable Christmas crackers with tips on reducing waste. INFO
🍷 Create & Sip with Gingerbread Houses
| FOOD & WINE | The Oak Community Centre, Bridgewater
📅 Tuesday, 16 December | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Unwind with wine, cheese, and creativity as you decorate your own gingerbread house in a relaxed, child-free evening. INFO
🎄 A Very Merry Splashmas
| FAMILY | Woodhouse Adventure Park, Piccadilly
📅 Tuesday, 16 December | 8:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Kids can celebrate Christmas Woodhouse-style with festive games, water play and adventurous outdoor fun in a massive nature playground. INFO
ON LATER, BOOK NOW
🎁 Stirling Christmas Shopping Night
| COMMUNITY | Stirling
📅 Thursday, 18 December | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Enjoy late-night shopping, festive fun, window displays, games, and local cheer in the heart of Stirling. INFO
🎨 Life Drawing with Live Music by Jamie Lena
| ART | Crafers Institute Hall, Crafers
📅 Friday, 19 December | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Unwind and explore your creativity with a relaxed life drawing session accompanied by the soothing live music of Jamie Lena. INFO
🎺 A Triumphant Christmas
| MUSIC | Lobethal Lutheran Church, Lobethal
📅 Friday, 19 – Sunday, 21 December | From 6:45 PM
Enjoy a magical evening of brass, percussion, and pipe organ bringing festive favourites to life in a warm, joyful celebration. INFO
🎶 Carols Under the Candlebarks
| MUSIC | Sinclair's Gully, Norton Summit
📅 Saturday, 20 December | 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Enjoy a magical evening of carols with Emma Knights as you picnic beneath the candle barks and soak up the forest’s festive atmosphere INFO
🎅 Golding Twilight Gathering
| FOOD & WINE | Lobethal
📅 Sunday, 21 December | 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Enjoy wood-fired pizzas, live tunes, and festive fun for all ages at this relaxed twilight celebration before exploring the magical Lobethal Lights. INFO
Thanks for reading Adelaide Hills Pantry. I hope it added a moment of enjoyment to your day.
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the traditional custodians of our land. We recognise Peramangk and Kaurna people as the traditional custodians of the place where the content in this newsletter is featured and where the newsletter is created. We pay respect to Elders past, present and future and
to the cultural authority of First Nations Peoples from other areas of this country.