🍂 Music, Magic & Gardens Await

Good morning, Hills lovers. There’s a certain magic in the Hills this week. Stirling’s laneways are about to buzz with music, food and familiar faces. Woodside is welcoming an evening of spirit and story. And the gardeners among us are already dreaming toward next year’s gathering at Stangate House. A week of music, mystery, and plans taking root.

Also, a quick note about the puzzles, they’re due to arrive in the first week of October. If you want to lock one in you can pre order here.

Let’s get into it.

STIRLING LANEWAYS RETURNS
Music, Markets & Magic

I’ve always loved how Stirling Laneways makes the familiar feel new. One step off the main street, and suddenly the village is brimming with hidden corners to explore, stalls spilling with handmade treasures, the hum of conversation, the strum of a guitar leading you somewhere unexpected.

On Sunday 28 September, this beloved Adelaide Hills tradition returns for its twelfth season. Born from a simple idea by the Stirling Business Association to draw people beyond the shopfronts and into the laneways. It has grown into something award-winning and unmissable. From September through April, Stirling is transformed once a month into a marketplace alive with music, food, and the kind of atmosphere you can’t quite manufacture.

This year’s launch promises something extra: a collaboration with the Adelaide Guitar Festival. Two stages will host world-class performers, from the soul-stirring voice of Kelly Menhennett to the bluesy grit of A.P. D’Antonio with Winston Robinson. It’s the kind of line up you’d expect to pay for, but here it’s woven, free and easy, into the flow of the village laneways.

Food, of course, is part of the adventure. Vegan gyros from Staazi & Co, Turkish street eats from Enfes Delights, award winning ice cream from Hokey Pokey, each one a reason to pause, taste, and linger a little longer.

Event director Anya McNicol-Windram says it best: “Laneways brings a sense of adventure and inspiration to the everyday.” And that’s exactly what it feels like; a reminder that even the most familiar streets can bloom into something extraordinary when community, creativity and music come together. Check out the line up of musicians!

EVE OF SHADOWS
First Time in Woodside

It is rare for the veil between worlds to be felt so close in the Hills. This September, by popular demand, Eve of Shadows arrives in Woodside for the very first time. Usually held across Adelaide, the gathering now comes to the old Institute Hall where candlelight and quiet anticipation will guide the evening.

On Saturday September 27, mediums Jamie Spooner and Kate Douglass will open the gateway to Spirit. Jamie’s presence is gentle and deeply attuned, while Kate is renowned across South Australia for her luminous readings that carry both comfort and truth. Together they create a safe and sacred space where messages of love and healing can be received.

This night is not only about the whispers from beyond. There will be mulled wine to warm the hands, sweet treats to share, and the simple comfort of gathering with others who come with open hearts. It is an evening to soften, to listen, and to remember that love endures.

The magic continues the next morning when the hall becomes The Arcane Bazaar. This marketplace of wandering traders and hidden curiosities is free for all to explore, with Wyverstone Tea pouring brews rich in lore.

But Eve of Shadows is different. Intimate, powerful, and with limited spaces, it is a ticketed experience that must be reserved in advance. If you feel the call, secure your place now and step into the mystery: Get your tickets here.

GARDEN AFFAIR CALLS
Stallholder Applications Open

Last year, the very first Adelaide Hills Garden Affair unfolded under golden autumn skies at Stangate House, and what a day it was. Camellias and oaks framed a garden buzzing with colour, curiosity, and conversations. The joy was contagious; gardeners swapping stories, families discovering new plants, neighbours bumping into neighbours.

Now, it’s not until Sunday 3 May 2026 that the gates swing open again, so you’re probably wondering why I’m mentioning it already. Well, that’s because stallholder applications are in full swing.

For growers, makers, garden clubs, societies, and specialist nurseries, this is a rare opportunity to share what you do with thousands of keen garden-lovers. Picture your stall nestled among the historic gardens, your plants or products part of a day that celebrates everything gardening gives us, beauty, resilience, connection.

Over 60 stalls will fill the gardens with plants galore, gardening tools and techniques, décor and art, plus fresh food and refreshments. Visitors come ready to learn, browse, and buy and stallholders are at the heart of it all.

It’s more than just selling on the day. It’s about meeting people who care about the same things you do, building connections, and being part of an event already crowned the Adelaide Hills Council’s 2025 Community Event of the Year.

If you’ve ever thought about showing your work, your plants, your craft, this is your chance. Applications are open now. 👉 Apply here to be a 2026 stallholder.

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I love booking my kids into Woodhouse during the holidays – they come home tired, grubby, and full of stories. The UNPLUGGED program runs daily from 9am–5pm (drop-off from 8:30am) with new adventures each day like survival skills, science experiments, laser tag, Challenge Hill and the tube slide. It’s more than care – it’s adventure, fun and new friends. Woodhouse is a not-for-profit, and with the code PANTRY5 you’ll get 5% off for as many kids and days as you like. 👉 Book your kids in here

Get ready to unleash your creativity at the Anonymous Art Show, part of the Mount Barker Waldorf School Spring Fair! 🌸 Artists of all ages are invited to contribute a unique A5-sized artwork, unsigned and anonymous, to be exhibited and sold on Saturday, 25th October 2025. Submissions close 26th September 2025, so don’t miss your chance to be part of this vibrant community celebration of art and imagination. Contact [email protected] for all the info.

MARKETS

🌿 Mount Pleasant Farmers Market
| MARKET | Mount Pleasant
📅 Saturday, 27 September | 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Spend your Saturday morning exploring fresh seasonal produce, gourmet goods, and handmade delights at this beloved country market. With live music, coffee, and local charm, it’s the perfect weekend outing.

🥕 Adelaide Hills Farmers Market
| MARKET | Mount Barker
📅 Saturday, 27 September | 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Set under the elms at 23 Mann Street, this weekly market is the heart of the Adelaide Hills, bringing together fresh produce, local artisans, and a vibrant community spirit.

🍇 Stirling Market
| MARKET | Stirling
📅 Sunday, 28 September | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Shop fresh produce, handmade goods, art, fashion, and more at this long-running, family-friendly Hills market with live music and food.

🍓 Stirling Laneways
| MARKET | Stirling
📅 Sunday, 28 September | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Stirling comes alive with market stalls, live music, and street performances in this vibrant monthly laneways celebration. 

WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK

📚 Maths Meets Storytime: Fun in Every Tale
| FAMILY & LEARNING |Stirling
📅 Thursday, 25 September | 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM
Preschoolers and families can explore stories that spark mathematical thinking and playful problem-solving in this fun storytime series. INFO

🥃 Schnapps Tasting Flight
| FOOD & DRINK | Ambleside Distillery, Hahndorf
📅 Wednesday, 24 September - Monday, 29 September
Taste a selection of Ambleside’s house-made schnapps, crafted with Adelaide Hills produce and served as a flight and mini cocktails. INFO

💃 Nia Australia Fitness
| WELLNESS & MOVEMENT | Bridgewater
📅 Thursday, 25 September | 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Enjoy a fun blend of dance, martial arts, and meditation-focused movement suitable for all levels. INFO

🎶 Live Blues Music with Steve Gower
| LIVE MUSIC | Stirling
📅 Friday, 26 September | 6:30 PM
Enjoy an evening of live blues with singer and instrumentalist Steve Gower, performing on the last Friday of the month. INFO

🐦 In Flow with the Birds: A Mindful Bird Photography Walk
| NATURE & WELLNESS | Mount Barker
📅 Friday, 26 September – Saturday, 27 September | 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM
📅 Sunday, 28 September 2025 | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
A slow, mindful bird photography walk at Laratinga Wetlands blending photography tips, bird insights, and guided mindfulness. INFO

🎨 Decorative Coil Pottery Building
| WORKSHOP | Norton Summit
📅 Saturday, 27 September | 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Learn the art of handbuilt pottery with local artist Rebecca Prince in this beginner-friendly workshop, where you’ll craft your own decorative vase, pot, or bowl using coil-building techniques. INFO

🎻 The Fiddle Chicks – Fiddles in the Forest at Dusk
| LIVE MUSIC | Norton Summit
📅 Saturday, 27 September | 6:00 PM
Experience a magical dusk performance under towering gums with The Fiddle Chicks, blending folk music and nature in a heartfelt evening at Sinclair’s Gully. INFO

🚶‍♂️ Blumberg to Birdwood and the Steps in Between
| WALKING TOUR | Birdwood
📅 Sunday, 28 September – Sunday, 26 October | Times Vary
Take a guided walking tour through Birdwood’s history, from its early Lutheran roots to its role as home of the National Motor Museum and the Bay to Birdwood. INFO

🧘 Keen on Yoga
| WELLNESS | Bridgewater
📅 Sunday, 28 September
Refresh this spring with a rejuvenating Sound Bath session at Keen on Yoga in Bridgewater. INFO

🎶 Van Diemen's Band and Ensemble Kaboul at Ukaria
| CLASSICAL & WORLD MUSIC | Mount Barker Summit
📅 Sunday, 28 September | 2:30 PM
Experience a powerful fusion of Western Baroque with Afghan and Persian traditions in a concert that celebrates cultural preservation and artistry. INFO

🏃 Yurrebilla Ultra Marathon
| SPORTS & OUTDOORS | Various Adelaide Hills Locations
📅 Sunday, 28 September | 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tackle 56 km of breathtaking trail through National Parks and conservation reserves along the western face of the Adelaide Hills in this iconic ultra marathon open to all experience levels. INFO

🥦 Food and Mood
| CHILDREN’S WORKSHOP | Gumeracha
📅 Monday, 29 September | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Kids aged 5–12 can discover how different foods affect mood and energy in this fun, interactive nutrition workshop. INFO

🛍️ Design Your Own Book Tote
| CHILDREN’S WORKSHOP | Stirling
📅 Monday, 29 September | 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Kids aged 8+ can drop in to decorate a colourful tote bag with stencils and paint pens at this creative library workshop. INFO

🌿 Forest Dreaming Concert with Glenn Skuthorpe
| LIVE MUSIC | Norton Summit
📅 Sunday, 28 September | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Experience an intimate acoustic concert under the candlebark gums as Glenn Skuthorpe shares new music and timeless songs in this powerful blend of storytelling, song, and nature. INFO

🎨 Paint Your Own Fruity Fridge Magnets
| CHILDREN’S WORKSHOP | Norton Summit
📅 Monday, 29 September | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Kids aged 5+ can design and paint a set of colourful fridge magnets to take home in this fun school holiday activity. INFO

✏️ Create Your Own Characters with Artist George Rex
| CHILDREN’S WORKSHOP | Stirling
📅 Tuesday, 30 September | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Kids aged 8–12 can learn character design and create unique personalities in this fun workshop with cartoonist George Rex. INFO

🦉 Create a Pottery Owl Jar
| CHILDREN’S WORKSHOP | Norton Summit
📅 Tuesday, 30 September | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Kids can sculpt and decorate their own owl-inspired pottery jar, which will be kiln-fired, glazed, and ready for pick-up in a few weeks. INFO

🎵 Birds of a Feather Choir Bridgewater
| COMMUNITY & MUSIC | Bridgewater Arts Centre
📅 Tuesday, 30 September | 7:00 PM
A welcoming community choir for all ages to come together, sing, and share the joy of music during school terms. INFO

🪵 Nature Clay Play Drop-In
| CHILDREN’S WORKSHOP | Stirling
📅 Wednesday, 1 October | 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Kids aged 4+ can create creatures from air-dry clay with leaves, pods, feathers, and more in this fun drop-in craft session. INFO

🎮 Mario Kart Party
| CHILDREN’S EVENT | Stirling
📅 Wednesday, 1 October | 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Kids aged 7–14 can race in Mario Kart 8, enjoy themed crafts, and cheer on friends with snacks at this fun library party. INFO

ON LATER, BOOK NOW

🎪 Callington Show in The Hills
| COMMUNITY SHOW | Callington
📅 Sunday, 26 October | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Celebrate 22 years of the Callington Show with family activities, food and trade stalls, entertainment, and the popular Calli Trail Show bag. INFO

🎃 Halloween Music Bingo with The Hut Community Centre
| COMMUNITY EVENT | Bridgewater
📅 Saturday, 25 October | 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Enjoy a spooktacular adults-only night of Halloween-themed music bingo with prizes, raffles, and eerie entertainment to support The Hut. INFO

🎤 Black’n’Gold Cabaret
| MUSIC FUNDRAISER | Echunga
📅 Saturday, 25 October | 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Enjoy a lively night of music, guest vocalists, raffles, table games, and a silent auction to support Andrew Russell Veteran Living; BYO food and drinks. INFO

🎶 Stuart James Day and the Red Motor Concert
| LIVE MUSIC | Bridgewater
📅 Saturday, 18 October | 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Enjoy an evening of powerful songwriting, storytelling lyrics, and polished live performance from Stuart James Day and Red Motor. INFO

🌼 Spring in the Garden with Adelaide Hills Outdoor Playgroup
| FAMILY & NATURE | Stirling
📅 Monday, 13 October | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Families with children aged 0–6 can enjoy nature play, art, and outdoor connection at this volunteer-run community playgroup. 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.