Adelaide Oval will be centre stage tonight as hundreds of drones take to the sky in a new light and sound show titled Horizons, the flagship performance of this year’s Illuminate Adelaide festival.
Created in partnership with RAA and presented across two sessions following high demand, the stadium event combines aerial choreography, video projection and immersive sound to tell a story spanning 60,000 years. The show traces South Australia’s cultural and environmental history over the course of a single day, from sunrise to nightfall. Cultural consultant and narrator Jack Buckskin and visual artist Pat Caruso contributed to the opening chapter of the performance.
Ticket holders can travel free on all Adelaide Metro public transport from 3pm, with additional services running to accommodate the expected crowds.
Horizons headlines a packed final weekend for Illuminate Adelaide, which wraps on Sunday. The winter festival has drawn strong audiences across the city, particularly to City Lights, a free nightly experience lighting up public buildings including Government House and the Art Gallery of South Australia. Organisers say foot traffic along North Terrace was up 66 per cent on the first weekend compared to the one before, and rose by another 20 per cent on the second. East End businesses have also seen a lift, with an 8 per cent increase in visits and nearly 40 per cent more footfall between 6pm and midnight on opening weekend.
Last year’s Illuminate Adelaide attracted more than 1.3 million attendances and delivered $74.5 million to the state’s visitor economy. This year, with the British & Irish Lions tour bringing thousands of interstate and international visitors to the city, the festival is again providing a major boost during the winter season.
Acting Minister for Tourism Clare Scriven said the festival reflects what South Australia does well: combining innovation, art and hospitality. “It has been wonderful to see our city filled with people over the past weeks… during a traditionally quiet period,” she said.
Illuminate Adelaide’s co-founders and creative directors Lee Cumberlidge and Rachael Azzopardi described Horizons as a stadium-scale project involving drones, video and lighting to explore South Australia’s identity and aspirations. “We have pulled together an amazing team of creatives and technicians… to realise our dream of a major drone and light spectacular at the iconic Adelaide Oval,” they said.
The festival is supported by the South Australian Government through the SA Tourism Commission. Other events still running include Night Visions, Kiasmos, Streetlights and Long Nights, Universal Kingdom: The Next Era, and Base Camp.
Details and ticket bookings for remaining events can be found available here.
Support independent community journalism. Support The Indian Sun.
Follow The Indian Sun on X | Instagram | Facebook
Support Independent Community Journalism
Dear Reader,The Indian Sun exists for one reason: to tell stories that might otherwise go unheard.
We report on local councils, state politics, small businesses and cultural festivals. We focus on the Indian diaspora and the wider multicultural community with care, balance and accountability. We publish in print and online, send regular newsletters and produce video content. We also run media training programs to help community organisations share their own stories.
We operate independently.
Community journalism does not have the backing of large media corporations. Advertising revenue fluctuates. Platform algorithms change. Costs continue to rise. Yet the need for credible, grounded reporting in a multicultural Australia has never been greater.
When you support The Indian Sun, you support:
• Independent reporting on issues affecting migrant communities
• Coverage of local and state decisions that shape daily life
• A platform for small businesses and community groups
• Media training that builds skills within the community
• Journalism accountable to readers
We cannot cover everything, but we work to cover what matters.
If you value thoughtful reporting that reflects Australia’s diversity, we invite you to contribute. Every donation helps us maintain the quality and consistency of our work.
Please consider making a contribution today.
Thank you for your support.
The Indian Sun Team
