Minister for Tourism Unley Gala returns this weekend as part of Santos Festival of Cycling
Extending the benefits of the Santos Festival of Cycling beyond the city, the Unley Gala will take over King William Road this evening with a showcase of South Australian food and beverage, as well as fashion, family activities, music, and entertainment.
Over 40 retailers, cafes, bars and restaurants will fill King William Road to showcase the best that Unley has to offer.
Last held in 2020 when it attracted 20,000 visitors, the Unley Gala is the longest running event associated with the Santos Tour Down Under and generates almost $1 million for the local economy.
Known for premium food, fashion and fun, the Unley Gala celebrates everything there is to love about this popular precinct and is a great opportunity for local retailers and restaurants to showcase some of Adelaide’s finest fashion, food and music to tens of thousands of revellers.
In keeping with their 20-year tradition of staging this much-loved summer street party, the Unley Gala will have something for all ages, from stellar live music performances to fashion parades, roving performers and children’s entertainment.
Featuring on the main stage, Australia’s leading vocal powerhouse group Gospo Collective will perform two sets during the evening, in between three separate runway shows showcasing the latest fashion from Unley’s retailers.
Dotted along King William Road, visitors will also find two DJ Pods, hosted by DJ David Parry and DJ Felicity.
The Unley Gala Kids Zone will keep the kids entertained with paper flower craft with Little Picassos and Marty McBubble providing the fun with giant bubbles.
Multiple community events have been held throughout Adelaide and regional South Australia as part of the Santos Tour Down Under entertainment program including the Glenelg Ice Cream Festival and the Sandbar in Christies Beach.
The Santos Tour Down Under is taking place across Adelaide and regional South Australia and will conclude tomorrow, with the Schwalbe Men’s Stage 6 wrapping up nine days of elite racing for men and women.
In 2023, the Santos Tour Down Under generated $66.5 million for South Australia’s visitor economy and created 776 full-time equivalent jobs.
See the full Santos Festival of Cycling program at tourdownunder.com.au
Quotes attributable to Zoe Bettison
The Santos Tour Down Under is once again driving visitors to our city and surrounding regions and broadcasting our state around the world.
There is a real buzz in Adelaide at the moment; the city and regions are experiencing a boon as thousands of people flock to the race route every day cheering on their favourite athletes as they race through our suburbs and regions experiencing what South Australia has to offer while showcasing our magnificent State to the world.
The benefits of this world class major event are being felt across wider metropolitan Adelaide too, with hotel forward bookings as at 8 January showing there were more than 71,000 rooms booked across Adelaide over the 10 days of the Santos Tour Down Under.
This event is a world class cycling race, but the festival that supports it, is what makes the Santos Tour Down Under a unique visitor experience.
Following wonderful turnouts at stage starts and finishes in places like Hahndorf, Tanunda and Norwood, I am thrilled to see the Unley Gala return, and I am confident local businesses will reap the rewards.
The Santos Tour Down Under has something for everyone, from cycling fans to those who are looking to soak up the sunshine and enjoy the festival atmosphere.
Last year, this world-class event injected $66.5 million into South Australia’s economy, it attracted 690,000 spectators and nearly 38,500 visitors from interstate and overseas, and it created 776 full-time equivalent jobs.
There is nowhere better to be this summer than South Australia!