The South Australian festival scene and the state’s economy will be the big winners from this year’s WOMADelaide, as thousands of people head to Botanic Park/Tainmuntilla for the four-day event.
The best music, dance, arts and ideas from around the world will be on show throughout 8-11 March.
The internationally acclaimed event has once again attracted musicians, dancers, thinkers, scientists, and journalists from more than 40 countries.
The open-air festival is a unique part of the South Australian festival landscape, generating a huge cultural and economic impact to the state.
Last year, WOMADelaide delivered its highest ever total economic impact of $35.1 million and welcomed record-breaking attendances of 110,000.
WOMADelaide 2023 drew more than 21,000 visitors to the state, with an average visitor length of stay of 5.26 nights. More than half of total audiences were visitors to Adelaide, spending an average of more than $2,700.
The visitor boost was felt across the state, with more than 73 per cent of tourists dispersing to the regions across their duration of stay.
This year, the family friendly KidZone will return captivating festival goers under 12 years of age with engaging hands-on activities, storytelling, music, dance and educational adventures including a First Nations Cultural program.
Taste the World will captivate foodies, with patrons able to relax with some of the artists as they share stories while they cook their favourite dishes from home.
Among this year’s line-up reggae royalty and humanitarian Ziggy Marley, Brazilian music legend Gilberto Gil, Grammy winning singer-songwriter Corrine Bailey Rae and 90s trip-hop duo Morcheeba.
WOMADelaide gets underway tomorrow and runs until Monday. Each adult ticket buyer can bring up to two children 12 years and under for free.
WOMADelaide gates open to the public at 4pm on Friday 8 March.
For tickets and information, go to womadelaide.com.au.
Minister for Tourism, Zoe Bettison said WOMADelaide is a truly unique festival offering which brings so much energy and vibrancy to South Australia, attracting artists and visitors from all over the world.
“Known as ‘the World’s Festival’, WOMADelaide delivers a hugely valuable economic boost to our state and adds to South Australia’s sensational line-up of major events and our iconic Mad March festive season,” Minister Bettison said.
“During last year’s Mad March, total visitor spend in South Australia hit a whopping $906 million – a wonderful demonstration of the importance of our state’s festival season.
WOMADelaide Director, Ian Scobie said the gates open tomorrow for WOMADelaide 2024 festival, bringing the world to Adelaide for four extraordinary days of music, arts and dance.
“This year the festival will present 72 acts from more than 40 countries as well as the popular KidZone and the new WoMarkets, a shaded hub of 50 retail stalls where different cultures will share their wares,” Mr Scobie said.
