A night of uke-filled fun, cinema under the stars, a ’60s music tribute show and an eclectic line-up of exhibitions are just some of the ways you can find respite from the Christmas-New Year madness this weekend. A festive Fork on the Road was also planned for this evening in Light Square, but organisers have been forced to cancel the event because of the extreme heat.

The Wheatsheaf Ukulele Collective

Riding the wave of the uke revival with sold-out shows at the past three Adelaide Fringes, the Wheaty’s Ukulele Collective will perform their last show of the year on Saturday night. They’ve dubbed it the Not-Christmas Show, promising “a great night of uke-fuelled fun as we rock out two huge sets of our favourite tunes from the last few years”. The Wheaty is also holding an Xmas Extravaganza on Sunday afternoon with local acts including The Yearlings and The Baker Suite.

Outdoor Cinema

After several days of searing temperatures, an icy journey sounds like heaven – even if it is only on the big screen. The Maltesers Moonlight Cinema in Botanic Park is screening the animated family flick Frozen tonight (Friday), followed by The Railway Man on Saturday and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty on Sunday. This is the final weekend of the Ben & Jerry’s Open-Air Cinema in Glenelg, and while most sessions are sold out, last we looked there were still tickets available for tonight’s feel-good film Thanks for Sharing, starring Pink, Gwyneth Paltrow and Mark Ruffalo.

I Killed the Prom Queen

Adelaide “metalcore” band I Killed the Prom Queen are winding up a month-long national tour with a gig at The Gov on Sunday – their last summer show before they prepare to release a new studio album next year. (Metalcore, for those not in the know, is apparently a fusion of extreme metal and hard-core punk.) But if you prefer your music a little milder, on Saturday the hotel is presenting For Your Love: 60s British Invasion Tribute Show, featuring music by the likes of The Kinks, The Hollies, Manfred Mann, The Who, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles.

Nikon-Walkley Press Photography Exhibition

Showcasing some of the top sport, news and features photos of 2013, this exhibition opens on Saturday at the Adelaide Festival Centre’s Artspace Gallery. Among the work by winners and finalists in the recently announced Nikon-Walkley Awards for Excellence is the overall “Photo of the Year” by Barat Ali Batoor. Part of a photographic essay, the image shows Hazara asylum seekers on a boat bound for Australia and was originally published in The Global Mail. The exhibition – which depicts everything from heartbreak to jubilation – runs until February 9, 2014.

Life Before Dinosaurs

Before dinosaurs, there were Permian Monsters – strange sharks, giant insects and reptiles that inhabited the earth some 290 million years ago. Now you can meet these bizarre creatures in a new exhibition at the South Australian Museum. Life Before Dinosaurs – the Permian Monsters features fossilised skeletons and full life-size models; visitors can also dig for fossils. Upstairs in the Mawson Gallery, Traversing Antarctica: the Australian Experience explores this country’s connection with the frozen continent, featuring rare artefacts alongside imagery and touch-screen displays.

KAB101, DE5, acrylic on metal wood framed; Stephen Langdon, Rock and Roll, mixed media on ply; Adam Murakami, John Doe #27, single channel video, stereo audio

Art Pod

This new CBD art space, an initiative of the City Council, is currently showcasing Brave, an exhibition curated by Carollyn Kavanagh and featuring work by three SA artists: KAB101, Stephen Langdon and Adam Murakami. Art Pod says the trio’s bold work has been described as “calligraphic street art”, “outsider or brute art” and “haunting contemporary gothic art”. It will be on display 24/7 at the 25 Pirie Street space until January 23.

Realms of Wonder

Dedicated exclusively to the art of India, Art Gallery of SA exhibition Realms of Wonder: Jain, Hindu and Islamic Art of India features more than 200 works spanning 1300 years including paintings, sculptures, decorative arts objects and textiles. Running until January 27, 2014, it is accompanied by a program of talks, tours and hands-on art activities.

On screen

See InDaily’s reviews of the latest films screening in Adelaide:

American Hustle
The Railway Man
The Gilded Cage
Night Train to Lisbon
The Spectacular Now
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2
Kill Your Darlings
How I Live Now
Carrie
Filth
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Bad Grandpa
The Fifth Estate
Thor: The Dark World
The Counselor