Club Swizzle – Adelaide Festival Centre

Described as “a melee of outrageous cabaret, air-defying acrobatics and infectious musical revelry”, Club Swizzle opens at the Space Theatre on December 30, with performances continuing until January 17. It will be hosted by New York comedian and entertainer Murray Hill, with a house band and performers including acrobats the Swizzle Boys, cabaret singer Ali McGregor, Russian circus performer Valerie Murzak, UK burlesque artist Laurie Hagen and New York jazz singer Dandy Wellington. Click here to read InDaily’s interview with McGregor.

Adelaide’s New Year’s Eve

Gates open at 6pm for the City Council’s free New Year’s Eve event in Elder Park. There will be live music from acts including The Memphis Suns, Wasted Wanderers, Lovers Electric, Zyke Blue (pictured below) and Gorilla Jones, plus food stalls and licensed beer gardens – and, of course, the fireworks at 9pm and midnight. Details here.

More New Year’s Eve fireworks

Semaphore will have midnight fireworks as part of the Semaphore Summer Carnival, which includes rides, amusements, roving performers and kids’ entertainment. NYE entertainment will begin at 5.30pm at Glenelg, with music by The Voice finalist Joe Moore, The Germein Sisters and The Attack, plus kids’ DJs. There will also be fireworks at 9.30pm at Brighton and Glenelg, and again at midnight at Glenelg.

Carnaval Latino Groove – The Gov

The Governor Hindmarsh is getting into the groove on New Year’s Eve with this gig featuring Hugo Salcedo and Soul Macumbia band playing “a mix of Cuban and Colombian rhythms, Caribbean breezes and funky New York vibes”, plus Latino DJs, dancers and percussionists. You’re encouraged to dress tropical, Caribbean or masquerade. Doors open at 7pm.

First Friday – New Year’s Recovery Party

The Art Gallery of SA’s first First Fridays after-hours event of 2016 will be a New Year’s Recovery Party. It will feature a screening of the Australian film Bran Nue Dae (starring Jessica Mauboy, below), guided tours of the Tarnanthi exhibitions, tunes by DJ TR!P, performances by yidaki player Jamie Goldsmith and hip-hop/soul musician Michael Collard aka The Big Sexy, plus food and wine. Entertainment begins at 5pm and continues until 9pm.

Moonlight Cinema – Botanic Park

Upcoming screenings at the Moonlight Cinema in Botanic Park include new Bond movie Spectre (Boxing Day), The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, The Martian, Point Break, Hotel Transylvania 2, The Dressmaker and Carol. Gates open at 7pm and screenings start at sundown. Full program online.

Proclamation Day at the Bay

After an official ceremony and free community barbecue at the Old Gum Tree Reserve at Glenelg North in the morning of December 28, the City of Holdfast Bay will host the Bay Sheffield Carnival, as well as a Sports Festival and Open Water Swim. You can also try out The Big Wedgie – a giant inflatable waterslide at Brian Nadilo Reserve, open from 9am until late every day.

Boxing Day Cup – Bonython Park

This Splash Adelaide-supported event pits talented Adelaide musicians (The Rockatoos) against bartenders (The Eagle Blues) in a 20/20 cricket match. Entertainment, from 11am until 6pm, includes a classic Australian barbecue and licensed bar, with all proceeds being donated to not-for-profit organisation Reclinck Australia. Details here.

Nikon-Walkley Press Photography Exhibition – Adelaide Festival Centre

Amazing images offering a snapshot of world events and Australian life from the past year are on display in this exhibition at the Adelaide Festival Centre’s Artspace Gallery. The photos were all taken by finalists in the Nikon-Walkley Awards for Excellence in Photojournalism and capture everything from sporting triumphs to the ice epidemic. The exhibition runs until January 24, and you can take a peek here.

Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries costume exhibition

Close to 50 costumes created by award-winning costume designer Marion Boyce and featured in ABC TV’s third series of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries are on display in this exhibition at historic Ayres House Museum. Including themed rooms and interactive displays, the exhibition continues until February 14, 2016.

Tarnanthi art exhibitions

Tarnanthi Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art exhibitions encompassing painting, sculpture, multi-media and other artforms continue at the Art Gallery of South Australia until January 17. Nganmarra – the Container of Life, at the Santos Museum of Economic Botany in the Botanic Gardens, is an installation of woven art by senior women artists from Bula’bula Arts in Ramingining, north-east Arnhem Land, which continues until January 31. Details of both exhibitions can be found here.

The Ultimate Vegas Show – Her Majesty’s Theatre

This show promises to bring some sizzle and swizzle to Her Majesty’s Theatre in the new year, with music, dance, circus and illusion acts paying tribute to the likes of Dean Martin, Elvis Presley and Carmen Miranda. Supported by a live band, the Vegas showgirls and boys will present two performances on January 8 and 9. Details here.

Ghost – Festival Theatre

Also opening on January 8 is Ghost The Musical, adapted from the 1990 film romance starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore. Set in modern-day New York and employing an array of special effects and illusions, the stage show features a cast including Rob Mills and original music and lyrics by a team of Grammy Award-winners including Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) and Glen Ballard. Performances will continue at the Festival Theatre until January 31.

On screen

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

Suffragette
Joy
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
The Bélier Family
Hotel Transylvania 2
Youth
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2
Spectre
The Dressmaker