Mad March comes to Blackfriars

Love Adelaide’s Mad March? Have we got the event for you!

Blackfriars’ Prospect Road Autumn Fair, on Sunday 3 March, is an official part of South Australia’s biggest arts festival, the Adelaide Fringe.

“Being part of the Adelaide Fringe means we’re able to promote our event to far more people,” Blackfriars’ Director of Development Patrick Kelly said.

“We had more than 5000 people attend the Fair in 2023, despite what ended up being a wet day, so we’re expecting a bumper crowd this year.”

The family-friendly Prospect Road Autumn Fair will feature food stalls, a bar, live music, roaming performers and plenty of games and activities for the children.

Blackfriars’ Parents & Friends Committee will make sure people are well fed throughout the day, running the barbecue and bake stall. Members of the school’s Afghan and Vietnamese communities will also run food stalls.

P&F Chairwoman Natalie Galkowski said the fair was a fabulous community event.

“It’s always really well supported by the Blackfriars community and this year will be absolutely no exception,” Mrs Galkowski said. “We are so thankful for the many, many volunteers who pitch in to make this such a special day.”

Meanwhile, Blackfriars’ front oval –  Padnpadninya Tapa– will showcase fabulous designers, artisans and creators at dozens of market stalls, coordinated by the Markets in Prospect team.

Stephanie Ferretti, from Markets in Prospect, said the Prospect Road Autumn Fair promised to again be a fun day.

“We are thrilled to be supporting Blackfriars’ Prospect Road Autumn Fair once again,” Ms Ferretti said.

“Last year was a wonderful day of community engagement, with us thoroughly enjoying being involved in the festivities on the day.

“Excitingly this year, we are bringing a fabulous showcase of SA small businesses, local artisans, young entrepreneurs and artists to join the fair including an area for kids play, too.

“With the program focusing on lots of kids’ activities, food stalls and drinks and, most importantly, free entry, we really are looking forward to a wonderful day with our community.”

Blackfriars is also pleased to welcome back Fibre Feast.

Last year’s event – also held as part of the Prospect Road Autumn Fair – attracted a huge crowd, with stalls showcasing knitting, crochet, spinning, weaving, felting, yarn dyeing, macrame, embroidery and more.

“Fibre Feast SA is now in its sixth year and each year gets better, with more stallholders and more diversity in our offerings,” co-founder Charmaine Summers said.

“We will have stallholders who dye their own yarns, grow their own fibres, create their own products – clothing, toys, wall hangings, patterns, rugs, crochet hooks, lace works, buttons, craft kits, textile arts, felted art – as well as stallholders who have all the bits so you can create your own clothes, artworks and much more.”

Fibre Feast will have approximately 60 stallholders this year, many from interstate.

“We are so excited to support new artists within our field, as well as giving businesses who do not have a store front a chance to showcase their talents,” Ms Summers said.

• Prospect Road Autumn Fair, in conjunction with Markets in Prospect and Fibre Feast, Padnpadninya Tapa, Blackfriars Priory School, Sunday 3 March, 10am-4pm. Free entry.