Your First Look: Festival of Rice

Your First Look: Festival of Rice

Published on 13 April 2026

"Rice to me is... everything" says Umesh Randeniya, owner of Unley road's popular Sri Lankan restaurant, Taprobane. He shared with us that rice is the dish that you will find on every table, at every meal in Sri Lanka, and for the Festival, he'll be serving traditional hoppers - a dish he's sure most Adelaideans have never tried.

For local henna artist, Alka, rice carries meaning beyond the plate. Rice and henna are deeply intertwined, both appearing prominently throughout auspicious ceremonies and South Asian celebrations.

From the Greek islands and across Europe, to Asia and the Americas, rice appears as the binding ingredient in cuisine and culture across continents and generations. Check out some of our Festival sneak peaks below!

Sneak Peaks:

• Dynamic street performances featuring a traditional Taiwanese Lion Dance, accompanied by powerful live drumming
• An electrifying Muay Thai stage showcase, celebrating strength, skill, and tradition
• Smoky Filipino BBQ, serving up bold flavours fresh from the grill
• Joyful Colombian cumbia dancing and drumming, bringing colour, rhythm, and movement to our stage
• A roaming sake cart, offering a unique taste of Japan as you explore the Festival
• One-day-only Japanese onigiri from Hyde Park favourite, Shosho
• Full program of kids workshops like hands-on Chinese kite-making, blending creativity with cultural storytelling
• And so much more...

The City of Unley is proud to bring the Festival of Rice to our streets on Saturday 9 May, and we look forward to welcoming you, your family and your mates for a vibrant, full-day celebration.

For full details visit https://unley.sa.gov.au/festival-of-rice

• Events & Activities