What is The Garden of Unearthly Delights?
Each year, The Garden of Unearthly Delights' team creates a unique festival playground including multiple performance venues, bars, carnival rides, an array of world foods, market stalls, and sideshow surprises.
The Garden of Unearthly Delights began in 2000 and over the past 20 years, it has evolved into one of Adelaide’s major arts events on its summer arts festival calendar.
The proposal to extend their existing event site area onto Rundle Road on the nights Thursday to Sunday of each weekend over the Fringe period. This will allow for additional social distancing space for patrons, adding to their COVID safety plan. The area on the road is also proposed to be fenced and encompasses food stalls, sideshow experiences and carnival rides.
Pedestrian access will be maintained along the northern footpath on each of the dates Thursday to Sunday, until the event site opens at 5.00pm, whereby then pedestrians will be diverted to the southern footpath along Rundle Road. When East End Unleashed is enacted the southern two lanes along Rundle Road will be open for pedestrian access.
This closure is an addition to the already existing East End Unleashed which has successfully run in the East End for the last 4 years. The East End Unleashed closures already encompasses and closes this portion of Rundle Road from 6.30pm to 1.00am Fridays, 5.00pm to 1.00am Saturdays and 5.00pm to 1.00am Sundays (ONLY two dates on the long weekend and closing weekend) over the Fringe period, Friday 18 February to Monday 21 March 2022.
The Garden of Unearthly Delights is adding the additional Thursday nights and Sunday nights over the Friday 18 February to Monday 21 March 2022 period and will be activating just the northern two lanes over the weekends during Fringe.
How will this impact vehicle and pedestrian access along Rundle Road?
During the closure period, vehicles will not be able to use Rundle Road heading East. The two southern lanes heading West will still be open for traffic.
However, this closure of Rundle Road would be an addition to the already existing “East End Unleashed” event, run by the City of Adelaide, which has successfully run in the East End for the last 4 years. The East End Unleashed road closures already encompass and close both sides of Rundle Road from 6.30pm to 1.00am each Friday, 5.00pm to 1.00am Saturdays and 5.00pm to 1.00am on two specific Sundays (on the March long weekend and the closing weekend of the Adelaide Fringe) over the Fringe period, running from Friday 18 February to Monday 21 March 2022.
Pedestrian access will be maintained along the northern footpath on each of the dates Thursday to Sunday, until the event site opens at 5.00pm, whereby then pedestrians will be diverted to the southern footpath along Rundle Road. When East End Unleashed is enacted the southern two traffic lanes along Rundle Road will be open for pedestrian access. The bike lane along this section of Rundle Road will be closed over the Thursday to Sunday period and detoured.
Who can I contact during the event if I have any concerns regarding the event?
Events are required to provide an event hotline telephone number, should a member of the public wish to lodge any feedback or concerns during the event.
Any member of the public can use the event hotline number to provide their feedback to the event organiser. It is the responsibility of the event organiser to consider all feedback provided and take any necessary actions to remedy the issue. The event hotline phone number will be operated for the duration of the event.
Alternatively, members of the public contact the City of Adelaide on 8203 7203 to lodge any feedback or concerns.
Would fixed businesses in the East End remain accessible during The Garden of Unearthly Delights site area extension?
Yes, while a northern portion of the Rundle Road, between East Terrace and Dequetteville Terrace, will be closed to outbound vehicular traffic, inbound traffic heading west along Rundle Road will not be impeded and outbound traffic heading east will be diverted. Event organisers will ensure pedestrian access along Rundle Road will be maintained.
When the East End Unleashed Road Closure is enacted, this entire section of Rundle Road will be closed both inbound and outbound lanes.
Will commercial vehicles be able to service businesses within the East End within the road closures?
Yes, while a northern portion of the Rundle Road, between East Terrace and Dequetteville Terrace will be closed to outbound vehicular traffic, inbound traffic heading west along Rundle Road will not be impeded and outbound traffic heading east will be diverted.
When the East End Unleashed Road Closure is enacted, this entire section of Rundle Road will be closed both inbound and outbound lanes.
Where can I find out more information about The Garden of Unearthly Delights?
If the event is approved, the event organisers are invited to list details under the ‘What’s On’ section of the City of Adelaide website at www.cityofadelaide.com.au/whats-on or the events dashboard at www.cityofadelaide.com.au/community/spaces-rooms-venues-to-hire/upcoming-events/.
You can also visit the events website:
Will there be impacts to traffic volumes in the East End?
The Department for Infrastructure and Transport Traffic Management Centre will adjust the precinct’s traffic signal operations as required to keep congestion and delays to a minimum.
