By Marie-Antoinette Issa.

Sydney’s Vivid may have put big bright light shows in the (literal) spotlight, but the city of Churches has also seen the light, with Illuminate Adelaide 2025 delivering the ultimate glow-up this Winter.

As well as turning up the wattage on a series of epic installations across the CBD (think prancing luminous horses, trippy botanical dreamscapes and thrilling dino adventures taking over Adelaide Zoo after dark), visitors can also expect a full-blown flavour festival - with the beating, belly-warming heart of Base Camp (nestled in Lot Fourteen from July 3-20) serving a side of sizzle, spice and seriously good sandwiches from 5 pm nightly.

A fusion of festival-food-truck-wrapped-in-fairy-light vibes, this family-friendly, open-air wonderland will transform into a delicious dance between gourmet and grab-and-go, with a heavy dose of South Aussie pride. You can practically taste the creativity in the air. Alongside wood-smoked meats and mulled wine, of course! 

Start your edible expedition with The Hot Chick - a grilled sandwich stacked with roast chicken, crispy bacon, jalapeños and housemade spicy ranch, melted between Monterey Jack and American Cheddar.

Perhaps wrap your hands around the Philly Cheesesteak, filled with slow-cooked pulled beef, roasted capsicum and caramelised onion. If mac and cheese is more your vibe, the Mac Attack is a molten, golden dream between two slices of grilled perfection.

Vegetarians can opt for the Magic Mushroom, a creamy, garlicky mix of sautéed mushrooms and baby spinach with Havarti cheese, which can be made vegan.

Prefer your handheld eats a little heartier? Tuck into the Rumble Cheeseburger, layered with jalapeño bacon ranch, or go Southern-style with The Comeback, a crispy buttermilk chicken burger dripping with tangy sauce.

An excellent plant-based option is the Big Poppa sauced veggie patty. If the kids are tagging along, the popcorn chicken dusted with ‘gg dust’ or mini cheeseburgers with fries will keep them beaming.

Global street food also glows bright at Base Camp. Get slurping with a bowl of brisket pho noodles, or make Malaysian your mantra with a dumpling laksa, floating with chicken or vegan tom yum parcels in a rich, spicy broth.

The dumpling satay sticks are also certain to be a certified hit - crispy, crunchy and drenched in housemade sauce - while Phat Head’s signature pork dumplings pack a ginger punch. For a super snack option, order the chip on a stick with honey soy seasoning or crispy corn ribs.

Finally, keep one hand free for a steaming cup of Vietnamese coffee or a local Shiraz mulled with orange peel and star anise.

Diners seeking to satisfy a sweet tooth can sample some of Base Camp’s brilliant desserts like classic hot cinnamon doughnuts or a hot mochi version dusted in icing sugar. If you feel like a real splurge, try a doughnut sundae or soft serve cone topped with sprinkles and fairy floss.

Dessert has never looked so lit. 

Just when you think you’ve eaten your fill, there’s one more bite of brilliance: the 10-Minute Dance Party - a pulsing, joy-filled shipping container where you can dance off your dumplings to the beat of live DJs. The bright side of consuming all those calories, if you will. 

Alternatively, for a more intimate and atmospheric dining experience, other Illuminate Adelaide activations invite you to step into a world where flavour meets fantasy.

An excellent example is The Immersive Table by ILA - which returns with an Illuminate Adelaide exclusive: Winter Forest. This isn't your typical dinner - it’s a multi-sensory journey that invites you to wander through a dreamlike woodland where light dances across leaves and stories rise with the steam of each course.

Shadows shift, music stirs and the swaying forest comes alive in a dining experience that feels both otherworldly and deeply grounding.

Set inside The Lab, with 50 square metres of LED visuals and immersive soundscapes, this five-course feast unfolds like a theatrical performance - each dish paired with a changing scene and sound.

Renowned cellist Hilary Kleinig provides the live soundtrack, enhancing the mood with every bite and note in perfect harmony. The result is a moving meditation on taste, texture and time.

For plant-based diners, a dedicated vegan night elevates seasonal produce with the creative flair of Executive Chef Robin Wagner, who is known for his thoughtful, sustainable approach to cuisine. Wine lovers can opt for expertly matched drops or explore the award-winning cellar selections from Aurora’s celebrated wine list.

Alternatively, Illuminate Adelaide’s Offline Club is also unmissable. Here, the focus is less on spectacle and more on slowing down - with shared meals under candlelight, device-free dining and soul-nourishing dishes designed to reconnect you with the people around you. Think long-table dinners, quiet cafes and menus that warm more than just your belly.

So, come for the light, stay for the flavours…then return for another doughnut (or dumpling). Whatever you indulge in, Illuminate Adelaide is a festival for your senses, your stomach and your spirit. Proof that the right bites really can light up your life!