Things to do in Murray Bridge: December 24, 2021-January 20, 2022

Get ready to wave goodbye to 2021 on Murray Bridge’s riverfront.

Celebrations will start at 5pm on New Year's Eve at Sturt Reserve, a fireworks show will be light up the night at 9.45pm, and the rail bridge will be illuminated from dusk until midnight.

For the kids, there will be rock climbing, giant hamster balls, games, an eco maze, mini golf and roving entertainers – all a taste of the Murray River Splash Festival which will occupy the reserve every Thursday to Sunday during January.

There will also be food trucks and entertainment from local musicians.

The fireworks will be visible from up and down the river, but attendence at the rest of the event will be limited to 4000 people, per SA Health orders, and the dry zone at the reserve will be enforced.

Mayor Brenton Lewis encouraged families to come down early with chairs and picnic blankets to find a good spot.

• More information: Visit www.murraybridge.sa.gov.au or call the Murray Bridge Visitor Information Centre on 8539 1142.

Christmas Eve ☀ 34°

Santa photos: 10am-3pm at Murray Bridge Marketplace. Get a photo with Santa and his elves in their cave next to EB Games, photo packages start at $10. Book: www.eventbrite.com.au.

Connor Hudson: 6-10pm at the Bridgeport Hotel, Murray Bridge. Live music.

Christmas Day ⛅ 26°

Christmas Day at Monarto Safari Park: 11.30am-2.30pm. Enjoy a wild Christmas lunch immersed in the stunning views from the Waterhole Function Centre, cost of park entry included. Book: Call Tara Ferris on 8211 1197 or email tara.ferris@adelaideoval.com.au.

Boxing Day ☀ 27°

Mick Kidd and Timmy: 2-6pm at the Welly Hotel, Wellington. Live music.

Sprintcars SA/Victoria Speedweek: From 4pm at Murray Bridge Speedway. Sprintcars, formula 500s, modlites and wingless sprints, replacing World Series Sprintcars due to COVID-19, racing starts 6pm. Tickets: $35/30/20/5 at speedwaytickets.com.au.

Monday (public holiday) ⛅ 28°

Sturt 100: From 7pm at Sturt Reserve, Murray Bridge. Ride 100 laps or 100 kilometres, slow or fast, in a peloton or individually; lucky draw with prizes, nibbles and bottled water; donations to be taken for the family of Nigel Snow; organised by members of the Murray Bridge Derailleurs and Murraylands Multisports.

Proclamation Day ⛅ 32°

Know of anything happening today? Email peri@murraybridge.news.

Wednesday ⛅ 31°

Know of anything happening today? Email peri@murraybridge.news.

Thursday ⛅ 31°

Josh Davies: 6-10pm at the Bridgeport Hotel, Murray Bridge. Live music.

New Year’s Eve ☀ 33°

New Year’s Eve: From 5pm at Sturt Reserve, Murray Bridge. Kidzone, food trucks, local musicians, fireworks lighting up the bridge at 9.45pm, capacity of 4000 people in the fenced area.

Cry Wolf: 8pm-1am at the Welly Hotel, Wellington. Live music.

New Year’s Eve fireworks: 11.59pm on the riverfront at Mannum. Subject to weather conditions.

New Year’s Day

New Year’s Day races: From 11.30am at Murray Bridge Racing Club. Tickets: From $22 at www.moshtix.com.au.

Sunday, January 2

Cars and Coffee Murray Bridge: 8-10am at the wharf precinct. Social group for car enthusiasts, everyone welcome, have a coffee and a bite to eat.

Mannum Riverside Markets: 9am-2pm at Arnold Park.

Monday, January 3 (public holiday)

Know of anything happening today? Email peri@murraybridge.news.

Tuesday, January 4

Know of anything happening today? Email peri@murraybridge.news.

Wednesday, January 5

Know of anything happening today? Email peri@murraybridge.news.

Thursday, January 6

Murray River Splash Festival: 10am-3pm at Sturt Reserve, Murray Bridge. Bubble entertainer, inflatable shark obstacle course, kids’ sumo suits, lawn games, mega Lego blocks, Nerf inflatable shooting range, water wars; make a glove greenhouse, bird drinker or flycatcher frog with Bunnings.

Friday, January 7

Murray River Splash Festival: 10am-3pm at Sturt Reserve, Murray Bridge. Bubble entertainer, inflatable shark obstacle course, kids’ sumo suits, lawn games, mega Lego blocks, Nerf inflatable shooting range, water wars.

Saturday, January 8

Murray River Splash Festival: 10am-3pm at Sturt Reserve, Murray Bridge. Bubble entertainer, inflatable shark obstacle course, kids’ sumo suits, lawn games, mega Lego blocks, Nerf inflatable shooting range, water wars; discover Indigenous culture by making feather flowers or painting and throwing boomerangs; come and try kayaking with Canoe the Coorong at 10am, 12pm or 2.30pm. Book a kayaking session: www.eventbrite.com.au.

Ceramic hand building workshop with Tatty K: 1-4pm at Murray Bridge Regional Gallery. Create a piece of quirky kitchenware using basic ceramic hand building techniques, BYO food and refreshments. Book: $55/50 by calling 8539 1420 or emailing m.dohnt@murraybridge.sa.gov.au.

Club show: From 5pm at Murray Bridge Speedway. Wingless sprints, AMCAs, street stocks, junior sedans, V6 sprints. Tickets: speedwaytickets.com.au.

Beats and Eats: From 5pm at Kimbolton Wines, 29 Burleigh Street, Langhorne Creek. Get a taste of Italy with food truck Signor Arrostini, plus the sounds of the Beach Bums, Captain Sam and Tommy Tequila; tickets include a glass of wine for adults, lawn games for kids, starters and gelati. Tickets: $50/30 at kimboltonwines.rezdy.com.

Sunday, January 9

Murray River Splash Festival: 10am-3pm at Sturt Reserve, Murray Bridge. Bubble entertainer, inflatable shark obstacle course, kids’ sumo suits, lawn games, mega Lego blocks, Nerf inflatable shooting range, water wars; Nylon Zoo dress-up sessions every hour from 10am; kite display and kite-making workshops for ages 12 and under at 10.30am and 13 and over at 12.30pm. Book a kite workshop: www.eventbrite.com.au.

Corey Swanson: 2-6pm at the Welly Hotel, Wellington. Live music.

Monday, January 10

Good Dog U: 10-11am at Murray Bridge Library. Read to a dog, learn about responsible pet ownership and make some dog biscuits, for ages eight to 12. Bookings essential: 8539 1175.

Tuesday, January 11

Know of anything happening today? Email peri@murraybridge.news.

Wednesday, January 12

Pizza and Milo balls: 11am, online via Zoom. Do a virtual cook with Communities for Children, all ingredients supplied with contactless pick-up from Tailem Bend Community Centre, free chef hat and apron. Bookings essential: 8572 3513 or c4cadmin@tbcc.org.au.

Thursday, January 13

Murray River Splash Festival: 10am-3pm at Sturt Reserve, Murray Bridge. Bunnings activities, circus school, giant hamster balls, inflatable X-treme fun run obstacle course, laser tag, lawn games.

Friday, January 14

Murray River Splash Festival: 10am-3pm at Sturt Reserve, Murray Bridge. Giant hamster balls, inflatable X-treme fun run obstacle course, laser tag, lawn games, learn about our river and environment, take home a Murray-Darling Basin showbag.

Claymation with Gooroo Animation: 1-4pm at Murray Bridge Library. Make a short animation with clay, for ages six to 12. Book: 8539 1175.

Saturday, January 15

Wakeboard SA series: 8am-5pm at Sturt Reserve, Murray Bridge. Round four, spectators welcome, online registration required only for competitors, may be cancelled due to extreme heat or wind.

Murray River Splash Festival: 10am-3pm at Sturt Reserve, Murray Bridge. Giant hamster balls, inflatable X-treme fun run obstacle course, laser tag, lawn games.

Races: From 11.30am at Murray Bridge Racing Club. Tickets: www.moshtix.com.au.

Rhyme, Grind and Climb 4: 4-8pm at Sturt Reserve, Murray Bridge. Live hip-hop acts, laser tag, rock climbing wall, aerosol art, family activities, free barbecue and refreshments. Book: www.eventbrite.com.au.

Roll Racing Adelaide 19: 5-9pm at The Bend Motorsport Park. Tickets: $20 at rollracing.com.au.

Sunday, January 16

Murray River Splash Festival: 10am-3pm at Sturt Reserve, Murray Bridge. Eco maze, giant hamster balls, inflatable X-treme fun run obstacle course, laser tag, lawn games; come and try kayaking with Canoe the Coorong at 10am, 12pm or 2.30pm. Book a kayaking session: www.eventbrite.com.au.

Acoustic Highway: 2-5pm at the Bridgeport Hotel, Murray Bridge. Live music.

Monday, January 17

Escape from spy school: 11am, 11.30am, 12pm and 12.30pm at Murray Bridge Library. Escape room for one family or group of friends aged six to 12. Bookings essential: 8539 1175.

Tuesday, January 18

Game on: 1pm, online via Zoom. A fun afternoon of Zoom games with Communities for Children. Register: 8572 3513 or c4cadmin@tbcc.org.au.

Wednesday, January 19

Scavenger hunt: 2pm, online via Zoom. Put your best detective skills to the test with Communities for Children; get some friends over to create a team or do the discovering by yourself. Book: 8572 3513 or c4cadmin@tbcc.org.au.

Thursday, January 20

Murray River Splash Festival: 10am-3pm at Sturt Reserve, Murray Bridge. Bunnings activities, glacier wet/dry slide, lawn games; craft a wire figure from 10am-12pm or a fish hat from 12.30-2.30pm, for kids aged seven and up.

Zoom dance party: 10.30am, online via Zoom. Let’s have a dance-off; show Communities for Children your best dance outfit or costume. Book: 8572 3513, c4c@tbcc.org.au or c4cadmin@tbcc.org.au.

The Cave: 5.30pm at Murray Bridge Library. Thursday night movie about 12 boys and their football coach who become trapped by floodwaters in Thailand. Bookings essential: 8539 1175.

Disclosure: The author will be one of the musicians performing at the New Year’s Eve event.

Let Murray Bridge News know about an upcoming event by emailing peri@murraybridge.news. Events may be listed at Murray Bridge News’ discretion.