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Barossa Vintage Festival 2027: Dates, Parade & Transport
Barossa Vintage Festival 2027 runs 21-25 April. See the new 3pm parade time, hallmark events, ticket news and how to get there without driving, with prices.
The Barossa Vintage Festival is a five-day festival of wine, food, music and community events, held every two years across South Australia’s Barossa Valley to celebrate the grape harvest. The next festival runs from Wednesday 21 to Sunday 25 April 2027, with 80+ events. The big change for 2027 is the Vintage Parade, which moves to the afternoon.
We are Barossa & Light Cab Service, a local Barossa transport company operating since 2001. This guide covers the 2027 dates, the new parade time, the hallmark events and what tickets cost. It also covers how to get to the festival and home again, so nobody in your group has to be the designated driver.
Key Takeaways
- Dates: Wednesday 21 to Sunday 25 April 2027. There is no Barossa Vintage Festival in 2026.
- Parade: Saturday 24 April 2027 from about 3pm, travelling from Tanunda to Nuriootpa. It used to run in the morning.
- Program: 80+ events over five days. Event registrations close on 30 October 2026, so the full program isn’t out yet.
- Tickets: Each event sets its own price. In 2025, admission ranged from free to $425.
- Getting there: The Barossa is about an hour from Adelaide. Our transfers from the Adelaide CBD start from $200 one-way.
- Book early: Book festival transport at least 1–2 weeks ahead, and book your return pickup at the same time.
Barossa Vintage Festival 2027 Dates
The 2027 Barossa Vintage Festival runs for five days, from Wednesday 21 April to Sunday 25 April 2027. Barossa.com lists Tanunda as its base. Events happen at cellar doors, halls and backyards across the region.
| Date | Festival day | Confirmed so far |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 21 April 2027 | Day 1 | Festival opens |
| Thursday 22 April 2027 | Day 2 | Program to be announced |
| Friday 23 April 2027 | Day 3 | Barossa Wine Auction |
| Saturday 24 April 2027 | Day 4 | Vintage Parade from about 3pm |
| Sunday 25 April 2027 | Day 5 | Final day (also Anzac Day) |
Most of the program is still to come. Barossa businesses and community groups can register events until 30 October 2026. Until the program is published, plan around the dates and the parade.
Is There a Barossa Vintage Festival in 2026?
No. The Barossa Vintage Festival is held every two years, in odd-numbered years, so there is no festival in 2026. The last festival ran from 23 to 27 April 2025. The next Barossa Vintage Festival runs from Wednesday 21 to Sunday 25 April 2027 across the Barossa Valley.
Looking for something on in 2026? Barossa.com keeps a full events calendar for the region.
What Is the Barossa Vintage Festival?
The Barossa Vintage Festival is a biennial community festival that celebrates the Barossa’s grape harvest with wine, food, music and heritage events. Its organisers call it Australia’s original regional wine festival, first held in Nuriootpa in 1947. Barossa.com describes it as Australia’s longest-running wine festival, with more than 75 years of history.
The festival grew out of the region’s German heritage. Winemaker Colin Gramp told Barossa Magazine that the first planning meeting was held at Nuriootpa’s Angas Park Hotel in 1947. About 16,000 people came to the 1948 festival. In 1965, organisers decided to alternate with the Adelaide Festival of Arts. It has been biennial ever since.
It is still a community festival. Barossa Australia and the festival committee are its custodians, and Rebecca Reynolds and Maz McGann are the 2027 co-directors. Previous festivals have drawn more than 70,000 visitors, according to the official festival site.
Barossa.com says to expect:
- Long lunches and wine masterclasses
- Markets and open-air concerts
- Parades and art exhibitions
- Family-friendly events across the region
The 2027 Vintage Parade: New Afternoon Time
The Vintage Parade is the festival’s signature event, and it changes for 2027. The festival directors say the parade will depart Tanunda at about 3pm and arrive in Nuriootpa at about 5 to 5:30pm. Sunset that evening is at 5:40pm, looking west towards Seppeltsfield.
The Barossa Leader reports the parade starts at 3pm on Saturday 24 April 2027. In 2025 it ran the other way, from Nuriootpa to Tanunda, between 10am and noon.
The directors say the later timeslot leaves more room for long lunches and festival events during the day. They also want to bring people into the towns for evening events. Floats have been part of the festival since 1948. They are built by local businesses, wineries, community groups, sports clubs and schools. In 2025 the route covered about 8 km of Barossa Valley Way.
What the new time means for transport: the parade finishes close to sunset, so many people will head home around dusk. Agree a pickup point away from the parade route, and tell your driver which end you’re watching from. We take pre-booked evening pickups after the parade.
Hallmark Events to Look Out For
The festival calls its signature events hallmark events. Most 2027 dates aren’t published yet, so this table shows how each ran in 2025.
| Event | What it is | 2025 details |
|---|---|---|
| Vintage Parade | Floats from local businesses, wineries, clubs and schools | Saturday 26 April, 10am to noon (2027: Saturday 24 April from about 3pm) |
| Ziegenmarkt | A revived 1800s “goat market” with a live produce auction and Barossa breakfast | Thursday 24 April, 8am to noon, free |
| Scarecrows | More than 150 scarecrows from Roseworthy to Mt Pleasant | 1 to 27 April |
| Grapestomp | Teams of two stomp as much juice as they can in two minutes | Heats at five locations |
| Parade After Party | Live music, food trucks, grape stomping and a wine village | Saturday 26 April, noon to 5pm, free |
| Club Vintage | A retro dance party | Saturday 26 April, 7pm, Tanunda Show Hall, ticketed |
| Barossa Big Sing | A community sing-along for all ages | Saturday 26 April |
| Barossa Wine Auction | An auction of rare Barossa wines | Confirmed for Friday 23 April 2027 |
Ziegenmarkt has a long history. It first appeared in Tanunda in the mid-1800s. Scarecrows have been a festival favourite since 1995.
Barossa Vintage Festival Tickets and Prices
Barossa Vintage Festival tickets are sold event by event. In 2025, hallmark events such as Ziegenmarkt and the Parade After Party were free. Others, like Club Vintage, were ticketed. CityMag listed 2025 admission from free to $425.
Prices for 2027 aren’t published yet. Watch the official site, barossavintagefestival.com.au, for the program.
Transport is the cost most people forget. Our return day transfer from Adelaide, with a 6–8 hour wait, starts from $450. Sedans carry up to 4 passengers, so ask for a group quote if there are more of you.
Getting to the Barossa Vintage Festival
The Barossa is about an hour’s drive from Adelaide, around 65–75 km from the CBD. Festival events are spread across several towns and cellar doors. So the real question is how you get between them, and home again.
| Option | Best for | Cost | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive yourself | Non-drinkers | Fuel only | The driver misses the tastings |
| LinkSA bus | Travel between Barossa towns | See LinkSA fares | Check routes and times before you rely on it |
| Rideshare | Short trips in town | Varies | Barossa.com says availability is limited |
| Taxi or private transfer | Adelaide and airport trips | From $200 one-way from the Adelaide CBD; from $230 from Adelaide Airport | Book ahead for festival days |
| Private driver | A day of events and cellar doors | From $80 an hour (2-hour minimum) | Price depends on hours and vehicle |
| Private wine tour | Festival events plus tastings | From $350 half-day; $550–750 full day for up to 4 | Tasting fees and lunch are extra |
| Minibus | Groups of 5–11 | From $750 | Book early for parade day |
| Coach | Clubs and large groups | Quote | 24- and 42-seat coaches through our network |
We are based in the Barossa, so we pick up from Tanunda, Nuriootpa, Angaston and Lyndoch as well as Adelaide. See Adelaide to Barossa Valley transfers for transfer prices. Larger groups can book group transport or minibus wine tours. For festival and function bookings, see Barossa Valley event transport.
How to Plan a Festival Day Without Driving
A car-free festival day is a pre-booked plan: you pick your events, match the vehicle to your group and lock in the return trip before the day. These five steps cover it.
Step 1: Choose Your Festival Days
- Festival window: Events run from Wednesday 21 to Sunday 25 April 2027.
- Parade day: The Vintage Parade is on Saturday 24 April, from about 3pm.
- Program check: Look at barossavintagefestival.com.au once the 2027 program is published.
Step 2: Decide Between a Day Trip and an Overnight Stay
- Day trip: The Barossa is about an hour from Adelaide, so a return day transfer works. Ours starts from $450 with a 6–8 hour wait.
- Overnight stay: Staying in the Barossa lets you attend evening events. The Barossa Visitor Centre can help with bookings on 1300 852 982.
Step 3: Match the Vehicle to Your Group
- 1–4 people: A sedan with a private driver, from $80 an hour.
- 5–11 people: A 7-seat maxi or 13-seat minibus. Minibus tours start from $750.
- 12 or more: 24- or 42-seat coaches, arranged through our network.
Step 4: Book Transport and Your Return Trip Early
- Lead time: Book at least 1–2 weeks ahead for special events and peak season.
- Return pickup: Book the trip home when you book the trip out.
- Rideshare: Don’t count on it. Barossa.com says rideshare availability is limited.
Step 5: Plan Parade-Day Pickups Around the 3pm Start
- Arrival: Get to your viewing spot before the parade leaves Tanunda at about 3pm.
- Finish time: Floats reach Nuriootpa at about 5 to 5:30pm, just before sunset.
- Pickup point: Agree a pickup spot off the parade route before the day.
Want to add tastings? A private Barossa Valley wine tour can fit cellar doors around your festival events.
Where to Eat During the Festival
Long lunches are a big part of the festival, and the region’s best-known tables need booking.
- FINO Seppeltsfield: A MICHELIN Bib Gourmand restaurant, open for lunch 7 days from 12 to 3pm. FINO also lists a Friday night dinner on 23 April 2027, in festival week. See our FINO Seppeltsfield guide for menus and prices.
- Hentley Farm: The Barossa’s One MICHELIN Star restaurant, open for lunch Thursday to Sunday. Bookings open three months ahead. Read our Hentley Farm guide.
Lunch at Seppeltsfield and the parade in Tanunda on the same day? Book one driver for the whole afternoon.
Barossa Vintage Festival FAQs
When is the Barossa Vintage Festival 2027?
The Barossa Vintage Festival 2027 runs for five days, from Wednesday 21 to Sunday 25 April 2027. It is held every two years across the Barossa Valley, with Tanunda as its base. The Vintage Parade is on Saturday 24 April, and the Barossa Wine Auction is on Friday 23 April.
What time is the 2027 Barossa Vintage Festival parade?
The 2027 Vintage Parade departs Tanunda at about 3pm and arrives in Nuriootpa at about 5 to 5:30pm, according to the festival directors. The Barossa Leader reports it is on Saturday 24 April 2027. That is a change from 2025, when the parade ran from 10am to noon.
How much are Barossa Vintage Festival tickets?
Each Barossa Vintage Festival event sets its own price, and 2027 prices aren’t published yet. In 2025, admission ranged from free to $425. Hallmark events like Ziegenmarkt and the Parade After Party were free, while events such as Club Vintage were ticketed. Check barossavintagefestival.com.au when the program is released.
How to get around the Barossa without driving?
Pre-book a private driver, taxi or tour. LinkSA buses connect the Barossa towns, but they run on set routes and timetables. Our private drivers start from $80 an hour with a 2-hour minimum, and they go where your day goes.
Can you get Uber in Barossa?
Sometimes, but don’t rely on it. Barossa.com says rideshare services operate in the region, but availability is limited. That matters most for the trip home after evening events. On festival days, pre-book a taxi or private driver, and book the return pickup when you book the trip out.
Is there a shuttle bus from Adelaide Airport to Barossa Valley?
No airport shuttle had been announced for the 2027 festival when we checked on 21 October 2026. The simplest option is a pre-booked transfer. Our Adelaide Airport transfers to the Barossa start from $230 one-way, and we can time the pickup to your flight and your festival plans.
What is the best month to visit Barossa Valley?
Peak season in the Barossa Valley runs from October to April. In odd-numbered years, late April also brings the Barossa Vintage Festival, so April 2027 is a strong choice if you want harvest-season events. Book festival-week transport at least 1–2 weeks ahead.
How much does transport to the Barossa Vintage Festival cost?
From the Adelaide CBD, our transfers start from $200 one-way. A return day transfer with a 6–8 hour wait starts from $450. Private drivers start from $80 an hour, and minibus tours for 5–11 guests start from $750. Send us your group size and dates for an exact quote.
Book Your Vintage Festival Transport
Send us your festival dates, group size and pickup address, and we’ll plan the trip around your events. Call 0400 631 631 or request a quote online.
- Adelaide and Adelaide Airport transfers to the Barossa
- Private drivers for festival days and cellar doors
- Parade-day drop-offs and evening pickups
- Minibuses and coaches for groups
Festival details in this guide were checked against barossavintagefestival.com.au, barossa.com, the Barossa Leader and CityMag on 21 October 2026. The 2027 program hasn’t been released yet, so confirm times with the festival before you book.
