Get ready to revel in the heart of Adelaide’s Fringe Festival at Fool’s Paradise, the hottest hub for entertainment, food, and fun in 2025!
Nestled in the southern half of Tarntanyangga (Victoria Square), this lively destination is your one-stop spot for all things Fringe. With a bold and brilliant lineup of circus, comedy, music, magic, and physical theatre, Fool’s Paradise is serving up a program as daring as it is delightful. Pair the action-packed shows with mouthwatering eats from local legends like Burrito Boy, Fiesta Tajine, Caro Club, and Coffee and Donuts, or sip on bevvies crafted by SA producers while soaking in the electric vibes with friends and family.
Not just about the shows, Fool’s Paradise is a playground for all, with wheelchair-accessible venues, gender-neutral bathrooms, and family-friendly facilities that make it welcoming for everyone. Located smack bang in the city’s centre, getting there is a breeze – whether you’re hopping on the free City Connector bus, gliding in on the Glenelg Tram, or snagging a $7 parking deal nearby.
Open from 10 am until late every Wednesday to Sunday, this is the spot to fuel up and catch a show. Visitors can also enjoy FREE mini golf, flying trapeze classes, and nightly DJs as part of a free music program. It’s the perfect place to unwind, have fun, and dive into all the Fringe madness!
Check out the kids’ shows on offer below and start planning your family-friendly Fringe adventure at Fool’s Paradise!
All Star Circus
World-class circus talent performing extraordinary feats right before your eyes!
Graceful aerialists, amazing acrobats, and hilarious slapstick comedy by an award-winning cast of seasoned professionals. Welcome to All Star Circus, a wonderful show for families of all ages, showcasing a variety of circus disciplines by Head First Acrobats.
From the creators of the smash-hit circus show GODZ.
Experience world-class circus talent performing extraordinary feats right before your eyes! Backflips, one-arm handstands, incredible human pyramids, spinning in giant wheels, and more amazing acts from this award-winning cast of performers.
All Star Circus has something for everyone, with plenty of laughs for both young and old, and incredible physicality that can be appreciated by all!
The Flying Bubble Show
Dive into ‘The Flying Bubble Show’, where dreams and reality blur in a breathtaking fusion of bubble magic and aerial flying. Watch in awe as Maxwell the Bubbleologist soars through the sky, creating millions of shimmering bubbles with each leap and twirl. It’s a dazzling spectacle that will captivate both kids and adults, making it the perfect family day out. After the show, the fun continues as kids can chase and pop bubbles outside, and families can step inside a bubble for an unforgettable photo.
Don’t miss this magical adventure that will leave your family with memories to cherish forever. This is a show for all families, with fun interactive elements that will create lasting memories.
Swash Buckling Circus
Ahoy, landlubbers and seafaring scallywags alike! Prepare to set sail on a laugh-filled voyage of acrobatic amazement and rib-tickling fun. This isn’t your ordinary circus – it’s a pirate extravaganza where the seven seas meet side-splitting comedy and high-flying feats. Get ready for a treasure trove of fun that will have you and your family rolling in the aisles.
This heart-warming adventure will entertain and delight audiences of all ages. With interactive segments, the littlest pirates in the audience will get to participate, Whether it’s helping decipher a treasure map or looking for a key, there’s plenty of action to keep everyone laughing.
Aimed at 6 – 12 yr olds, but great for all.
Fritz
Step into the charming and comical universe of FRITZ, an eccentric and loveable magician’s rabbit.
Magic, mayhem, and many things go wrong as FRITZ earnestly strives to recreate the mesmerizing magic tricks of the suddenly vanished Magician, Madame Magica.
FRITZ is a non-stop, high-energy 50-minute roller-coaster ride of the ridiculous. Fuelled by slapstick, object puppetry, and clowning, this heart-warming story is hilarious entertainment, from start to finish, for the whole family.
Created and performed by physical comedy mastermind Emilie Bloom and skilfully directed by Die Roten Punkte’s multi-award-winning Clare Bartholomew.
Hold onto your hats because this magic show is about to pop right off!!
Level Up
4 acrobats + 1 giant Claw Machine.
Chaos ensues…
Not just a set piece, this claw machine moves, spins, see-saws, and picks up the acrobats in a one-of-a-kind performance. Watch as they perform daring feats and get launched into the air by 250kg of steel.
Best known for their dramatic, thought provoking circus-theatre, Gravity Dolls have been crafting unique experiences for audiences since 2014. After 10 years of being very serious we’ve created a wonderfully ridiculous show where we can share a laugh with the audience.
Join us for 55 mins of thrills, spills, near misses and some of the best (worst) dancing you’ve seen ripped straight from 90’s music videos.
This is contemporary circus that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Life’s A Playground
In a world where playgrounds have turned digital, young people are more connected than ever, yet often feel isolated. In this heartfelt performance, eight young performers put their phones down to rediscover the power of PLAY. You don’t need thousands of followers or endless likes—just yourself and your imagination.
Through acrobatics, circus, aerials, and pure connection, they transform life into a vibrant playground where fun, risk-taking, and discovery come alive.
The Glow Squad Show
A Galactic Adventure and Dance Musical for the Whole Family!
Join the Glow Squad for an interactive children’s glow concert perfect for kids ages 2-12. An electrifying family theatre experience that blends storytelling, music, dance & dazzling special effects. Immerse yourself in cutting-edge light displays, smoke effects, drums, bubbles and floating LED glow planets, transforming the stage into a glowing galaxy. Children join in on the dances, learning the moves and becoming part of the show.
Follow the Glow Squad on a mission to restore ‘glow’ on planet Earth, learning valuable lessons about friendship, self-love, kindness & well-being.
This vibrant performance is coming to Adelaide for the first time! It features exceptional production and costumes, plus an invigorating original soundtrack.
Cartoooon!!
The world-famous unicycle acrobatics show! Winner of Japan’s Children and Performing Arts Expo 2019, pioneers of both unicycle acrobatics and contemporary Japanese clowning, the unparalleled combination of skill and humour makes this a must-see family Fringe show.
With the rare combination of world champion-level skills and a truly original style, the duo fuse circus with manga-like characters to deliver a masterclass in the universal language of laughter.
Follow the journey of the mischievous Cheeky and her journey into the magical world of The Big Top.
The Giant Balloon Show
Take everything you know about balloons, add an award-winning entertainer, an 80s soundtrack, and twist that into a hilarious show for the whole family. Expect feverous balloon sculptures, high-energy comic performance and, of course, the all-important giant balloon!
Winner International Festival of Fools
Winner: Bussan International Comedy Festival (2024)
Nominee: Sydney Fringe (2024)
Lost in Translation presents: Harry Potter – PG Edition
Your favourite movies translated badly.
Lost in Translation – PG Edition takes classic film scripts, runs them through an online translator a dozen times, removes all the rude bits, and then reads the results live on stage in character!
This year, we’ll be performing a PG Edition of our most popular script “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” at Fools Paradise.
So you can enjoy the ★★★★★ “confusing, hilarious mess” (University of Adelaide) with the whole family!
To get the most enjoyment, we recommend you watch the film beforehand.
Dr Hubble’s Brilliant Bubbles
★★★★★”Brilliant Bubbles is a highly entertaining experience. Accolades to Dr Hubble cannot be blown out of proportion, his Brilliant Bubbles is genius.” Fifty+ Adelaide
Spark
It starts with a spark, hidden in the dark.
For curiosity to find… Can I leave the world behind?
Enter a unique experience, reflecting Nicola De Rosbo-Davies’ journey as a neurodiverse actor, constantly searching for joy. Inspired by Nicola’s work as a drama therapist and humanitarian clown, including a memorable encounter with Patch Adams who claimed he never has a bad day, we explore the universal question: “How can we hold onto our spark, and can we hold onto it forever?”
This sensory-driven clown show takes you on a quest to capture your inspiration and joy in life. Experience the feel of water, the breeze of the wind, and the sweetness of a campfire. This immersive, inclusive theatre experience breaks traditional boundaries, inviting audiences on a poignant and hopeful journey.
You might also be interested in
-
Adelaide Fringe is of course famous for it's performances, shows and art installations BUT it's also one such a great opportunity to get down to the city and try some new food flavours, some crazy treats or just a good old ice cream from one of the many many food trucks and vendors that set up for the month of Adelaide Fringe. It's actually one of our Fringe highlights so we thought this year we'd share our favourite food-y finds. Make sure to tag us in your FB and IG posts if you find something we need to try and add to this page!
-
Kids are unpredictable. So are Fringe shows. That’s why planning is your new best friend. Here’s how to tackle a day at Adelaide Fringe with kids like a pro. 🚗 Sort Your Transport or ParkingWeekends get hectic, and opening night? Even wilder. Pre-book a car park (seriously, best invention since sliced bread), or take public transport, an Uber, or even a bike - bonus points if it’s a hipster one (because Fringe). Book East end parking here: https://bookabay.wilsonparking.com.au/ 🎭 Know Where Your Show IsRookie mistake: assuming everything happens in The Garden of Unearthly Delights. Fringe is everywhere - from the city to the suburbs and hills. Double-check your venue or risk a last-minute sprint. Grab the Venue Map Here: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/venues-map ⏳ Leave Wiggle Room Between ShowsKids hate being rushed almost as much as your partner hates Married at First Sight. Give yourself at least 30 minutes between shows for toilet breaks, snack stops, and getting distracted by street performers. Plus, seating is usually first in, best dressed - so aim to arrive 10 minutes early. 🎭 Bonus Tip: Many performers stick around for photos after the show. Don’t be that parent who drags their kid away before they can meet…
-
Find it at: Greenglade Drive, Paradise Do you have a Dinosaur loving kid? Greenslade Playground at Paradise is a lovely little spot with a really cool dinosaur that you (or the kids...but don't let me stop you!) can climb all over and through a little dino-tunnel! How cool! The dino is enough to make this stand out from the playground crowd, but it also has a great range of equipment too. With a fabulous 5-swing, which is more suitable for the younger kids, a long slide, some climbing logs and some great climbing equipment, we are convinced there is something here your kids will enjoy. Being next to the river, there is a lot of great walking trails and also some seating and shelter, but there is sadly no toilets or car park (we just parked on Greenglade Drive).
