Key dates for the 2026 festive season

In October 2026, Council endorsed the following end-of-year closure dates for Council facilities for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Council’s main offices, libraries and depots will be closed from 12 pm Thursday, 24 December 2025 and will reopen at 9 am on Monday, 4 January 2027.

During this time Council will operate using out-of-hours services. Call 8555 7000 for urgent matters.

Council’s Visitor Information Services, the Signal Point Experience Centre and the South Coast Regional Arts Centre will remain open during this holiday period, except for the following public holidays:

• The Signal Point Experience Centre and the South Coast Regional Arts Centre will be closed on Christmas Day, 25 December 2026; Boxing Day, 26 December 2026 and New Year's Day, 1 January 2027. 
• The Visitor Information Services (Goolwa & Strathalbyn) will be closed on Christmas Day, 25 December 2026, and Boxing Day, 26 December 2026 and New Year's Day, 1 January 2027.

The holiday season is fast approaching, with community groups organising various events including:

• Goolwa Christmas Pageant is on 6 December at 10.30am, starting from the Goolwa Sports Stadium, along Goyder, Hay and Cadell Street and finishing on Gardiner Street. For further information see Goolwa Community Association Facebook page or email goolwaccpageant@gmail.com)
• Christmas Where the Angas Flows in the Soldiers Memorial Gardens, Strathalbyn, Friday 11 December 2026, 2-10pm.
  Food stalls from 2pm, and children's games and free rides start from 4pm. Pageant 6pm, carols and entertainment 7.30pm, and fireworks 9.30pm.
• Goolwa Christmas Concert, Lights and Lanterns on 19 December 2026. Concert at Jaralde Park followed by the flotilla. Event from 6pm to 10pm. (Goolwa Community Association Facebook or email goolwaccpageant@gmail.com)

Council supports a range of community events through our grants and contributions programs.  This includes offering Community Christmas Event Contributions to support large-scale Christmas events in Strathalbyn and Goolwa, providing financial support for traffic management and other costs related to event delivery.

Please be aware that various temporary road closures and/or speed restrictions can be in place during these events. To find out impacted roads and closure times, visit www.alexandrina.sa.gov.au/eventrestrictions