The 20th anniversary of the popular Unley Gourmet Gala street party will officially launch the newly upgraded King William Road precinct this Wednesday.

The Gala, which is the longest-running event presented in conjunction with the Santos Tour Down Under, has a family fun-filled Wizard of Oz theme of ‘there’s no place like home’.

The magically-themed event is set to host a record crowd to King William Road to showcase the local businesses and its rich restaurant culture as a precursor to the Santos Tour Down Under (TDU) Stage 3 on Thursday, January 23.

Unley Mayor Michael Hewitson AM, said the Unley Gourmet Gala is a perfect opportunity to launch the successful King William Road upgrade as a destination, which will be fully completed this month.

“We can’t wait for the new-look King William Road to be on the world stage when the eyes of the globe focus on the race location and the wonders of this precinct,” he says.

The Gala will host around 40 pop-up stalls, where attendees can enjoy some of the finest local food and wine Adelaide has to offer, including well-loved Unley eateries Viet Shack, Quetzalcoatl Mexican, Antica Pizzeria, JoyBird, Plant B Life and The Local Wine Co.

5Nines Distilling will set up a classy Gin Bar alongside the piano stage on Opey Avenue, where local singer and pianist Becky Blake will be belting out big diva classics during the evening.

An array of musical talent, such as visual artist and DJ Ruby Chew, will take to the stage with retro-style hits, as well as Gospo Collective with their new show ‘Jukebox Chorus – The Ultimate Australian Playlist’.

By popular demand, the Australian Migrant Resource Centre returns to showcase performers such as Santo Shi and Sun of Africa. Audiences will experience a cultural melting pot of world music, international dance acts and high-energy acrobatics.

Fashion parades will highlight some of King William Road’s most loved boutique traders, such as Ca Va, Frock Me Out, Denim Iniquity, The Ark and Cable Melbourne, while other fun activities include face painting and roaming street performers.

There’ll also be plenty of entertainment for young people in the Gala’s Kids’ Zone, sponsored by Flinders Private, when Dotty Dorothy and Glinda take children on a magical interactive journey through the ‘Wonderful Land of Unley’.

Unley’s Gourmet Gala will be held on Wednesday January 22, from 5pm to 10.30pm.

The Santos TDU Stage 3 Start happens the next morning on Thursday, January 23, as the cyclists leave from the Opey Avenue corner on King William Road at 11am.

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