A Stall Run for the School Holidays
Two weeks of SA school holidays from 26 September. A morning out around Adelaide, a few stalls at a time, with a job for the kids at every one.
The spring school holidays in South Australia start on Saturday 26 September and run right through to Sunday 11 October. That's a lot of mornings to fill.
After we moved to the Adelaide Hills I used to drive the kids to my parents' place most weekends, past stall after stall, and I never pulled over. They were screaming on the way there and asleep on the way home. That drive is where SideStall started. So these holidays, flip it around and make the stalls the reason for the drive.
Back in August I wrote up a day of stall hopping in the Adelaide Hills, so this one goes the other way: a few stalls north of the city, a few down south, one in town, and a longer drive if you've got a full day. Every stall below was live on SideStall on 21 September, and what's listed is what was on each stall's page that day.
Before you go
These are people's gates, not shops. What's on the table changes with the day, and so do the hours. Open the stall in the app before you leave to see if they're open, and message them if you want to check something. Some sellers take pre-orders too, so the thing you're after is there when you arrive.
Bring some cash as well, coins especially. Plenty of roadside stalls still run on an honesty box.
Give the kids a job
Hand the phone to whoever's in the back seat and let them pick the next stop off the map. They can search as well: type popcorn, or honey, and it shows who's got it near you. If there's an honesty box, the coins go to the oldest, and working out the change is their problem. Somebody has to carry the eggs. Very carefully.
Up north: Two Wells, Roseworthy and Freeling
Winlow Farm at Two Wells has a Highland cow experience listed on its stall, which isn't something you see on a trestle table every day. That's their cattle at the top of this page. Message them through the app first to find out how it works and when.
Up the road, the Roseworthy Street Library has assorted books on the table. Let each kid pick one for the holidays.
A bit further on at Freeling, Couch products had potted strawberry shoots, a good one for a kid who wants something to look after. They list scorpion chillies too.
Down south: McLaren Vale and the Fleurieu
Local Eggs by Ethan and Levi at McLaren Flat sells eggs, plus dry seasoned wood and kindling if you're still lighting the fire at night. A good first stop for your egg carrier.
Scrumptious Bites at Woodcroft does gourmet popcorn in malt, Biscoff, raspberry and coconut, and a sourdough pancake mix for a slow holiday breakfast.
Farm stand bakery at Aldinga had a brookie, a cornflake brownie, apricot slice and carrot cake on its page.
Out at Whites Valley, Parawanga Produce had apples, tomatoes, cabbage and cauliflower, plus their winter mix boxes.
And at Willyaroo, Wilcamala has pumpkins, and a listing for free native plants. Pick one out and let the kids plant it when you get home.
In town
Dave's 3d printed creations at Walkerville does fidget toys, dragons, a baby alien, and a stand for an ooshie collection.
A longer drive
Got a full day? Head up to the Barossa. 3 Hives Apiary at Nuriootpa sells honey in a squeezy bear bottle, and Della & dottie had croissants, cake slices and hot chocolate on its page.
And if the holidays take you up the Mid North, Cartapo Creek Hobby Farm at Hallett had fresh farm eggs, Hallett honey and a bouquet of peacock feathers.
The map is the live version
A list like this is a snapshot. Stalls open and close with the season, and new ones keep joining. Open the map and you'll see the stalls near you, with the ones open now up front. Found a good one? Save it to your favourites so it's one tap away next time.
Download the app, open the map, and find local. SideStall is free on the App Store and Google Play, or you can have a look at some of the stalls on the web first.
Selling at your own gate? Putting your stall on SideStall is free, there's no monthly fee to take payments on any plan, and a small SideStall platform fee plus card processing applies only when a buyer actually pays. Set up your stall.
Cover photo: Winlow Farm, Two Wells SA.