South Australia welcomes in 2014 in New Year's Eve celebrations across the state Kids from the Tea Tree Gully swimming club enjoy the 9pm fireworks at Elder Park Picture: Dean Martin Source: News Limited FIRST under a baking sun and then through a steamy night, South Australians have farewelled the old year and welcomed the new. In the city, at the beach and across the country regions, hundreds of thousands celebrated at huge organised events or at private parties as a 37C day gave way to a warm night of fun and fireworks. And Adelaide put on its best party spirit at Elder Park. The night, which started with laughter and dancing, featured two fireworks displays, the last at midnight, to delight the huge crowd gathered along the banks of the burgeoning Riverbank precinct. Countless thousands spread across the lawns or danced to the Latin rhythms pumping from the stage. The sun sets on 2013 at Port Victoria. Picture: Megan Kuchel/NewsForce A truly international spread of partygoers claimed every centimetre of lawn or sat on the Festival Centre steps, enjoying free bottled water and non-stop music. It was the first time Scotland-born David MacMaster 49, of Paradise, who has lived in Adelaide for five years, and his son, Oliver, 15, had ventured to the free party - but it won't be the last. Sitting with his partner, Judy, of Pooraka, and friend Josphine, of Flinders Park, her daughter, Alice, 9, and stepson Callum Beal, 13, of New Zealand, Mr MacMaster said he enjoyed the party spirit and was optimistic about 2014. "Looking out over Adelaide Oval and with the new hospital and medical centre just over there, it's a nice atmosphere," he said. Adelaide has a reputation for being conservative but I think all this will help move it forward - and it brings it all into the CBD. Boom times. Adelaide at midnight. Picture: Dean Martin At beachside Glenelg, picture-perfect weather greeted tens of thousands of people ahead of a fireworks spectacular just after dusk. Thousands lined the beach and families set up camp on the sand and foreshore for the light show while others celebrated the start of 2014 at nearby bars and restaurants. Dozens of boats were moored offshore and many swimmers enjoyed the warm water right through until midnight. Giovanna Ferrari and her six-year-old daughter Sienna came all the way from Melbourne to enjoy the New Year's Eve celebrations at Glenelg. She said: "It's just fabulous here . . . we're absolutely loving it," Ms Ferrari said. We've been to Glenelg before but this is our first New Year's. The crowd at Elder Park for New Year's. Picture: Joel Taggart/NewsForce A live band played on the foreshore throughout the night, with many of the revellers forming up to groove away on an outdoor dance floor. For newly graduated doctor Katherine Astill, 25, of Glenelg, this New Year's Eve was special - her last as a single woman before she ties the knot to beau Dylan Higgins. Katherine and Dylan are getting married at Glenelg's St Andrew's Church on Saturday, before holding a reception at the suburb's famous Stamford Grand hotel. The couple took advantage of the perfect weather to stage a game of beach cricket - with wedding guests from around Australia filling the key fielding positions. The 9pm fireworks at Elder Park. Among those enjoying a drink at the Dublin Hotel was a real-life Irish family - the Dreelands - although they all now live ­in the London borough of Harrow. Mrs Dreeland's brother has lived in Australia for 42 years, but this is the first time she'd ventured Down Under with husband Jim and son Kyle, 20, to visit him. The Dreelands - who arrived in Adelaide on Christmas Day and fly out on January 16 - said they were loving the reversed seasons so much that they were now thinking about making Christmas abroad a family tradition. "We're absolutely loving it," Mrs Dreeland said. It doesn't really feel like Christmas to us, but it's still fantastic. We love it so much that we're thinking about going somewhere warm every year. The barbecues and the beaches are great and Australians are very friendly people. Send us your New Year's Eve pics via NewsForce NYE revelers last night included a huge crowd of cricket fans at Adelaide Oval for the T20 clash between the Strikers and Perth Scorchers and the opening night theatregoers for South Pacific at the Festival Centre. Fireworks over the River Torrens. Around the state, revellers headed for the water with our beachside towns playing host to much of the partying. The West Coast town of Streaky Bay grows from 1200 people to more than 3000 over the New Year's period and Mayor Rob Stephens said there was plenty planned last night to keep everyone entertained. "We've got the biggest fireworks display outside of Adelaide for everyone to enjoy," Mr Stephens said. At the other end of the state, Robe Harbour View Hotel manager Robbie Maddern said the town was, as usual for this time of year, "chock-a-block." The young ones tend to go to the Robe Hotel and the older people with families tend to go to the Caledonian. Then there are parties in caravans and houses and shacks all over town. Plus the weather has really turned on for us. The whole place looks great. The Eyre Peninsula town of Port Lincoln combined partying with horseracing, with big crowds turning out for a full day of racing followed by live entertainment. Midnight fireworks at Glenelg. Picture: Stephen Laffer Glenelg explodes. Picture: Noelle Bobrige