Get ready for Floriade

And it’s not just Canberrans … the million bulbs that spring to life for the annual Floriade festival attract around 500,000 people every year. 

This year – the event’s 30^th - the dazzling showcase of colour will run from September 16 to October 15 with another packed program of day and evening events.

For the 30^th birthday party, visitors will enjoy live music, yoga sessions, markets, photography classes, comedy events, craft beer stalls, celebrity chefs, dancing, rides for the kids, more than 100 performances and much more. 

And when the sun goes down on Lake Burley Griffin, Commonwealth Park will come to life again from 8pm-11pm on six nights and two weekends during the festival period. Nightfest is a magnificent display of LED light installations complemented by spectacular roving entertainers and sideline events that add a whole new dimension to Floriade.

This wonderful festival was first staged as a Bicentennial event and locals immediately fell in love with the concept that has returned every year since. It has grown to become the largest horticultural festival in the southern hemisphere. 

The theme of this year’s event is ‘rejuvenation’ and organisers say visitors can expect to see more flowers than ever before.

One of the features of the event every year is the hands-on DIY workshops where keen amateur gardeners learn from the experts. Just about every facet of gardening from seed-raising to permaculture is covered leaving enthusiastic greenthumbs with plenty to go on with between seasons.

And to make sure it’s not all too serious, the popular Gnome Knoll adds a bit of light relief to the occasion.

Open to visitors as a fun interactive competition, during the weekends of the festival you can buy and paint a gnome of your own to join thousands of others vying for a range of prizes. The more imaginative you get, the better your chances of taking Floriade’s winning gnome home!