The sun and Floriade have arrived hand in hand ready for the biggest festival yet. This year, we have been especially excited counting down the days until the opening. Each week we were fed little teasers about all the great things taking place over 30-days of Floriade – and let me tell you, there are many!

Kicking off this weekend Saturday 14 September, Floriade’s 32nd event will showcase 21 in-ground flowerbeds and more than 189 portable raised flowerbeds positioned throughout the park to encapsulate this year’s theme ‘World in Bloom.’

A focus will be on local produce for 2019, Floriade renewed its partnerships with Pialligo Estate who will run Floriade’s main cafe space with their Pialligo Urban offering.

The mural on the back of Stage 88 by artist Geoff Filmer will most certainly grab attention. Titled ‘A postcard from Floriade,’ the masterpiece spells out ‘Floriade,’ highlighting the best of Canberra. From the rainbow roundabout to ANZAC parade, each letter encapsulates a photo-worthy element of Canberra.

Don’t Miss a Sip

Visit the Parlour, this circus-round themed popup will be the go-to for the Whisky Masterclass on across multiple nights of NightFest, which returns from Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 October . Appreciate whisky varieties from around the globe spanning from Japan, Australia, Scotland, Ireland, USA and India. The sessions are free but you’ll need a NightFest ticket and to pre book your workshop.

As wine partner of Floriade, Contentious Character are bringing bottles of fun. Wines like ‘Stop and smell the Rosé,’ are both fitting and fun to sip on while you’re there. Share some of this great local taste with Interstate visitors. Underground Spirits have distilled an exclusive Floriade limited edition Lakeside Gin, inviting visitors to have their own ‘Spring gin fling.’ The collaboration is aromatic, clean and crisp, just like a spring day! If a tinnie is more your style, make sure you pop by Capital Brewing Co.’s beer garden.

 

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The Spring Inspired

Capture Saturday mornings at Floriade through a lens. The popular Photography at Floraide wokshop is back suitable for budding photographers, beginners to advanced. Canberra photographers, Geoff Comfort and Ben Kopilow, will run these workshops which teach the techniques of great flower photography. Book into a session.

The Tipi tent is a new addition bringing mindfulness to the beautiful grounds. Yoga and an initiative by Libraries ACT will run here as a place to relax, get cultured and enjoy the flower-filled day in peace.

On Sunday 29 September and 5 October from 10.30-11.30am, Wild & Pure is hosting two edible flower-themed cupcake creation classes.

Flower Child

The free activities in the KidzKlub will run throughout the entire 30-days. Sunday 15 September will be getting playfully competitive when the ‘Ultimate Storytelling Battle’ takes place seeing bestselling Australian kids’ authors Mick Elliott and Oliver Phommavanh face off on stage in a hilarious improv event. Pot painting, flower key ring making and more spring themed arts and crafts can also be found in this space. Register your spot now.

Jump on the Ferris Wheel to appreciate the flowerbed formations from above, and to get an upper hand on the Gnome Hunt. The little ones will be given a sheet to mark off the internationally themed gnomes they find around the park. You’ll notice painted tyre beds located around the grounds too, which were commissioned by year 3-7 students as an art project.

More than 500,000 visitors are expected to walk through the gates during the 30-day festival. Trust us when we say – you’ll want to visit more than once! The full program can be found at floriadeaustralia.com.