Top things not to miss at Floriade
Updated 4 Oct 2023
Australia’s Biggest Celebration of Spring has returned to Canberra.
Commonwealth Park has come to life with more than one million blooms creating a stunning display during the month-long festival which is already drawing great crowds. Featuring Insta-worthy floral displays, horticultural workshops, live music, a popular market, plus the region’s best food and wine, no spring is complete without a trip to Floriade (16 September - 15 October).
Enjoy live music
Dive into this year’s theme, Floral Wonderland, inviting you to explore the magical charm of over one million blooms. Immerse yourself in three stages of live music every weekend, celebrating amongst the blooming flowers. As you explore the spectacular displays expect to see jazz ensembles, a multi-country dancing troupe, or even a live flamenco group, all welcoming the arrival of spring to the capital.
Check out the festival program
Browse market stalls to meet food and wine producers behind some of the region’s best products. Attend workshops and talks by leading horticulturalists, florists, and Floriade’s gardeners.
Popular workshops also include making floral crowns, chocolate and wine masterclass, and cocktail conversations in the gin garden. For families, there are plenty of activities for little gardeners, including the thrill of competition in gnome painting!
Browse the program and plan your perfect day at Floriade.
Feast at food stalls
Food trucks and stalls have filled Floriade - why not enjoy lunch at the festival? Experience decadent Canberra region sips alongside some of the best street-eats that the nation's capital has to offer, from the food stalls around the site.
Enjoy lunch at Agostinis or sample a grazing plate from Lolly & Co Cafe while you relax in the afternoon sun with a picnic blanket. Try locally crafted beers from Canberra’s acclaimed brewery BentSpoke Brewing Co, or keep an eye out for the gin garden serving up the capital's Underground Spirits, and the wine garden pouring drops from the Canberra District Wine Region.
Join Dogs' Day Out
Floriade will welcome pooches big and small on Sunday, 15 October for this year’s Dogs’ Day Out.
With a range of dog specific retail vendors and dog friendly programming on stage and around the park, Floriade will open its gates to our furry friends to experience a day with the blooms.
The Stage 88 Lawns will host a demonstration by the ACT Companion Dog Club Display Team at 1:30pm, followed by the Annual Dogs Day Out Fashion Paw-rade at 2:30pm. If you would like the chance to win some great prizes in the Paw-rade, just come along with your furry fashionista and register for the competition at Stage 88 from 1:30pm.
Want to capture a portrait with your pooch or snap a group photo with your whole dog club? Spectrum Photography will be on site all day with their Open Photo Booth so you can capture a photo of your fur family amongst the blooms.
Make a weekend of it
Stay in central luxury at the Mecure Canberra. Built in 1927, the hotel is steeped in history and its location is ideal, only 600 metres from the Australian War Memorial commemorating those who serve the country, both past and present. Most of Canberra’s national attractions are within a 10-minute drive from the hotel, and the CBD is an easy walk away.
Alternatively, Mantra MacArthur Hotel offers stylish and contemporary rooms to suit all travellers. Centrally located, the hotel is within easy reach of famous attractions like Australian Parliament House and the National Gallery of Australia, and only a short walk to the central business district and Canberra City's thriving shopping precincts, hip bars and cool cafes. Choose from studios or 1 and 2 bedroom suites, for groups and families wanting to explore the region a little longer.
Enjoy Floriade blooming in the City Centre
If you stay in the city, you can enjoy the magic of Floriade in the City Centre, with a 15-minute walking trail featuring beautiful flower installations along the walk to the park. The trail runs from the Alinga Street light rail station to Commonwealth Park, with visitors encouraged to explore the many cafes, restaurants, and retail shops along the way.
You can also embark on the “Find Your Way to Floriade” scavenger hunt with lots of clues to keep everyone entertained as they walk from the National Triangle to Floriade. Park at Questacon, the National Library of Australia, or any of the other carparks in the National Triangle, and answer all the clues along the way to pick up your prize from the National Capital Exhibition at Regatta Point. Or arrive in style on the Floriade Ferry by Love Boats, departing the Kingston Foreshore Jetty or Queen Elizabeth Terrace. Enjoy the sights of Lake Burley Griffin as you cruise to Australia’s Biggest Celebration of Spring.
You can also catch a free shuttle from multiple parks of the city. More information about where to catch these shuttles can be found on Floriade's website.
Keeping planning your trip
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