Arrivals & Departures Canberra blossoms with Floriade, Australia's "biggest celebration of spring"

Close to half a million visitors will descend on Canberra until October 15 to enjoy what is best described as a floral frenzy.

Floriade is celebrating its 30th year, with more than a million blooms grown onsite at Commonwealth Park (five minutes’ walk from the city centre), and in portable flowerbeds off-site.

This year’s theme of rejuvenation will inspire the garden bed designs, floral installations and events.

The latter include the inaugural Floriade Twilight Concert featuring David Bowie tribute act the Ziggy Band, accompanied by the Canberra Symphony Orchestra.

After-dark experience NightFest will return with roving entertainment, interactive installations, pop-up performances, an aerial fire show, music from the likes of Bob Evans and Kav Temperley, and a comedy line-up including Tripod and Nazeem Hussain.

This year’s festival will also feature a sculpture garden showcasing large artworks from local and national artists, morning walks, markets, workshops, tours and kids’ activities.

Fact File

• Entry to Floriade is free. It's open daily 10am to 7pm from September 16 until October 15.
• NightFest runs across two weekends, September 22-24 and September 29 to October 1, from 8pm–11pm each night. Tickets for NightFest are $30 and can be purchased from Ticketek. 
• For more information, visit floriadeaustralia.com.