Floriade is returning to Commonwealth Park from 14 September to 13 October! The 2024 theme is ‘Art in Bloom’ – think vibrant colours and bursts of colour. There will be over 1 million bulbs across the park, and 300,000 sprinkled around garden beds in Canberra.
Aside from the astounding number of bulbs, I think this year has one of the most exciting programs, too. Here’s what to expect!
The Floriade 2024 Essentials
Where: Commonwealth Park, with a satellite site at Lanyon Homestead.
When: Floriade will run from 14 Sep – 13 Oct Nightfest will run from 3-6 Oct. Gates open at 9:30 am and close at 5:30 pm.
Cost: Floriade is free. Nightfest tickets are $35 for adults. You can book them through Ticketek.
Parking: Parking at Floriade can be tricky. Floriade can draw up to 500,00 people over the month, so there’s a lot of competition for spots. While you can try your luck parking at the nearby Civic Pool, I recommend either riding a bike or catching public transport. There will be a free shuttle bus from the city to Commonwealth Park every day.
Accessibility: Floriade has accessible parking and toilets, as well as a drop-off zone for mobility-impaired visitors. Walking frames, wheelchairs and mobility scooters are available for hire.
Ok! Now that we’ve got the essentials out of the way – let’s get into the program highlights!
Appearances – ACT Olympians, and Costa
There are some big names coming to Floriade this year: On 17 September, Floriade will welcome back our ACT Olympians and Paralympians at Stage 88. You can join in on a Q&A session – I know I’m dying to know what the Olympic Village is really like. There will also be plenty of opportunities for autographs and photos!
Australia’s most beloved gardener, Logie winner and Gardening Australia host Costa Georgiadis will also make an appearance at Stage 88 on 28 September. He’ll be sharing his knowledge on all things nature and gardening, followed by a meet and greet.
Live Music and Entertainment
There will be 38 performances and acts across the nearly month-long festival, with everything from:
- Magicians and circus performers, like the magic-infused comedy duo Kiki and Pacal and Warehouse Circus shows
- Cultural performances, like Serbian folk performers and a performance with traditional Chinese instruments from the Chinese Classical Art Centre
- Scores of live music acts, like local singer-songwriter Leila and the Royal Military College Rock Band.
- Dance ensembles, like the Chinese Cultural Dance Group and Classical Ballet Canberra
- Roving Entertainment, like LED Dancers Australia and the Floriade Fairies.
For the Little Ones
There’s plenty on the program to keep the kids entertained if all the beautiful flowers aren’t enough!
- Dr. Hubble’s Bubble Show, an act by ‘Áustralia’s Favourite Bubble Man’, will run from 14-17 September from 11 am to 12:00 pm. It promises your little ones ‘a hilarious and slightly educational journey into the magical world of bubbles’. Bookings are required, and tickets are $35 for adults and $30 for kids under 16.
- CJ Shaw All Sorts Kids Show. ARIA-nominated artist CJ Shaw will perform fun and comedic songs to engage the kids!
- Clay Hand Building for Kids with Daniel Leone. Kids between 7-12 can get an introduction to hand-building with clay and will get to take home their pieces. Tickets are $82.70.
Workshops
There are so many workshops on the program at Floriade this year! It’s probably more than I’ve seen on any previous year’s program. As you’d imagine, they’re heavily art-based. There’s a teen painting workshop, a floral oil painting workshop, and one for floral portraits using mobile phones. There are also your staple Floriade workshops, like bonsai care and flower arrangement.
Eats and Treats!
The food is like half the reason I go to Floriade religiously every year. There’s normally a great turnout of some of the best food in Canberra, with classics like Grease Monkey and Jarochas.
You’ll also find a few coffee vans scattered around. If you’re looking for something a little stronger, head to the BentSpoke Brewing Beer Garden for local beers, the Canberra District Wine Garden for regional wines, or the Underground Spirits Gin Garden for cocktails.
If you love Italian food, you have to go to Occasioni by Agostinis for some of their amazing calamari and an Aperol Spritz. Bianco will also be offering pasta tossed in a 50kg Parmesan cheese wheel, and that’s where you’ll find me.
If you’re looking for a vegan option, try Au Lac Food Truck for Vietnamese street-style dishes.
If you have a second stomach for dessert, get some iconic Messina gelato, fairy floss, or doughnut puff balls.
All up, there’ll be over 30 food outlets spread across Floriade, you’ll be pretty spoiled for choice.
Dogs’ Day Out
Dogs’ Day Out (13 Oct) is the best day of the whole festival (IMO) and I started getting excited for it about 6 months out. For one day and one day only, you can let your furry friends stop to smell the flowers as well.
All the vendors become dog-centric for the day too, with plenty of local treats, dog bowties, puppuchinos and merch for sale. It’s a hoot and it’s so nice to see so many tails wagging in one place!
The Great Big Bulb Dig
If you have a green thumb, you’ll love The Great Big Bulb Dig. It’s your chance to take a bit of Floriade home with you. The dig happens on Monday 14 October, right after Floriade closes for the year.
To join in, you’ll need to buy a Great Big Bulb Dig bag. You can get these from the Floriade Shop, the Information Tent, the Synergy Group Kombi van, or the charity marquees during Floriade. If there are any left, you can also buy them at the gate on the day of the dig.
All the money from bag sales goes to two great charities – Roundabout Canberra and the Indigenous Marathon Foundation. So you’re doing good while you dig!
This year, they’ve added something new – VIP bags. For $30, you get a bigger navy blue bag and early access at 10 am. The regular $15 bags get you in at 11 am. If you’re serious about your bulbs, the VIP bag might be worth it.
Lanyard Homestead Satelite Site
If you want to escape the crowds at Commonwealth Park, head to the iconic Lanyon Homestead 30 minutes from the CBD. It’s back as a satellite site for Floriade 2024, and it’s well worth the trip.
The homestead’s gardens will be decked out with floral displays, including a special garden bed inspired by Sidney Nolan’s work. It’s a great spot for a relaxed wander and some photos.
They’ve got a bunch of tours on offer too:
- Flowers in the House Tour: Run Wednesday to Friday, 11am to 11:45am. You’ll learn about the floral patterns in the house’s decor. It’s $10 for adults, $8 for concession.
- Flowers in the Garden Tour: On weekends, three times a day. Perfect if you want to know more about the historic gardens. Same price as the house tour.
- Beyond the Farm Gate: A Sunday special that takes you further afield on the property. It’s pricier at $30 for adults and $25 for concession, but it runs for a full hour.
- Sky Stories: This one’s a bit different. On select nights, you can listen to First Nations astronomer Peter Swanton talk about the night sky around a fire. It’s $50 for adults, $40 for kids.
- Sidney Nolan in Bloom: A one-off on September 29th. You’ll get to see that special Nolan-inspired garden bed I mentioned earlier. It’s $20 for adults, $15 for concession.
Nightfest 2024
If you think Floriade is great during the day, wait until you see it at night. NightFest is back from 3 to 6 October, and it’s when Floriade really lets its hair down.
Commonwealth Park gets all lit up with bright colours, with live music pumping from two stages and market stalls to browse. There will also be plenty of food and drinks to keep you going.
The big news this year is the Kazador tent, which will be hosting an adults-only show called Kiss Bang Cabaret. From what I’ve heard, it’s a mix of comedy, circus, and burlesque – definitely not your average Floriade experience!
NightFest runs from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm each night. I recommend getting there early to make the most of it. The atmosphere as the sun sets and the lights come on is pretty special.
Unlike Floriade, Nightfest isn’t free to enter. Tickets are $35 for adults and $30 for concession, but I think it’s definitely worth it!