Stimulate Your Senses

Canberra’s Floriade never fails to dazzle, with its burst of floral displays, attractions and events that celebrate the arrival of spring. We take a look at what’s in store for visitors this year.

From September 17 to October 16, Floriade, Canberra’s month-long celebration of spring in Commonwealth Park, takes ‘a feast of the senses’ as its theme. As well as the glorious sight of more than one million flowers in bloom, the festival will also feature light installations, food demonstrations, a kitchen garden, glass artists in action, Latino music and dance, and even clowns!

Here’s a rundown of some of the highlights:

• From the Pantry is a new destination for Floriade this year, and will feature presentations from food experts and local producers. Kids and adults alike will be fascinated to discover the science behind favourite ingredients such as honey, chocolate and truffles.
  
• The Victory Garden evokes wartime austerity, featuring plants and vegetables grown by Australian families in World War II, with staff from the Australian War Memorial on hand to share the history of this crucial time.
  
• A Latin American carnival weekend from October 2-3 will feature music and dance from leading South American performers as well as food from chefs from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Mexico.
  
• The Floriade Exhibition Marquee will play host to local glass artists from September 23-27, and visitors can watch glass-blowing and kiln-forming in action.
  
• The ever-popular Kids’ Corner is back, with cuddly farm animals at Matilda’s Farmyard, blue tongue lizards, turtles and dragons at Reptiles Inc, and lotus lantern-making workshops. Kids will also love a spin on the giant ferris wheel with views across the park!
  
• The stunning and colourful display gardens feature more than a million blooms, from tulips to irises, daffodils and more and will enchant little ones, while giving parents inspiration and ideas for their own gardens. In keeping with this year’s appetising theme, garden beds will be patterned after culinary treats, including a chocolate box, ice-cream, a watermelon and a Japanese bento box.
  
• Run away to the circus with The Bally, a chaotic, high-energy performance featuring a control-freak ringmaster, an excitable clown and three amazing circus performers. From September 26 to October 9.
  
• Floriade NightFest will run from September 28 to October 2 and features ‘Storm of the Senses’, a performance consisting of a series of dazzling light installations accompanied by a dramatic soundtrack of thunder, rain and wind – sure to fascinate older kids. Movies to be screened at the outdoor cinema include The Social Network, Julie & Julia, Bran Nue Dae, Chocolat and Tangled; while the Carnival Stage and Bar will feature comedians and music.

Did you know?

More than 460,000 people visited Floriade in 2010.

Infinite Horizons at NGA

While visiting Canberra for Floriade, be sure to schedule a visit to the National Gallery of Australia to see a major retrospective of Australian artist Fred Williams. Fred Williams: Infinite Horizons showcases more than 100 works by the famed landscape painter, from seascapes and desert scenes to portraiture. Visitors can immerse themselves in Fred Williams’ studio space and learn about his painting techniques. For children aged 8-12, a special workshop will also be held on October 13 with artist Teffany Thiedeman. Open daily until November 6. www.nga.gov.au/williams