Floriade Nightfest, Canberra, ACT

Tulips, Floriade Nightfest, Canberra

By day, there is no denying that Floriade is beautiful but by night, it is a sensory experience which takes you way beyond just looking at thousands of flowers. For some reason, I found that the inky night sky blocked out distractions and the visual focus was on the flower beds themselves rather than the myriad of passing daytime distractions. 


The sharp crunch of gravel underfoot was interspersed with soft sploshes as my feet smashed into puddles, magnified by the darkness. Add to that the smell of damp earth, rain and flowers hanging on the petrified, icy cold air and the tingle of frost kissing your cheeks and it all combined to create a unusual experience. Maybe it is because usually, you garden in the daytime which made the Floriade Nightfest so special, maybe it was just having more time and less crowds so that each display could really be enjoyed. I'm not certain what the magic ingredient was, but I can heartily recommend Nightfest!

Tulips, Floriade Nightfest

Ferris wheel, fairy lights and flowers, Floriade, Canberra

As well as the flowers, Floriade Nightfest offers up some other suprises too with cooking and flower arranging demonstrations, movies on an inflatable outdoor screen, cocktail bars, and even the chance to have your hair and makeup done at Garnier World. Add the Floriade Nightfest market which offered up arts and crafts, candles, soap, clothing and a heap of interesting food stalls into the mix and the event really lived up to it's theme 'A feast for the senses.' 

Night market, Floriade Nightfest Canberra

Floral display, Floriade Nightfest, Canberra

Floriade and Floriade Nightfest are located within Commonwealth Park Park off Commonwealth Avenue and Parkes Way, Canberra. There are free shuttle buses from the Canberra CBD or it is an easy five minute walk from the city centre. Floriade runs annually from mid-September. (Remember to rug up because the Canberra nights at this time of year can still dip below freezing...brrr!)

Floriade Nightfest, Canberra

Lanterns, Floriade Nightfest

Useful Links:

Floriade Official site