The 68th Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers has unveiled a program of headliners across music, food, fun, wine, floral art and gardening that is testament to its position as the country’s most acclaimed special event and one that is truly The People’s Carnival.
A breathtaking 10 days of flowers, flavours and sounds, the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers will take over the Southern Queensland city in the most beautiful of ways from September 15 to 24 with a program of more than 60 unique events and experiences including internationally acclaimed musical acts, award winning parks, some of the best food and wine to be found in Southern Queensland and a multitude of cultural adventures.
Befitting Australia’s longest running horticultural event of its kind, this year special guests at the Ergon Energy Food and Wine Festival include author, famed horticulturalist and ABC Gardening Australia’s Sophie Thompson, and to celebrate the finest regional produce and flavours in the land, acclaimed Australian chef Anna Gare.
Musically, the lineup is the envy of festivals nationally with Australian music royalty set to perform over three days at the Heritage Bank Live Concert Series – the internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter and the voice behind the iconic anthem The Horses, Mr Daryl Braithwaite will perform along with legendary Australian rockers, The Angels as well as uber hot Australian band The Temper Trap. The five-piece live act specialist The Paper Kites, international hit performers Boys in the Band, and the famed all female group The Diamonds as well as Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Alex Lahey will ensure the sounds continue all weekend.
The Grand Central Floral Parade remains firmly at the heart of this world-class celebration and once again will bring the city to a brilliant standstill on Saturday September 16 when more than 100,000 people line the streets!
This year the city’s parks and gardens take centre stage in a program of hosted tours and visits – Laurel Bank Park, Queens Park, Picnic Point, Spring Bluff and the Japanese Garden Ju Raku En will all be carefully curated into sensational Spring flower displays, while the myriad of community floral events add to the blanket of colour that covers the city during Carnival.
There’s Twilight and Garden Tours, High Teas, Picnics and Music in the Parks and even two nights of Pop Up Cinemas and Pictures in Laurel Bank Park where The Lion King and Trolls will be screened for families to enjoy under the stars and in the surrounds of the magnificent florals.
Regional flavours and produce takes a starring role in 2017 with the famous Talking Pubs Tours returning along with the acclaimed Food and Wine Tours as well as a whole range of experiences that explore and celebrate Toowoomba – from the Hidden Laneways Tour to the Darker Side Tour – and the greater region.
Dedicated Carnival Greeters will be on hand throughout the city parks, to assist visitors and locals alike to offer colourful insights into the Carnival experience.
Toowoomba Region Mayor Paul Antonio said the Carnival was and would continue to be a standout event on the Australian calendar.
“With 68 years of floral magic under its belt, the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers is one of our richest traditions. This year’s floral program once again is testament to our bold ambition for this event, promising breathtaking displays of botanic brilliance across floral exhibits, fresh flower markets, glorious garden tours and more. We look forward to welcoming everyone to Toowoomba in September.”
Attracting tourists from Queensland, interstate and internationally, the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers is the longest-running floral event of its kind in Australia, defying drought and flood to grow bigger, brighter and ever more colourful each year, bannered with the welcoming theme of eat, laugh, play, stay.
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