Floriade is Canberra’s beloved marker of the start of spring – a colourful carpet of blooms in Commonwealth Park. 

However this year, local’s won’t have to go far to get a taste of Floriade’s iconic garden beds.

Across September and October, the ACT Government will be bringing a taste of Floriade to five town centres, expanding Canberra’s famous flower festival beyond the gates of Commonwealth Park.

Coined Floriade in the Suburbs, the new initiative will see pop-ups in Gungahlin, Belconnen, Tuggeranong, Molonglo and Woden on selected weekends across the duration of the main Floriade festival (14 September – 13 October).

“Local residents are encouraged to bring along their picnic blanket and enjoy an afternoon of food and drinks with live music and family entertainment as they experience a little taste of Floriade in their local area,” says Minister for Arts and Cultural Events Gordon Ramsay.

“We are extremely lucky in Canberra to have a jam-packed yearly event schedule and we want to continue to ensure that our local events promote positive community and social outcomes for the whole of the ACT.”

To celebrate the arrival of Floriade in the Suburbs, organisers are seeking community support in naming Floriade’s first-ever larger-than-life-sized gnome.

 

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Commissioned from local company Graffik Paint, artists Geoff, Peter and Jenny Filmer have spent 500 hours over seven weeks designing and creating the gnome–and the only thing missing is his name.

You can enter the naming competition at floriadeaustralia.com/inthesuburbs, with the person who supplies the winning name taking home four tickets to Floriade NightFest.

Our picks? Gnomeo (and Juliet), Gnome Place Like Home or Destination UnGnome. You’re welcome.

The handcrafted gnome will attend each of the Floriade in the Suburbs pop up events as well as dropping in on Floriade on his days off from touring town centres. He’s a busy bloke after all.

FLORIADE IN THE SUBURBS

• Gungahlin Town Square, Gozzard St on Saturday 14 September from 12 pm and 3 pm
• Emu Inlet, Beissel St, Belconnen on Saturday 21 September from 12 pm and 3 pm
• Tuggeranong Town Park, Bartlett Place on Saturday 28 September from 12 pm and 3 pm
• Molonglo Valley Markets at Stromlo Cottage on Sunday 29 September from 10 am and 3 pm
• Woden Town Square on Saturday 5 October from 12 pm and 3 pm

Floriade returns to Commonwealth Park from Saturday 14 September until Sunday 13 October with NightFest happening from 3-6 October) and the ever-popular Dogs’ Day Out happening on 13 October.