While the northern hemisphere inches towards Autumn, it’s springtime Down Under and Canberra is celebrating longer days and warmer evenings with a range of festivals, exhibitions and sporting events. From the show-stopping Floriade festival to exhibitions celebrating female trailblazers at the National Gallery of Australia, read on to find out what’s on in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) this season.

Festivals

Floriade, 16 September to 15 October

Floriade, Australia’s biggest celebration of spring returns to Commonwealth Park, right by the city centre. From 16 September to 15 October, extensive displays of flowering bulbs will fill the gardens on the picturesque shores of Lake Burley Griffin in a springtime extravaganza. There will be a delicious selection of gourmet food stalls featuring tasty eats from Lobster and Co. and The Fudge People, arts and crafts stalls, a perfume workshop, as well as clothing and accessories, homeware and of course garden products for those green-fingered festival goers. The flowers are brought to life with integrated sculptures and live entertainment scattered amongst the gardens. This year, the theme is Floral Wonderland and visitors are encouraged to be inquisitive as they see and experience Floriade from a different perspective, escaping for a moment into their own wonderland as they explore the magical charm of over one million blooms.

Floriade NightFest, 28 September to 1 October

When the sun goes down, explore Floriade’s dark side as NightFest returns with a new and exciting programme of after dark entertainment and horticultural illuminations. From 6:30-10:30pm each night, the garden beds of the Commonwealth Park will be illuminated with colourful light installations and filled with live music, DJs, roving performers, comedians, face painting and even more delicious food and market stalls. Tickets start at $15 AUD.

Exhibitions

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