FAQs
About the Event
Saturday 14 September to Sunday 13 October 2024.
The Floriade gates will open at 9:30am and close at 5:30pm.
Last entry is at 5:15pm each day, with the exception of 3-6 October (during NightFest) when the last entry will be at 5pm.
Sensory Hour will be on between 9:30am till 10:30am on weekdays (not including public holidays or Wednesday 2 October). During this hour, there will be limited amplified sounds and stage performances to create a relaxed and inclusive atmosphere, offering a sensory friendly experience at Floriade for individuals with sensory processing challenges.
Floriade is held in Commonwealth Park located on Regatta Place, Parkes, Canberra.
Floriade is free to enter and does not require registration. There are some paid events included in the Floriade program. Look out for ‘Book Tickets’ specified on the applicable event pages and linked to ticketing websites for purchase.
NightFest is a ticketed event. Tickets are on sale now.
The theme for Floriade 2024 is “Art in Bloom”, which will see Commonwealth Park transformed into a vibrant canvas of colour and creativity.
The garden bed designs will draw inspiration from major art forms and will take visitors on an artistic journey with floral displays and interpretations of painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, music, theatre, and cinema. The program will also offer the opportunity for visitors to create art through workshops, activities and interactive experiences.
Yes, a daily program is available for each day. You can also use the search function on the Floriade and NightFest program pages to select a day, or use the advanced functions to select a range of dates.
Floriade is offering gardening tours, guiding you through the garden beds. From designing the flower bed displays to what types of flowers we use, our gardening team will share interesting tidbits and insider information on what it takes to produce the largest flower show in the Southern Hemisphere! Tickets are $15 and tour sizes are limited so make sure you book early to avoid disappointment.
Information about the design of the garden beds and the bulbs and annuals used to create the vibrant displays is available on the Garden Bed Design page. The information on each garden bed can also be found on signs which will be located at each bed during Floriade.
Floriade will be returning in 2025 from 13 September to 12 October.
*Please note dates are subject to change. Ensure you check back closer to the event to confirm.
General Information
Due to liquor licencing restrictions, only alcohol purchased from one of the licenced traders can be consumed at the event. You can bring your own food and drink to Floriade and NightFest, but there is also a range of food and drink options available for purchase from our range of food vendors. If you purchase closed bottles of alcohol from one of the retail vendors on site it is not for consumption on site, and should be taken home.
This year there will be a range of food and drink vendors on site offering a wide variety of food and plenty of seating. You do not need to make a booking.
Yes! There will be vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options available. While not all vendors may not cater for all requirements, we are confident you will find something delicious to suit your needs from the wide variety of food stalls on site. Visit the Food and Drinks page to see what options are available from each vendor.
Yes
- Ferris Wheel – $10 per person or four for $37
- Train – $8 per person
- Cup and Saucer $8 per person
- Giant Slide $8 per person (includes 3 turns on the slide)
Amusement rides can be paid for by cash or card.
In the interest of health and public safety, no dogs or any animals (other than assistance/companion animals as per Assistance Animals – City Services) are permitted to enter Floriade or Floriade NightFest. All other dogs will be permitted at Floriade only on Sunday 13 October 2024 for Dogs’ Day Out. Conditions apply.
Yes, we will have a dedicated room for baby/infant care which will include the below:
- Change table
- Low sofa style seating and stools for breast/bottle feeding
- Microwaves to heat/sterilise equipment
- Accessible toilets located nearby
All accessible toilets within Floriade also include a baby change table.
A map showing the location of the baby/infant care room and accessible toilets can be found here.
Yes, most of Floriade is cash free. Cash may be used in the Floriade Shop, and to purchase train tickets, but most vendors do not accept cash.
There is no ATM available on site. The nearest ATMs are:
- Inside the Convention Centre Newsagency located at 33 Allara Street (next to Crowne Plaza Canberra). Opening hours 8am – 5:30pm Monday to Friday, closed on Saturday, Sunday & Public holidays.
- Bank of Queensland Canberra City branch, 331/240 Bunda Street. Available 24/7.
Floriade, Australia’s Biggest Celebration of Spring, attracts thousands of visitors each year. Floriade is a family friendly event and is smoke-free within its boundaries at Commonwealth Park. We kindly ask that you respect other patrons and refrain from smoking or vaping in the Floriade site.
All lost property handed in will be registered and remain at the Information Marquee during the day. Please present to the Information Marquee to see if your lost property has been handed in or to register your name and contact details along with details of your lost item for the team to contact you if handed in. Until 14 November 2024 you can enquire about lost property by emailing events@act.gov.au, as any items not claimed by 14 November 2024 will be donated to charity or disposed of.
Whilst we don’t have lockers on site, you can use the storage and locker facilities available at The Village. You do not need to be a registered guest to access these facilities.
NightFest
NightFest will be held from Thursday 3 October to Sunday 6 October 2024.
Nightfest gates will open from 6:30pm till 10:30pm.
Tickets for NightFest are available from Ticketek – the only authorised ticket seller for the event. Tickets purchased from any other provider are purchased at the customer’s own risk and may not be valid for entry. Tickets are on sale now.
Concession tickets can be bought with a valid Pensioner Card, Government Issued Seniors Card, Department of Veteran Affairs Gold Card, of Full Time Student Card.
We encourage purchasing online early to avoid disappointment of missing out, ticket sales for each evening will be available online up until 10pm each evening of NightFest unless sold out. Tickets will also be available to purchase from the box office on site from 4:30pm – 10pm each evening until sold out.
No, sorry, there are no pass outs for NightFest. If there are any exceptional circumstances they will be managed on a case by case basis.
The Kazador Tent will host 2 sessions of 18+ variety show ‘Kiss Bang Cabaret’ each evening of NightFest. Tickets to Kiss Bang Cabaret are purchased via Ticketek as a package with your NightFest entry ticket. This is an adults only show and ticket holders must be over 18 to enter.
Yes, Companion Cards are accepted for NightFest and selected ticketed daytime experiences.
Send us an email at events@act.gov.au and we will provide you with a direct link to purchase your Kiss Bang Cabaret ticket. Remember, you must have both a NightFest entry ticket and a Kiss Bang Cabaret ticket to go to the show.
Yes, you can! However, we do ask that patrons respect others around them by placing chairs to the back or sides of grassed viewing areas so they do not obstruct the view of others who may be sitting on picnic blankets at ground level. Please also be aware that the NightFest program offers multiple performances and entertainment on stages around the park, rather than a central stage.
Accessibility
Floriade is Australia’s Biggest Celebration of Spring and is committed to reducing barriers and delivering an event that is accessible and inclusive.
We would like your visit to Floriade to be an enjoyable experience. Floriade is accessible to wheelchairs, mobility scooters and strollers, and will offer the following services:
– Accessible parking
– Front gate drop off zone for mobility impaired or aged visitors
– Accessible toilets
– Mobility Marquee hiring out walking frames, wheelchairs and mobility scooters for use on site
– Sensory Hour from 9:30am until 10:30am weekdays (except public holidays and Wednesday 2 October).
Please check the Accessibility page for more details.
Floriade is located on a four-hectare site. The circuit around Floriade is approximately 1.6km and contains some loose granite pathways. We recommend you wear sensible footwear and take all necessary precautions to prevent injury to yourself or those in your party.
A limited number of wheelchairs, walking frames, electric mobility scooters and strollers will be available for hire on site from the Mobility Marquee. The Floriade train will also be in operation, and is a lovely way to see and move around the site.
Accessible public parking is available adjacent to the Regatta Point entrance (access off Commonwealth Ave). Parking is limited and vehicles must display an authorised disability parking permit. Please go to the Accessibility page to see the map identifying accessible parking.
Floriade is accessible to wheelchairs, mobility scooters and strollers. Display marquees and markets in Floriade are all at ground level. Most marquees are fixed with accessible ramps. Accessible toilet facilities are also available across the event site. Paths are wide enough to accommodate pedestrians, wheelchairs, mobility scooters and strollers. Be aware there are some loose gravel pathways and there may be water on pathways after rain. Please go to the Accessibility page to see the map identifying the accessible toilets, and the location of the Mobility Marquee which will have wheelchairs, walking frames, mobility scooters and strollers for hire.
Yes, the Kazador Tent is wheelchair accessible. Staff will be able to move any chairs as required, and no prior arrangements need to be made.
Getting to, in and around Floriade
For information on public transport and parking please refer to the Getting To Floriade page.
Due to the ongoing works relating to the extension of light rail services and other capital works underway in the city, access to some of the carparks in the vicinity of Commonwealth Park that are normally used by visitors to Floriade is now limited.
Parking at Regatta Point and Acton Park is very limited. Motorists are encouraged to consider other public parking options within walking distance of Floriade including the Canberra Centre, CIT Reid, off London Circuit, and off Edinburgh Avenue. There is also public parking available in the National Triangle, however, capacity will vary between weekdays and weekends. A Floriade Shuttle Bus will service several of these parking locations from 9:30am to 5:30pm each day.
Starting at the end of September 2023, construction work began on Raising London Circuit and to accommodate this the below car parks are impacted, reducing overall parking capacity:
- Corner of Constitution Avenue and London Circuit car park
- Acton Waterfront car park
- Corner of London Circuit and Edinburgh Avenue.
For an overview of all the parking and traffic changes currently in place go to Travel Impacts – Built for CBR.
For an overview of all the parking and traffic changes (including road closures) currently in place go to Travel Impacts – Built for CBR.
You are more than welcome to ride your bike to Floriade, but in the interest of public safety, all forms of bicycles and tricycles, including hand-propelled tricycles, are not permitted within the grounds of Floriade. This excludes mobility scooters, which are permitted in the Floriade site. Bicycle racks are provided close to each Floriade entry gate.
Make sure you bring your own lock and chain. Provision can be made for tricycles to be stored at any of the entry gates, however Floriade takes no responsibility for theft or damage and space is limited.
Please go to the Getting to Floriade page to see all the information about transport including buses, shuttle buses and parking locations.
Leave the car at home and arrive in style on the Floriade Ferry! Enjoy the sights of Lake Burley Griffin as you cruise across the lake to Australia’s Biggest Celebration of Spring!
The service will run every weekend and public holiday as well as during the school holidays from Monday 30 September to Friday 11 October and during Nightfest.
The ferry is accessible and can be utilised by patrons with wheelchairs and prams.
Dogs will also be permitted on-board for Dog’s Day Out on Sunday 13 October 2024.
For more information and to book your spot, head to the LoveBoats website – Floriade Ferry | Love Boats.
In the interest of public safety, skateboards, scooters and rollerblades/skates are not permitted within the gates of Floriade. This excludes mobility scooters, which are permitted in the Floriade site.
Bike racks will be available at each of the Floriade gates, but you will need to provide your own lock and chain. Provision can be made for skateboards, rollerblades and scooters to be stored at any of the entry gates, however Floriade takes no responsibility for theft or damage and space is limited.
Pickup & Set Down
There will be restricted drop off/pickup spaces outside the Floriade Main Gate on Regatta Place in front of the Canberra and Region Visitors Centre, to enable coaches to drop off and pick up. Vehicles will be required to turn off Barrine Drive onto Regatta Place.
Signage will be positioned to guide vehicles and designate the drop off/pick up area. A Traffic Controller will also be positioned at the intersection of Regatta Point and the parking bay to communicate the process to vehicles.
Set-down and pick-up is permitted at Regatta Point however coach and bus parking in this location is prohibited.
Bus/Coach Parking
After dropping off passengers, buses and coaches are being encouraged to seek parking at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in bays 11 and 12.
The entrance to the coach parking is on Braybrooke Street which can be accessed either via Battye Street or Ginninderra Drive.
The AIS has a café onsite, as well as public restroom facilities, which is located within the visitors’ centre.
Alternatively, you can try the below coach bays which have limited first come-first served parking.
• Mall Road West, behind Questacon | 7-8 spaces
• Lennox Crossing, National Museum of Australia| 3-4 spaces
• Akuna Street, adjacent to Glebe Park | 3-4 spaces
• Alinga Street, behind the Novotel | 3 spaces
• Museum of Australian Democracy, King George Terrace | 5-6 spaces
During the event, the Regatta Point bus and coach parking area will not be available for the use.
Due to construction works, no coach and bus parking is available at Acton Park carpark, West Basin.
Floriade Community
Floriade Community was introduced in 2021 following the success of Floriade: Reimagined in 2020, which saw more than 90 community groups plant bulbs and annuals to help create a tulip trail through Canberra’s suburbs.
This year 300,000 bulbs and annuals have been made available to 96 schools, community groups and organisations to plant our in their suburbs, to spread the joy and colour of Floriade throughout Canberra in 2024.
Get Involved
If you are interested in becoming a Floriade volunteer, please sign up to the mailing list via our volunteers page, and we will contact you when applications open.
Applications for food vendor and market stallholders for 2024 have no closed. Sign up to our newsletter to find out when applications for the 2025 event will open.
If you are a professional performing artist or group and would like to be considered for the 2024 program, please email your details through to us at entertainment@act.gov.au.
Applications for school and community performance groups are now closed. If you would like to be added to our mailing list for school and community group performances in future years, or have any questions about these performance opportunities, please email us at entertainment@act.gov.au
Applications for school and community performance groups are now closed. If you would like to be added to our mailing list for school and community group performances in future years, or have any questions about these performance opportunities, please email us at entertainment@act.gov.au
If you can’t find your answer please email us events@act.gov.au.
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