By 96five NetworkThursday 24 Aug 2023NewsReading Time: 3 minutes
Whether you come for the 190,000 blooms, the Festival of Food and Wine or Grand Central Floral Parade, Toowoomba’s Carnival of Flowers is not to be missed.
While this year marks the 74th Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, it is also the 50th anniversary of the Exhibition Garden program, which highlights private gardens that flourish all year. The Exhibition Garden program has raised over $800,000 for charities and will run this year from Friday 15 to Sunday 24 September.
This year organisers have calculated there will be 37.2 million petals across Toowoomba’s parks and at Spring Bluff. They bloom from the 190,000 botanicals that gardeners planted in April in a precision-timed exercise to ensure a canvas of colour for what is one of Australia’s biggest events.
Here are some more floral facts and figures for the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers.
Floral Facts and Figures
- 2 million petals across Council’s parks in the city and Spring Bluff
- 190,000 blooms
- 50thanniversary of the Exhibition Garden program
- Over $800,000 raised over 50 years of Exhibition Gardens
- 69 floats and groups in the Grand Central Floral Parade
- 20,000 people to attend the Festival of Food and Wine
- 17 musicians and bands appearing at the Festival of Food and Wine
- 40 flavour makers, winemakers and brewers at the Festival of Food and Wine
- 1 Teddy Bear’s Picnic
- 2,715 times the Ferris Wheel goes around over 16 days in Queens Park
- 51 #trEATS on the regional food trail program, a new record!
- 50+ Hanging Baskets!
- 19 dog friendly accommodations in TOOWOOMBA (Petals and Pups)
- 50 community events
- 75 local performances in our Heritage Bank Parkland Entertainment sessions
- 14 foodie tours
- 18 Twilight Tours of Laurel Bank Park
- 3 nights of fireworks
Amelia Cowan, 4, is ready for the Tambo Teddy Picnic which takes place during the Toowoomba Festival of Flowers. Picture by Luke Marsden.
Carnival of Flowers 2023 Program Highlights
The superstars of the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers are the city’s parks, gardens and public spaces, all meticulously planted in designs that are seen only when in bloom. All are free to wander and enjoy.
The event that stops the city is the famous Grand Central Floral Parade, which will be held on Saturday 16 September, again at the earlier time of 10am, with the theme Create a Buzz!
The popular Festival of Food & Wine will be held from 8 to 10 September in Queens Park. Jon Stevens, Eurogliders, Hoodoo Gurus, Sneaky Sound System, Budjerah and other leading and local sound-makers headline on stage while famed foodieJustine Schofield will give Farm to Fork demonstrations, leading the flavour charge of over 20 local food offerings, 15 pop-up local Cellar Doors, feature floral designs, flower crown making, cocktail bars and floral beer options! In the Botanic Gardens at Queens Park the Ferris Wheel program has been extended to run 15 to 30 September.
This year there are more Twilight Tours of Laurel Bank Park, and for a good reason. Ticketholders see and hear from experts about the darker side of plant life in a one-hour nocturnal tour, meet shady characters like English and Spanish oaks, Gingko trees and Japanese maples and track down exotic and rare species. Tours will be held every Wednesday to Saturday through September.
And …. the Teddy Bears are back! After the success of the inaugural Teddy Bear’s Picnic at Picnic Point, it’s happening again on Saturday 23 September from 8.30am to 11.30am. With activities, fairy bread making, face painting, food stalls and of course a Teddy Bear Parade, this is one for the young, and the young at heart!
The Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers runs from 1-30 September 2023 and more information can be found at tcof.com.au.
All Images: Supplied