With spring just around the corner, tickets have gone on sale for Floriade’s night-time extravaganza of live entertainment, illuminated blooms and fabulous food in Commonwealth Park.
NightFest will run over four nights from 28 September to 1 October 2023, from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm, with lighting installations highlighting the garden beds throughout the park, giant neon butterflies in the rhododendron garden and scores of illuminated floating flowers on Kangaroo Pond.
This year NightFest will showcase many local and interstate live music performances including legendary sister duo Vika and Linda, former backing singers for The Black Sorrows and regulars on ABC’s RocKwiz program.
They will perform on Stage 88 at on Sunday 1 October from 8 pm.
Three stages will be in action every night featuring Canberra-based acts including Monica Moore, Finley Geach, Harry Cleverdon and Ben Drysdale.
Wonderland Spiegeltent will run two shows a night of Popcorn Underground, an adults-only world-class cabaret that requires an additional ticket for entry, which can be added when purchasing NightFest tickets online.
NightFest offers something for all the family with roving entertainers from the Fool Factory and Warehouse Circus, children’s favourites the Gecko Gang and free children’s activities in the Floriade Sprouts zone.
Floriade itself kicks off on 16 September and runs until 15 October.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said Canberra’s free annual festival of flowers continues to be one of the ACT’s biggest tourist attractions, contributing to the government’s target of $4 billion in visitor expenditure by 2030.
“Events like NightFest attract people to visit the city area and add to Canberra’s night-time economy, benefitting hospitality and other night-time businesses,” he said.
Last year’s festival attracted over 187,000 interstate and international visitors, and nearly 30,000 to NightFest.
The festival is aiming to bring $60 million to the local economy this year, up from $52 million last year.
This year’s theme is ‘Floral Wonderland’ and a million blooms will be on show.
The 36th Floriade promises a diverse program of entertainment, cultural celebrations, food and wine, horticultural workshops, market traders, artistic displays and more.
Adelaide Fringe award-winning show Circus Wonderland – A Neverland Adventure, will be performed in the Wonderland Spiegeltent.
As well as NightFest, Dogs’ Day Out (15 October) and Great Big Bulb Dig (16 October) will also return alongside the free daytime program.
NightFest tickets are on sale from today at $35 for adults, $27 for children, $30 concession and $97 for a family of four, with children under five free. Adults only Spiegeltent tickets are also available for an extra $49 each. Transaction fees will also apply.
For more details on the entire NightFest program information and tickets visit the Floriade Australia website.