Planting ceremony for Toowoomba's Carnival of Flowers
After taking out the Best Major Festival or Event at the Australian Tourism Awards recently the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers is preparing for this year’s event, which runs from Friday 21 to Sunday 30 September, with the planting of 176,030 seedlings and bulb.t
In Toowoomba the first of the seedlings and bulbs were planted in the Botanic Gardens at Queens Park. In five months they will bloom to create the world-famous colour that is the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers.
Toowoomba Region’s horticulturalists and gardeners, together with dignitaries and fans gathered for the inaugural Planting Ceremony, a moment which signals the official countdown to ‘Carnival’, and the beginning of five months of intense work for the team of gardeners and horticulturalists that curate the city’s stunning parks and public spaces, readying them for more than a quarter of million visitors.
All those who attended had the chance to plant their own seedling or bulb. Leading the planting charge was local contemporary artist Anna Bartlett, who has been secretly working with the gardeners and unveiled an artwork of exactly what Queens Park will look like in five months. The spectacular artwork will hang in City Hall until it is auctioned at the Gala Dinner.
New experiences and headliners were also announced as program highlights for this year’s event:
Multi-award-winning garden designer, author, and commentator Jim Fogarty leads the floral line-up. With more than 30 internationally recognised design awards and 15 gold medals, Jim is passionate about raising the profile of Australian garden design here, and overseas. He is also the current National President of the Horticultural Media Association of Australia.
There will be TWO headline chefs for 2018 – Adam Liaw, author, cook, host of Destination Flavour, culinary contributor and winner of Masterchef Australia 2010 will be joined by amazing slow food chef Julia Busuttil Nishimura to celebrate the local flavours of the Carnival.
A new event for 2018 is – based in Queens Park, The Night Garden is a creation featuring floral and lighting displays and experiences, to be held over five nights from September 26 to 30.
Another new event is , to be held on Sunday morning with special guest chef Julia Busuttil Nishimura in the leafy gardens and setting of Gip’s Restaurant.
The Grand Central Floral Parade will be held on Saturday September 22 – it will be the 69th time this incredible event has been held; it is expected to attract over 70 floats and more than 100,000 spectators.
The will be held on Thursday evening September 20 in Laurel Bank Park under the stars, the perfect beginning for 10 days of celebration.
The Festival of Food and Wine will be held from Friday September 21 to Sunday September 23 in Queens Park and will be home to local produce and food experiences, the gardens program, art installations and flower crown workshops and a line-up of music acts:
Friday September 21 – Ali Barter, Cloud Control and The Living End!
Saturday September 22 – The Dusty Springfield Show, Chocolate Starfish and The Church!
Sunday September 22 – Kyle Lionheart, Augie March, Swing On This featuring Rob Mills and Ben Mingay and Choir Boys!