top of page
Recent Posts
Follow Us
  • Twitter Basic Black
  • Facebook Basic Black
  • Google+ Basic Black

Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers – greater than ever


Just weeks after taking out the Best Major Festival or Event at the Australian Tourism Awards for the third successive year and being inducted into the Australian Tourism Hall of Fame, the 70th anniversary program for the 2019 Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers has been unveiled.

Over 10 days from September 20 to 29, the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers will show off more than 1,100 hectares of public parks and private gardens will be on display with more than 180,000 bulbs and seedlings in full bloom. The program features a record 77 events (up from 66 last year), including award-winning parks and private gardens, internationally acclaimed music acts and some of the best food and wine experiences in the state! Plus, the Grand Central Floral Parade that stops the city!

The 70th program was officially unveiled today by Cr Geoff McDonald and had some very special people in attendance.

“Spring is coming, and that means Australia turns its eyes to Toowoomba for the best event in the country! Gardeners across the city have been planning and planting over the past month to ensure everything blooms in a perfectly timed carpet of colour for the expected 250,000 locals and visitors who celebrate with us,” he said.

“The 70th Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers will begin on what we call Floral Friday (September 20) with the launch of the Festival of Food & Wine in Queens Park together with the opening of over 80 gardens in The Chronicle Garden Competition, four exhibition gardens and the commencement of entertainment and tour programs across our extraordinary public parks and spaces throughout the city.”

The reigning Interflora World Cup champion, Brisbane-based Bart Hassam will create a floral installation for the opening weekend in Queens Park. Originally from Bundaberg, Bart is also five-time Australian Florist of the Year.

The Festival of Food & Wine this year stars a huge musical line-up, more than 50 produce and wine stalls, cooking demonstrations by Australian chef Adrian Richardson (La Luna, Good Chef Bad Chef), garden design talks by Dave Franklin of The Block fame as well as beer and BBQ master classes and incredible floral installations.

Cr McDonald said the Grand Central Floral Parade would this year be extra-special as well. “On Saturday September 21, Toowoomba will stand still with more than 100,000 people lining the streets for the parade. We are incredibly proud to present a spectacular parade featuring more than 60 entries this year based on the theme, The Power of the Flower.

“What makes Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers so special is that there is so much to experience – if you love emerging music, we have that. If you are a gardener, we have plenty! If you are a foodie, then prepare for flavour overload. If you love a low and slow BBQ with a beer to match, that’s easy! If you are here for gardening tips and tricks, then take a seat. If wine is your thing, then choose a colour! If you want to learn the history of our classic pubs, take in a steam train ride, experience a Tombstone Tour, be wowed by an amazing teapot exhibition or be surrounded by hanging flower baskets, then we also have all that!”

Cr McDonald said a highlight for all visitors would be the 70th Anniversary Memorabilia Gallery in the Annex at City Hall which runs for the full 10 days. Both the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery and Toowoomba City Library will be running 70th anniversary programs as well.

“The event sees champions crowned in one of our signature events, The Chronicle Garden Competition. Eighty private gardens will be open across the city and surrounding country areas for viewing, and four Exhibition Gardens will also be open, selected for their natural beauty and creativity,” he said.

Other highlights include the return of the Night Garden from September 26 to 28, and the incredibly popular Petal & Pup self-tour program which was launched last year to great acclaim from both four-legged flower lovers and their humans!

“Wonderful entertainment programs will be staged in Laurel Bank and the Botanic Gardens for the whole 10 days, as well as information hubs open in each park as well as at Picnic Point. The parks experience continues with Boyce Gardens, the Japanese Gardens Ju Raku En, Spring Bluff Railway Station Gardens, Peacehaven Botanic Park and Gumbi Gumbi Gardens all perfectly curated for the event,” said Cr McDonald. “The Laurel Bank Twilight Tours from September 23 to 27 is a stunning way to see our parks.”

“One of the flavour-filled highlights of the event is the Gala Dinner on September 19, which this year will be held in Civic Square in the CBD. Be prepared for a once in a lifetime dining experience; the menu and dining experience this year will be spectacular and not to be missed,” he said.

Over the full 10 days there is a full program of community events including the Toowoomba Clivia Society Annual Clivia Show, Toowoomba Orchid Society Spring Show, art exhibitions and creative workshops, the stunning Teapots Extravaganza, Spring Polo on the final weekend and the Highfields Pioneer Village Steampunk Festival.

Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio said the event had come a long, long way since when it first began in 1949 as a way of generating interest in the city following the war! “The event is synonymous with Toowoomba and is the very best celebration of spring in Queensland. It provides the region with a strong identity, one we can all be immensely proud of,” he said.

Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers: September 20 to 29, 2019

Accommodation detail at https://www.tcof.com.au/accommodation/

bottom of page