Floriade (Canberra)

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File:Canberra Floriade.jpg
A glorious and extensive display of tulips is a highlight of Floriade

Floriade is a flower and entertainment festival held annually in Canberra's Commonwealth Park featuring extensive displays of flowering bulbs with integrated sculptures and other artistic features. Floriade comes from the Latin word floriat, which means to design with flowers.

The festival attracts tourists from around Australia and overseas in spring from mid September to mid October each year, and is considered the most important regular event for tourism in the Australian Capital Territory. It is also called "Australia's Celebration of Spring". After some controversy regarding an entry charge, admission to Floriade has been free for a number of years.

History

Floriade was the idea of Christiaan Slotemaker de Bruine, Landscape Architect with the Department of Capital Territory in Canberra. He commenced the design in 1986 and based it on the world famous 'Keukenhof' garden in The Netherlands. He orchestrated the construction with Peter Sutton, Holticulturist and Manager of Commonwealth Garden. He arranged the marketing, sculptures, live music, the purchase of bulbs, entertainment, lifting of bulb quarantine quotas as well as the design. Together with Peter Sutton, they build the design on the Site of Commonwealth Park with the help of City Parks staff. The design concept was 'multiculturalism of the Nation' and included Dutch and Aboriginal floral layouts. Chris obtained sponsorship from the Embassy of the Netherlands and the Bicentennial Authority. Peter and Chris continued their successful partnership during the next two years, 1989 and 1990.

Floriade started in 1988 as a one off celebration of Canberra's 75th birthday and Australia's Bicentenary of European settlement.[2] Due to the success and popularity of the event, it has run every year since then with each year having a new theme and is currently the largest flower festival in the Southern Hemisphere, with over 300,000 visitors each year.

In September 2005 ACT tourism authorities considered legal action over a trademark violation with Hunter Valley Gardens in New South Wales,[3] who had renamed their annual floral festival to Floriade Hunter Valley Gardens. The term Floriade was replaced with Festival of Flowers in 2006.

File:Floriade canberra.jpg
Floriade in 2005

Public art and culture

Floriade gives expression to public art, each year commissioning works which are placed in the Floriade gardens. Some remain beyond the festival. Floriade also showcases musical displays with many live performances, cultural celebrations, artistic displays, entertainment and recreational activities.[4]

Floriade has also held a gnome decorating competition and display for several years, with strong participation from schools, aged people's homes, and businesses. Since 2005 the Floriade Gnome Gnoll has been managed by the Rotary Club of Canberra East, with proceeds going to local and overseas activities. The 2005 theme of Rock 'n Roll only accentuated the regular theme of decorating gnomes as the members of bands. Examples shown below are the Australian children's entertainers, The Wiggles, in this case renamed The Gniggles, and the crowd favourite, KISS submitted by Weetangera Primary School.

  • Floriade Canberra gnomes Wiggles.jpg

    The Gniggles

  • Floriade, Canberra gnomes KISS.jpg

    KISS

  • 2013 Floriade - Camouflaged Gnomes (Royal Military College, Duntroon).jpg

    Camouflaged Gnomes painted by children of the Preschool at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, 2013

  • 2013 Floriade - Dragon Boat Gnomes.jpg

    Dragon boat gnomes

  • 2013 Floriade Canberra 100th anniversary flower beds.jpg

    Canberra 100th Anniversary symbol, 2013

  • A picture of a sand Australian War Memorial at Floriade 2007, Canberra.

  • Zebras (2010): Stopper, Reviver, Survivor, Dasher, (named after the "Driver Reviver" stop at the Wheatley stop at Lake George where they were first installed) and the new baby, George.

  • Massed tulips under lights at Canberra Floriade.jpg

    Massed tulips at Floriade at night

  • Citroën 2CV utility truck, being used as a garden, 2014

Floriade themes

Floriade NightFest

It started in 2008, NightFest is a Floriade’s after-dark extravaganza. It includes live music, comedy and acrobatics performances, shopping, cocktails and movies.[5]

Budget and economic return

Visitors to Floriade in 2013 spent close to $40 million.[6]

  • Floriade in canberra.JPG

    1997

  • Floriade2.jpg

    2001

  • Floriade07.jpg

    2007

  • PopcornFlowers.JPG

    2008

See also

References

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External links

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