Canberra’s Commonwealth Park has thrown open its gates to a million vibrant blooms as Floriade 2025 begins, welcoming locals and visitors alike to Australia’s biggest celebration of spring. Running until Sunday 12 October, this year’s theme, Science and Nature, invites us to look closer at the wonders of the natural world and the innovations shaping our future.
Floriade has always been more than a flower festival; it’s a living canvas that blends culture, creativity, and community. But in 2025, the program goes a step further, giving Canberrans and visitors the chance to roll up their sleeves and experiment alongside the blossoms.
At The Lab, science becomes hands-on with rocket building, robotics, bonsai, and water sustainability demonstrations. The speaker series adds food for thought, exploring coral reef restoration through 3D printing, soil health, and the possibilities of space with Mt Stromlo’s Dr Brad Tucker.
For families, Floriade Sprouts offers interactive learning for little ones – bug encounters, bee adventures, and story-led explorations from ACT Libraries. There’s also a chance to laugh and marvel at the award-winning circus performance Children are Stinky, running through the school holidays in the Kazador tent.
This year’s program is rich with moments of reflection and celebration. The Ngunnawal Dreamtime Pathway invites visitors to journey through the six seasons with the Rainbow Serpent, a reminder of the deep, enduring connections between science, nature, and culture. Later in the festival, global culture will take centre stage with the Windows to the World Showcase, and our city’s pets will get their moment at Dogs’ Day Out.
Floriade has long been a festival that grows beyond its gates, and in 2025 that continues with Floriade About Town, which encourages visitors to explore local businesses and national institutions. At night, the blooms take on a new energy at NightFest, from 2 – 5 October, where headline acts Josh Pyke and Ella Hooper will soundtrack evenings of food, light, and laughter.
Science communicator Dr Karl Kruszelnicki arrives on Saturday 4 October to share his trademark mix of curiosity, wit, and wonder. And as the festival draws to a close, visitors will once again have the chance to take a little piece of Floriade home at the Great Big Bulb Dig (Monday 13 October), supporting YWCA Canberra in the process.
Floriade continues in Commonwealth Park until Sunday 12 October 2025. For more information, visit: www.floriadeaustralia.com for details.
Image: Floriade – courtesy of Events ACT