We’ve seen event after event cancelled, postponed or just completely forgotten about this year, with COVID-19 wreaking havoc on our social calendars. But no pandemic could ever stop the flowers from blooming up in Toowoomba, and with restrictions easing, it’s just been announced that the iconic annual Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers is going to be going full steam ahead for 2020.
Come September this year, over 170,000 blooms will colour the city, making for an extremely Instagrammable display people travel from far and wide to see. Though the festival will be happening on a small scale than usual, the floral displays will be as epic as ever—so whether you visit for a day or a weekend, be sure to pack your most eye-catching outfit to match.
Head up to Toowoomba between 18 to 27 September and you’ll be able to get up close and personal with the floral displays, music and parkland entertainment, a ferris wheel that’s popping up in the middle of the gardens, food trucks and twilight tours. You’ll also want to make sure you’re still there after dark for The Night Garden, an incredible light display that will be taking over the Botanic Gardens.
Unfortunately, the festival of food and wine (our favourite part of the carnival) won’t be happening this year, but there will still be plenty to eat and drink, with a region-wide food trail of $20 springtime #trEATs to gorge your way through. And the famous Grand Central Floral Parade? It will be an installation of decorated floats in the Grand Central shopping centre instead, so you can go and get all the selfies with a floral backdrop you want.
There’ll also be a heap of walking tours, community events and other festivities happening throughout the carnival, so head to the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers website to get all the details.
You should also save the date for this gin festival happening soon.
Image credit: Tourism and Events Queensland