CANBERRA: Floriade, Australia's biggest celebration of spring, returns to the national capital of Canberra for its 39th annual edition on Saturday.
The month-long festival officially opened at Commonwealth Park in central Canberra and is scheduled to last until Oct. 11. This year's event, themed Feast of Flowers, celebrates the connection between flowers, food, harvests and the traditions that bring people together.
Throughout the festival, visitors will experience more than 1 million blooms alongside a packed program of entertainment, workshops, markets, food experiences and family-friendly activities.
Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Chief Minister Andrew Barr noted on Friday that Floriade remained one of Canberra's most loved events and an important drawcard for visitors to the capital.
"More than half a million people visited Floriade last year, making it the biggest festival in the event's history," Barr said.
A total of 519,413 attendees were welcomed through the gates last year, setting a new all-time attendance record and surpassing the previous high of 507,550 set in 2019, official data showed.
"We're looking forward to welcoming another great crowd this spring," he said.
Floriade will be open with free entry between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. every day until Oct. 11.- Xinhua
