Big, month-long plans announced for Carnival of Flowers, return of parade and Food and Wine festival

After a dramatic shift in the format of the 2020 Carnival of Flowers, 2021 is promising a month-long program of fun. And COVID can’t stop festival favourites making their triumphant return.

JUMPING FOR JOY: Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio and Toowoomba Regional Council Environment and Community Services Committee Councillor James O'Shea at the official Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers 2021 program reveal on Tuesday, April 20. Picture: Kate McCormack

The 2021 Carnival of Flowers just got a whole lot bigger and better, with 30 days of festivities planned to take place across the wider Toowoomba region this September.

At the official Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers 2021 program reveal on Tuesday, mayor Paul Antonio and councillor James O’Shea announced this year’s favourite flower festival would be extended from the usual 10-day format to run the full month of September.

Mr O’Shea said the COVID-19 format of Carnival of Flowers had become the blueprint for change in 2021, with new events added to the 2021 program and the welcome return of others.

“It is with excitement that we can announce the return of the much anticipation Festival of Food and Wine which will be held in Queens Park from September 10-12 so tickets will go on sale for this from June 11,” he said.

“We also welcome back the iconic Grand Central Floral Parade … which will begin at 10am this year.

“It’s the event that stops the city, with thousands of families lining the streets to watch the colour go by. It will be held on Saturday, September 18 with a much earlier start time to previous years allowing crowds to enjoy a full day shopping, sightseeing and adventuring in our city.”

Mr O’Shea also announced a brand-new event, High Cheese at Spring Bluff on the first weekend as well as a new free family event on the last weekend called Cinema Under the Stars at the lawns on the Drayton and Toowoomba Cemeteries.

“In a major coup for foodies, we will be bringing High Cheese to Spring Bluff, to be held in partnership with Lockyer Valley Regional Council and hosted by famed chef and local produce champion, Alastair McLeod,” he said.

“This will be an extraordinary experience, given it is happening at the beautiful heritage-listed station that boasts 150 years of railway history and magnificent gardens. Tickets to this will sell out fast.

“We also welcome Cinema Under the Stars, a free community event in the leafy lawns of the Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetery, with a line-up of classic movies featured.”

Last year’s Carnival of Flowers was the first free, unfenced, outdoor, major tourism event in Australia to be delivered during COVID-19 restrictions, and welcomed more than 200,000 visitors from across Queensland.

Cr Antonio the enormous schedule of events was the direct result of not being able to have a parade last year, which created a “tremendous number of people who just simply wanted to come to Toowoomba and see out beautiful gardens and flowers”.

“In 2020, COVID-19 restrictions allowed Toowoomba Regional Council to bring forward the event’s five-year strategic plan and trial activations all September,” he said.

“We did this to ensure the safety and comfort of visitors, while also generating extended activity for local businesses, which is a key aim of the event. The results were outstanding. As a result, this year our incredible event will take place over 30 petal-filled days.

“Because of the experience we had last year, this year’s carnival will be remodelled to be a 30-day event spread out to allow for greater visitation, business connections and community engagement.”

Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers 2021 will run from 1 – 30 September 2021

The full program is live, and tickets are on sale here.

Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers 2021 program

All month:

•Floral Displays in all parks and public spaces including feature blooms in Queens Park, the Botanic Gardens and Laurel Bank Park, as well as floral chalk art

•#trEATS regional food trail which shines the light on cafes, restaurants, bars and pubs with floral inspired dishes – 36 eateries took part in 2020, with many more flavour-makers expected in 2021

•The famed Talking Pubs tours will be held every Sunday with more to be announced

•The stunning light-filled Night Garden in the Botanic Gardens

•Parkland entertainment featuring local musicians and entertainers

•Twilight Tours in Laurel Bank Park.

•The popular dog-friendly Petals and Pups program

•Guided and non-guided walking tours

•Cobb and Co Museum will have a packed program for young and old to discover

•Community events, gardening experiences and gardening displays will be happening across the month

Weekend Highlights:

September 3-5

•#trEATS regional food trail

•Night Garden in the Botanic Gardens

•High Cheese at Spring Bluff in partnership with Lockyer Valley Regional Council, hosted by famed chef and local produce champion, Alastair McLeod on Saturday, September 4

•Talking Pubs and Foodie Dinners

September 10-12

•The Festival of Food and Wine returns in 2021 to Queens Park, celebrating the best in local produce, flavours and sips. Local and national music makers will star with the full line-up to be announced on Tuesday, June 1

•Parkland Entertainment, Talking Pubs

September 17-19

•The Grand Central Floral Parade on Saturday September 18 at 10am

•Side Show Alley in Queens Park returns in a kaleidoscope of colour, crazy and cool

•The much-loved Ferris Wheel in the Botanic Gardens will be open for all ages

•Talking pubs and Foodie Dinners plus Parkland Entertainment

*School holidays commence for QLD and NSW

September 24-26

•Cinema Under the Stars at the Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetery

•Night Garden, Parkland Entertainment, Talking Pubs, Ferris Wheel

Originally published as Big, month-long plans announced for Carnival of Flowers, return of parade and Food and Wine festival