Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, Festival of Food and Wine: Everything you need to know
Every year, the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers gets the party started in the most entertaining way it can, and 2024 promises to have the wildest events yet. Here’s everything you need to know.
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Toowoomba’s iconic Carnival of Flowers is set to get the party started this week with one of its biggest events – the Festival of Food and Wine.
It’s the carnival event that has it all from cooking demonstrations to cheese and beer tasting, and world-class musical acts.
But this year promises something a little different.
Organisers have revealed a few new events that are certain to shake up the party and get mouths watering.
Celebrity pastry chef Anna Polyviou headlines the food demonstrations across the three days, and her out-of-the-box creations will include a one-metre pavlova and a cookie dough pie.
A few lucky attendees will even be able to compete in an eating competition centred around her delicious pie creation.
Both of these unique demonstrations will take place on Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
Also on the food and drink front, ticketholders will be able to sample varieties from wineries Nuova Scola and Jester Hill, and local cheesemakers Bunya Cheese, across Saturday and.
Sunday.
Local brewer Bone Idol and craft industry leaders Your Mates and Burleigh Brewing will be on hand to take visitors through different beer styles and the brewing process every day of the festival.
The popular flower crown making sessions will also make a return, in addition to large-scale floral designs from Andea Raup, Sarah Serek, Cherie Zimmerle and Lyn Curcuruto scattered across the Queens Park grounds.
If you’re on the hunt for some smoked meats, the festival also has you covered.
Phat Boyz Smokehouse Kitchen founder Luke Moonshine will slow-cook up a storm on Saturday and Sunday, along with fellow pitmaster Blayke Saggus.
Patrons will also be able to find 15 pop-up cellar doors, distillery tasting from Hopscotch and Pechey distillery, a robust area for the little ones and heaps more.
Then there is the music.
As always, the Festival of Food and Wine has an eclectic mix of talent sure to suit all ages.
Kicking off the party on Friday night is the pairing of Merci, Mercy, Dameeeela and Mashd N Kutcher.
Dameela is said to blend “genres to create trademark collages of sound”, while Mashd N Kutcher are a multi-platinum winning dance outfit best known for tracks like Do It Now and My Sunshine.
Bullhorn, Thirsty Merc and James Reyne round out a massive day of music on Saturday.
Indie rockers Thirsty Merc have sold more than 200,000 albums, cracked the ARIA charts and are well known for songs like 20 Good Reasons and In The Summertime.
James Reyne is known to many as the soundtrack of many summers and closes out Saturday night.
One of the country’s finest singer-songwriters, he is known for his iconic tracks Reckless, The Boys Light Up and Beautiful People.
He’s had 19 top 40 singles, 11 top 10 albums and was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2014.
On Sunday, you can catch Yacht Rock Revival, Kate Ceberano and Pete Murray.
Kate Ceberano has been dubbed Australian “musical royalty”.
The Lifetime Achievement Award recipient has had multiple platinum and gold records, and her album Australian Made was named one of the Rolling Stone’s Top 200 Australian Albums of All Time.
Pete Murray needs little introduction as an ARIA-topping artist whose career has spanned more than 20 years and 1.2m in record sales.
His string of well-known hits include Better Days, Feeler, So Beautiful and Opportunity.
There is still time to pick up a ticket to the Festival of Food and Wine before the event kicks off on Friday.
A three-day pass for adults is $215, while concession card holders can enter for $140.
Children aged between 12 and 17 can enter for three days for $45, while a child 3-11 is $25.
An adult pass on Friday is $75, while Saturday and Sunday passes will set you back $95.
If you want to enjoy the festival in style, your best bet is the Botanical Society.
The pass includes access to an exclusive area, which has a private bar, outdoor lawn area, a choice of wine tumbler or stubby cooler, and a premium main stage view.
This area is open for ticketholders aged 18 and over.
For specific event times across the three days, head to tcof.com.au.
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