FIRST LOOK: Check out all the floats in 2023 Carnival Parade
To celebrate the Carnival of Flowers, the Grand Central Parade will return to the streets of Toowoomba. Take a sneak peek at all the floats in this year’s parade and find everything you need to know about the event here.
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Busy bees have been working hard to complete their floats ahead of the Grand Central parade to coincide with this year’s theme “Create a Buzz”.
More than 80 entrants are set to take part in the popular event on Saturday, including 20 community, 12 corporate and three visiting floats.
Members of the Darling Downs Irish Club have defied gravity with their dazzling entry this year with Aileen Cater-Steele sharing the float’s ode to Ireland.
“On the southwest coast of Ireland they have these stone structures called clocháins (plural), that are ancient and were built by the monks thousands of years ago,” she said.
“They actually look a lot like a beehive so we created this live-sized Clochán for our float.
“We really want to get the message across that people with Irish heritage like to have fun and are a vital part of the local community.”
Members of the club dressed in giant shamrocks will walk alongside the float as the Queensland Irish Association Pipe Band marches ahead.
Hundreds of pots will also be filled with parsley and marigold and will be available to purchase after the parade, with proceeds being donated to Protea Place.
Committed to the theme, Toowoomba Metropolitan Rotary Club treasurer Robyn Hintz and another club member knitted more than 60 sweet bee toys, which will be sold after the parade.
The colourful Rotary display will also have a giant queen bee sculpture and hive to ‘wow’ the crowds.
“It took a village – and a hive – to create our float this year, but it’s been so nice to work together as a team to bring this to life,” Ms Hintz said.
“Our whole float is recycled – our hive is made out of leftover sheets of timber, I sourced wire and wool from my parent’s house and we used a pile of old encyclopedias to make the queen bee out of paper mache.”
Meanwhile, Grand Central marketing manager Julie Thompson said this year would mark the 27th time the shopping centre had sponsored the community event.
Working alongside Toowoomba florist Flowers to Impress, the Grand Central float features a giant bee and hive, which has been wrapped in real natural fibres and native leaves.
“We have 80 local businesses and community groups coming together to celebrate this time-honoured tradition and we’re so proud to be part of this local community,” Ms Thompson said.
“It really creates a buzz and showcases the time, energy and passion of these participating individuals.”
QCWA member Lisa Bradshaw said in addition to the float’s beehive, which is covered in hundreds of paper flowers, the community organisation’s float also features a giant, handmade honey pot, mixing bowl and recipe book.
“We really wanted to celebrate the product of honey so the recipe we have is for honey jumbles,” Ms Bradshaw said.
“The young son of one of our members will also be dressed up as a little bee to wave to the crowds during the parade.
“We’re very community-minded and we’re here to support women and families in regional communities, so it’s very important for us to have this public presence.”
Floats will also be joined by 20 marching or walking, three multicultural and 13 uncategorised groups.
After making a grand entrance on their rainbow float last year, Carer’s Queensland has partnered up with the MOSAIC Pride group for a second time, but this year solely as a walking group.
Carer’s Queensland local area co-ordinator Courtney Ruler said 25 employees and members of the community would transform into ‘rainbow bees’ for the parade to celebrate diversity.
“We certainly have a lot to buzz about when we can showcase our commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community at this iconic event,” Ms Ruler said.
“Our Carers Queensland Pride group will be spreading the message of love and inclusion across regional Queensland, celebrating the right to ‘bee ourselves’ in all forms of human diversity.”
The parade will depart from the corner of Herries and Hume streets on September 16 at 10am and will conclude at noon at the Godsall St Oval.
Drivers are advised to check for several road closures which will be in place on the day.
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