Page 3655 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 13 September 2017
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per cent on the year before. The number of domestic visitors also increased, by 2.7 per cent, as the rest of Australia cottons on to everything that Canberra has to offer.
The great news for our economy is that people are spending more when they come to Canberra too. International visitor expenditure is up 27.3 per cent and domestic visitor expenditure is up 16.3 per cent. Every dollar spent in Canberra supports our local businesses and helps to create jobs for Canberra.
This train is not slowing down any time soon. The ACT government will keep working hard to implement the major events strategy so that we continue to see our tourism and events figures grow. We will not have to wait long to see our events get bigger and better. A 30th birthday is a big deal for anyone. You and I know that well, and Floriade is no different. She is getting a new frock and tszujing up for her big 3-0 as celebrations kick off this weekend.
There will be more flowers and more to see, more to do and more to learn at Floriade 2017. The festival will get a huge kick off with the Floriade twilight concert this Friday night. You will be able to sip champagne under the stars and listen to the David Bowie tribute band, Ziggy Band, on stage 88. Ziggy Band will be accompanied by none other than the Canberra Symphony Orchestra.
The festival will also be jam-packed with workshops. If you are interested in cooking, gardening or floristry you will be able to pick up some new skills at workshops throughout the festival. For the crafters out there, you will be able to try your hand at candle-making or participate in perfume workshops. And if you are less into doing and more into surveying the fruits of someone else’s labour, then sit down, grab some local food and wine and soak up the sunshine along with the tulips. For the night owls out there, Night Fest will now be extended across two weekends. Enjoy the flowers under the stars and be entertained by roving artists, pop-up performances and an aerial fire show.
Finally, and this one has me very excited, there will be a dog’s day out. I hope to see Pickles there as well. On Saturday, 14 October Floriade will be overrun by dogs, big and small. Perhaps Pickles and Bailey can talk to each other. You will be able to pose with your pooch in a photo booth, get some treats at the Pooch Cafe and be comfortable knowing that the Floriade Festival ends the next day, 15 October, just in case your dog digs up something it should not. With so much going on, you might just need to go twice or more.
Another key event on the festival calendar is Enlighten, my personal favourite. Floriade is to spring what Enlighten is to autumn. The festival of lights also marks the turning of seasons, ushering in the fiery colours and longer nights of autumn. I get excited for Enlighten every year and 2018 will not be any different. Next year’s event will stretch across 16 nights and will be an absolute feast for the senses. The banks of Lake Burley Griffin will be transformed into a nocturnal playground. The open fields of Barton and Parkes will unleash curious and quirky performances, food markets and stunning architectural light projections on our national monuments. More surprises will be unveiled closer to the Enlighten launch date and I will be eagerly awaiting these announcements.
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