📍Toowoomba Carnival Of Flowers: Everything You Need To Know About Beautiful Darling Downs Floral Festival. (2024.)

WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT TOOWOOMBA’S CARNIVAL OF FLOWERS?

For those who love flowers and all the mesmerising shapes and spectacularly vibrant colours they exhibit when they are in bloom or just enjoy horticulture of any kind, there is no festival more delightfully wonderful to attend than the Carnival Of Flowers in Toowoomba. Known as the Garden City, this stunning mountaintop destination at the heart of the Darling Downs, less than two hours west of Brisbane, goes all out showcasing exactly how it got that title with 30 wonderful days of stunning floral displays, parades, music and entertainment from Friday, 13 September 2024 to Monday, 7 October 2024.

And in 2024, it’s celebrating its 75th birthday, which means that added to the jam-packed lineup of activities and exhibitions are a couple more special events to earmark the occasion.

From the incredible flower beds on showcase in public parks the breathtaking private gardens only open for the event, to the uplifting musical performances, and interactive art activities and fun amusement park rides at Sideshow Alley, here’s everything you need to know about the wonderful Toowoomba Carnival Of Flowers.

Queens Park. – Free.

If you only visit one place for the Toowoomba Carnival Of Flowers, make it Queens Park. As the vibrant heart of the festival, its many spectacular floral displays with their brightly-coloured flowers, stunning petal shapes and arrangements within each garden bed are not to be missed.

It’s also one of the best places to photograph the many varieties of plants and the lovely bees that are busy collecting the pollen, or having a picnic and just appreciating all the work that went into beautifying the park.

Plus, there’s a Ferris Wheel (extra cost.) on-site to enjoy views of the flower beds from above, and on weekends, music and entertainment will bring a joyous atmosphere to the park and on the 21 September 2024, it’s the end point of the Grand Central Floral Parade, so plenty is happening!

Dates & Time:

• Queens Park: Friday, 13 September – Monday, 7 October 2024.
• Ferris Wheel: Friday, 13 September – Sunday, 22 September 2024. 9.00 am – 6.00 pm.

Laurel Bank Park. – Free.

Another excellent place to see the spectacular floral gardens is at Laurel Bank Park. Located close to the CBD, this gorgeous park features a lovely scented floral display, crocheted lawns, delightful animal topiary, lively entertainment and twilight tours.

• Dates: Friday, 13 September – Monday, 7 October 2024.

Grand Central Floral Parade.

The delightful Grand Central Floral Parade is one of the not-to-miss events happening during Toowoomba’s Carnival Of Flowers. This beloved one-day-only show features spectacular floats adorned with thousands of flowers, colourful and endearing characters and towering stilt walkers.

The wonderful show starts at 10.00 am on the corner of Hume and Herries Street, goes along Ruthven Street and Margaret Street and concludes midday at the stunning Queens Park.

• Date: 21 September 2024.
• Time: 10.00 am – Midday.

The Chronicle Garden Competition. – Free.

Toowoomba is home to thousands of passionate gardeners, so there is stiff competition entering the Chronicle Garden Competition. However, only a few will reign supreme and one of the highlights of the Carnival Of Flowers, is that over two long weekends, you can roam around these spectacular gardens that are the region’s creme al a crop. Best of all, visitation to these beautiful and creative floral wonderlands is completely free, making them always a crowd favourite!

• Dates:
  • Friday, 20 September – Sunday, 22 September 2024.
  • Friday, 27 September 2024 – Sunday, 29 September 2024.
  • Entrants may also stay open mid-week at their discretion.
• Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm.
• Addresses:
  • The addresses will be announced in the Chronicle Newspaper on Friday, 20 September, but I assume they will also be posted online and available at the Information Hubs.

Private Gardens. – $.

If you can’t get enough of exploring the Carnival Of Flowers’s beautiful featured gardens, several specially selected private gardens are open for the public to enjoy only for the festival. For a pink $5 note, see how the owners have utilised unique and creative ways to design their showstopping yards and maybe even get some inspiration to transform your own backyard.

• Dates: Friday, 20 September – Sunday, 29 September 2024.
• Time: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
• Cost: $5 each.

Owners & Addresses:

• Val Peachy – 5 Fern Drive, Kearneys Spring.
• Ian and Cheryl Feeney – 2 Blue Meadow Court, Blue Mountain Heights.
• Sue Hawkins – 37 Murphys Creek Rd, Blue Mountain Heights.
• Adrian and Gale Wockner, 5 Horizon Court, Highfields.
• Rod and Jill Osborne, 11 Horizon Court, Highfields.
• Michael and Leslie Conway, 14 General Gordon Court, Cotswolds Hills.

Garden Tours. – $.

Several of the gardens featured in the festivities have delightful garden tours, where you can learn more about the flowers and plants and how they look after them to make them look as healthy, vibrant and beautiful as they do.

Here is what you can choose from:

• Laurel Bank Park Twilight Tours.
  • Get a one-hour nocturnal, behind-the-scenes tour of this beautiful public park.
  • Dates: Weeknights from Friday, 13 September – Monday, 30 September 2024.
  • Book online by clicking here.
• Premier Garden Bus Tours.
  • Range of tours to discover the public parks with floral displays with all tours including entry to the City Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion winners of The Chronicle Garden Competition.
  • Dates: Friday, 20 September – Sunday, 29 September 2024.
  • For more information and to book, click here.
• Cultivate Country Garden Tours.
  • Visit the region’s best award-winning country gardens.
  • Dates: Friday, 20 September – Sunday, 27 September 2024.
  • Time: 8.30 am – 5.00 pm.
  • Click here to book.
• Australian Getaway Garden Tours.
  • Full-day sightseeing tour.
  • Dates: Friday, 13th Sept – Monday, 7th October 2024.
  • Contact info and to book.
    • Australian Getaway Tours – 0448 994 494 or admin@getawaytours.com.au
• Garden Hopping By Cab.
  • Curated tours in decorated Black & White Cabs take you to whichever gardens you want to see.
  • Dates: Friday, 13th Sept – Monday, 7th October 2024.
  • Contact info and to book.
    • Call 133 222 or book online.
• Gardens Of Toowoomba Private Tour.
  • See award-winning gardens and parks in style with Boileau Concierge Service.
  • 4 different tours catering between 2-6 people
  • Dates: Friday, 20 September – Sunday, 29 September 2024.
  • Time: 9.00 am – 6.00 pm.
  • Contact info and to book.
    • Call 0408 457 970 or book online.

More Places To See Flowers.

• Queensland Museum Cobb+Co Hanging Basket Display. – Entry to the display is free with paid museum admission.
• Toowoomba East State School Hanging Basket Competition. – Gold Coin Donation.
• St Luke’s Flower Art and Music Festival. – $2.
• St Patrick’s Cathedral Floral Display. – Free but gold coin donation appreciated.
• Succulent Fest. – $2 entry but can buy some too!
• Toowoomba Geranium Society Show & Sale. – $2 entry but can buy some too!

More beautiful gardens across Toowoomba:

• Picnic Point Parklands.
• Spring Bluff
• Japanese Garden Ju Raku En.
• Newtown Park & Queensland State Rose Garden.
• Boyce Gardens.
• Gumbi Gumbi Gardens.
• Peaceheaven Botanic Park.

Note: It’s not just humans who love the flowers! Bees and other insects do too! While they’re great subjects to photograph, don’t forget to bring an epi-pen if you are anaphylactic.

Carnival Memorabilia Display. – Free.

75 years in the making! With so much of Toowoomba’s identity as a city being in its beautiful gardens and outdoor spaces, one of the best things to do at this special anniversary edition of the Carnival Of Flowers is see the nostalgic Memorabilia Display outside the Toowoomba Library.

See how it evolved from its humble beginnings when it started three-quarters of a century ago in 1949 over 8 days and how it evolved over the years into the huge, iconic, 30-day event it is today through photos, footage, floral displays, storytelling and key old artefacts on display for visitors to enjoy.

If you want to learn even more, the Local History Library inside the Toowoomba City Library has even more memorabilia and expert knowledge that’ll help you get an even deeper insight into the wonder and delightfulness this show brings this stunning mountaintop city.

• Place: Toowoomba City Library Precinct.
• Dates:
  • Carnival Memorabilia: Friday 13 September – Monday, 7 October 2024.
  • Toowoomba Local History Library: Monday, 16 September 2024 – Friday, 27 September 2024.
• Times:
  • Carnival Memorabilia: 8.30 am – 5.30 pm.
  • Toowoomba Local History Library: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm.

Symphony Under The Stars. – $.

To celebrate the huge occasion of the Garden City’s most beloved event turning 75, the one-time-only open-aired concert, Symphony Under The Stars is not to be missed.

Taking place in Queen’s Park iconic amphitheatre, the entire Queensland Symphony Orchestra will be performing many incredible pieces, including classics, such as “An American in Paris” by George Gershwin, “Rhapsody for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra” by Claude Debussy and “Pictures At An Exhibition” by Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky, it will be a night under the stars to remember.

• Dates: Friday, 4 October 2024.
• Time: Gates open at 5.30 pm with the performance starting at 7.00 pm.
• Cost: Adults from $45. Click here for other pricing and to book.

Carnival Queens Exhibition. – Free.

Another display just for the 75th anniversary, the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery will be bringing together local artists to contribute to the special Carnival Queens exhibition and feature contemporary art and the festival’s storied history. The must-see showpiece is the Guilded Armchair, gifted to the City of Toowoomba by Fred Gould out of love for his late wife in 1950, and sat upon by the Carnival Of Flowers Queen, Miss Fay Ryan.

• The dates weren’t very clearly stated, so click here to see what you make of it.

The Toowoomba Carnival Of Flowers has a jam-packed itinerary full of other tours, activities and experiences to complement the city’s floral gardens and displays. Here are the highlights, but for the full program, click here.

Itty Bitty Floral Parade.

If you can’t go to the Grand Central Floral Parade, that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the floats! You can enjoy seeing miniature versions of the most beloved float designs at the Grand Central Shopping Centre.

These beautiful creations were handmade by various educational facilities, disability & inclusion support organisations, aged-care businesses & not-for-profit organisations throughout the Toowoomba region. While there, remember to vote for your favourites as the creator of the one with the most, wins $500.

• Dates: Saturday, 14th September – Monday, 30th September 2024.
• Time: During the shopping centre opening hours.

The Empire Historical Tours. – $.

• Enjoy the stunning architecture and backstage tour of this gorgeous heritage building that is still used as one of the city’s top entertainment venues.
• Dates: Tours happen once a day for most days between Friday 13th, September until Saturday, 5th October 2024. For times and tickets, click here.
• Tour duration: 90 minutes.

QCWA Vase Extravaganza. – $.

• Going hand in hand with flowers are vases. The QCWA Vase Extravaganza showcases many beautiful ornate pottery from basic pots, to stunningly intricate artworks and elaborate showpieces.
• Gold coin donation entry.
• Dates & Times: Friday, 20 September. – 9.00 am – 3.00 pm.
  • Saturday, 21 September. – 9.00 am – 3.00 pm.
  • Sunday, 22 September – 9.00 am – 2.00 pm.

Sideshow Alley. – Free/Paid.

• Held in Queens Park.
• On for one long weekend only. – Friday, 20th September – Sunday, 22 September, 2024.
• Fun amusement park rides and games like the ones you see in roaming carnival.
• Lots of free music and entertainment to complement the fun!
• Caps off the night with a fireworks show at 8.30 pm on Friday and Saturday, and 7.30 pm on Sunday.
• Free entry, but some rides and activities are paid and require coupons.

Under The Stars. – Free.

• Sherlock Gnomes – Outdoor movie in the park!
• Starts at 6.30 pm at Peacehaven Botanic Park.
• Saturday 28th, September, 2024.
• Bring blankets and snacks!

Alice’s Garden Holiday Activities.

One of the most delightful kids activities happening at the Toowoomba Carnival Of Flowers is the holiday activities happening at Alice’s Garden. Based on the delightfully whimsical world that the main character discovers throughout the beloved children’s books and movies, Alice In Wonderland, explore the wonderfully themed fairy garden, escape the evil Red Queen dungeon, and many more fun and quirky activities designed to ignite and engage the imagination.

• Place: Toowoomba City Library.
• Dates: 15-27 September 2024, except Sundays.
• Cost: Free but bookings are essential.

Thrive On Arts Festival. – Free

• Dates: Thursday 26 September – Sunday 29 September, 2024.
• Art, music, shows and interactive activities for children aged 0-12.

When Is The Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers 2024?

The Toowoomba Carnival Of Flowers takes place in 2024 across 30 days in Spring, starting on Friday, 13 September and concluding on Monday, 7 October.

How Much Does It Cost To Go To?

The Garden City’s famous 30-day Carnival Of Flowers event is generally free to attend. However, some activities and performances are ticketed. And of course, food and drinks are an extra cost.

Free things to do include the stunning public floral displays in places such as Queens Park & Laurel Bank Park, the Grand Central Floral Parade, the spectacular gardens of competition winners, some entertainment and the kid’s interactive arts and crafts activities.

Ticket experiences include the beautiful private gardens of local green thumbs who only open up their property to visitors during this lovely event, some of the amusement rides and games at Sideshow Alley (general entry is free.), and the special once-only operatic Symphony Under The Stars performance just for the 75th anniversary of the beloved event.

Can I See The Flowers After The Carnival When The Crowds Die Down?

I had the same idea one year because you’d think that after all that time and effort that they took to tend to the gardens and make them look beautiful for their big show, they would continue the upkeep of them after the Carnival Of Flowers ends for more visitors to the city to enjoy until they start looking too raggedy. But unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. I can’t tell you exactly when it happens or which public spaces it applies to, but when I went to visit one time about a week later the garden beds in Queens Park had been dug up and all that remained was dirt, which is a huge shame, given how much they beautify the city.

However, as the gardens are a feature of the historical Spring Bluff and the Japanese Gardens, those flowers are always there.

I couldn’t find any event-specific road closures for this year. But the main one to be aware of is on Saturday the 21st, September as that’s when the Grand Central Floral Parade is on from 10:00 am to midday, where beautiful floats will make their way from the corner of Hume and Herries Street, then do along Ruthven and Margaret Street before finishing at Queens Park opposite Chalk Dr, so avoiding driving around that area during those hours is advisable.

• Hat.
• Sunscreen.
• Lip Balm.
• Comfortable walking shoes.
• Camera.
• Picnic blanket.

The easiest way to get to Toowoomba is by driving the 126km distance as no current train services go from Brisbane to the mountaintop city. An affordable alternative if you don’t have a car or don’t want to hire one to drive the distance is catching a regional bus such as Greyhound to make the journey for you.

You can also fly to the Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport (sometimes referred to as Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport, which is just 20 kilometres away from the CBD. There are currently have a direct flights to and from Sydney with QantasLink and to and from Brisbane with Regional Express, which has not been affected by with REX Holdings going into voluntarily administration in 2024. Additionally, there are also regional express flights to St George and Charleville and continue west. Passengers can chose to stay onboard until they they reach their destinations. Then you can catch the Shuttlebus into the CBD.

There is no shortage of toilet facilities available across the city of Toowoomba. Many of the parks that will feature in the festival have them, as does the Visitor Information Centre. Plus, there are always fast food restaurants like McDonalds and Hungry Jacks where you can go to relieve yourself when nature calls. However, if you like to have something on hand for when there’s none you can easily spot, I recommend using the National Public Toilet Map to help you find one.

With many beautiful floral displays across the city, plus parades, music shows, performances, amusement rides and interactive activities, there are plenty of fantastic things to do during the breathtaking and renowned Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers that’ll delight people of all ages.

If you plan to visit Toowoomba, consider looking at these other posts.