The city has been transformed into a springtime wonderland, drawing visitors in their tens of thousands to explore the Botanic Gardens, Laurel Bank Park and the dazzling lineup of parades, food events and family-friendly entertainment.
The Botanic Gardens welcomed an astonishing 21,100 visitors in a single day, marking the highest attendance ever recorded at the Carnival. Laurel Bank Park, with its intimate setting, also saw remarkable crowds with more than 6,000 visitors on the same day. Across the first ten days, nearly 100,000 people have passed through the Botanic Gardens alone, while Laurel Bank Park has drawn almost 35,000.
The Grand Central Floral Parade once again proved to be a showstopper, drawing more than 59,000 people despite the drizzle. The streets of Toowoomba came alive with 86 colourful entries, from floats to community creations, radiating pride and joy through the CBD.
This year also introduced a brand new event, the Paw Parade, which stole hearts from the moment it hit the streets. More than 4,000 people turned out to cheer on 130 registered dogs, with plenty of extra four-legged friends joining in the fun. It is already clear that this charming addition is destined to become a Carnival staple.
With two weeks still to go, the festival shows no sign of slowing down. The ever-popular foodie highlight, FEASTival, is set to take place on 27 and 28 September. Visitors can indulge in workshops such as cheese making, whisky tasting and pizza crafting, while enjoying the spring sunshine and perhaps even spotting celebrity chef Miguel Maestre among the blooms.
From floral displays to gourmet experiences and joyful parades, the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers is cementing its reputation as the ultimate celebration of spring in Queensland.
Get your tickets for this weekend’s events at Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers at https://tcof.com.au.