Best Spring Festivals Around Australia – Discover the Season’s Highlights
The Best Spring Festivals Around Australia bring together everything the season is known for – warmer days, bright flowers, and a sense of community spirit that fills towns and cities.
From food and wine in the valleys to music echoing through city streets and floral displays transforming country gardens, spring is when Australia feels most alive.
With numerous events across the states, it can be challenging to determine which ones are worth the journey.
This guide highlights the festivals that genuinely stand out, each offering more than just entertainment.
Australian Spring Events
Spring festivals in Australia showcase the season at its best with blooming gardens, outdoor markets, and lively cultural events.
Across cities and country towns, communities celebrate with food, music, and traditions that capture the spirit of spring.
💐 Floriade (Canberra, ACT)
Floriade is Australia’s biggest spring festival, and each year it transforms Canberra’s Commonwealth Park into a dazzling showcase of over one million blooms.
Running from September 13 to October 12, 2025, the festival celebrates the season with a fresh theme – Science and Nature.
Entry is free, making it easy to spend a few hours or an entire day wandering through tulip beds, garden displays, and creative floral arrangements.
For a different perspective, the Ferris wheel gives a sweeping view across the colourful parklands, perfect for those panoramic spring shots.
The festival offers much more than flowers. Markets fill the park with local food and wine, while live music creates a relaxed and cheerful backdrop.
Workshops bring together gardening and science, so there’s always something new to learn or try.
Families find plenty to keep kids entertained, from potting classes to painting gnomes, and the final Sunday is a highlight for pet owners, as even dogs are invited to join the fun.
When the sun sets, Floriade takes on a whole new character.
NightFest turns the park into a glowing wonderland with illuminated installations, roaming performances, and a vibrant atmosphere that feels completely different from the daytime.
With its mix of nature, creativity, food, and entertainment, Floriade has become a spring tradition that appeals to locals and travellers alike. It’s bright, welcoming, and one of the most memorable ways to experience Canberra in bloom.
💐 Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers (Toowoomba, QLD)
Every September, Queensland’s “Garden City” bursts into life with the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers – Australia’s longest-running floral festival, now in its 76th year.
From 12 September to 6 October 2025, the city’s parks and gardens transform with themed flower beds and vibrant displays that show off Toowoomba’s rich horticultural heritage.
It’s four weeks filled with colour, flavour, and entertainment that make the Southern Queensland town a springtime magnet.
The Grand Central Floral Parade is a highlight, where creative floats, street performers, and marching bands fill the streets with music and movement.
Food lovers are spoiled during the Festival of Food & Wine weekend, which pairs regional produce with top Aussie performers for a blend of flavours and live music.
After sunset, the fun continues at Queens Park with Sideshow Alley rides, fireworks, and plenty of carnival spirit.
Families find the carnival especially welcoming, with kids’ activity zones, crafts, a Ferris wheel, and even pet-friendly events – well-behaved pups are invited to join in, sometimes even on the Ferris wheel.
Garden tours by day and concerts under the stars by night mean there’s something for every traveller. With its blend of flowers, food, music, and family-friendly fun, the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers has become a cherished spring tradition.
💐 Brisbane Festival (Brisbane, QLD)
Spring is when Brisbane shines brightest, and the Brisbane Festival proves it with three weeks of arts, music, and performance taking over the river city.
Running from 5 to 27 September 2025, the festival opens with Riverfire – a legendary fireworks and light spectacular that lights up the Story Bridge and skyline in a dazzling display.
From there, the program unfolds with more than 100 performances that showcase the best of contemporary creativity.
Across the city, you’ll find everything from live music, cutting-edge theatre, and street art to cabaret, dance, and large-scale outdoor shows.
Families can enjoy free events, including a drone light show that tells an Aboriginal whale story over the river, interactive art installations, and open-air dance parties.
By night, Brisbane takes on an edgier energy with world-class opera, adults-only cabaret, and late-night performances that keep the festival buzzing until well after dark.
The beauty of Brisbane Festival is its choose-your-own-adventure style. Whether you’re after family-friendly fun, cultural experiences, or bold performances that push the boundaries, there’s something to suit every taste.
With Brisbane’s balmy spring evenings as the backdrop, the festival is a celebration of art and community that transforms the city into one big stage.
💐 Tulip Time (Bowral, NSW)
In the NSW Southern Highlands, the town of Bowral comes alive each spring with Tulip Time, one of Australia’s most charming floral festivals.
From 12 September to 6 October 2025, Corbett Gardens becomes the heart of the celebration, with more than 80,000 hand-planted tulips and spring blooms creating a colourful display.
Just a 90-minute drive from Sydney, it’s the perfect countryside escape that’s been delighting visitors for over 65 years.
The festival combines relaxed country charm with a strong sense of community spirit.
Strolling among the blossoms, you’ll find live music from local performers, artisan stalls offering handmade crafts, and plenty of regional food to enjoy.
A visit to the CWA stall is a must for their famous scones and tea – an authentic taste of country hospitality.
Families often settle in with picnic rugs under the flowering trees, while children enjoy the space and colours of the gardens.
New for 2025 are extended Saturday hours, allowing visitors to see the tulips glow in the golden afternoon light before staying on for twilight performances.
💐 Orange Wine Festival (Orange, NSW)
In country NSW, spring is the perfect time to discover cool-climate wines, and the Orange Wine Festival makes it easy.
Spanning three weekends from mid-October to early November, the festival celebrates the region’s award-winning drops and gourmet produce with more than 40 events on the program.
By day, you can join intimate tastings, vineyard tours and masterclasses led by local winemakers, while evenings bring night markets, communal dinners and live entertainment across the region.
One of the highlights is the opening of the Wine and Food Night Market, where wineries pour their best alongside signature dishes from top regional chefs.
Long tables encourage guests to mingle, while acoustic performances set the tone for a relaxed night out.
Families are also welcome, with kids’ activities and free entry for children under 16 at many events.
Whether it’s sipping Orange’s famed chardonnays and pinots, learning directly from winemakers, or simply enjoying regional food in a picturesque setting, the festival combines indulgence with a laid-back country feel.
💐 Tesselaar Tulip Festival (Silvan, VIC)
Just an hour from Melbourne, the Dandenong Ranges set the stage for one of Victoria’s most loved spring events – the Tesselaar Tulip Festival.
From 13 September to 12 October 2025, more than half a million tulips burst into bloom at the Tesselaar Tulip Farm, creating sweeping fields of colour that feel almost endless.
It’s a true celebration of spring, and a nod to the farm’s Dutch heritage, with a program that blends flowers, culture, and family fun.
Visitors can join in Dutch clog dancing demonstrations, taste traditional poffertjes hot off the pan, and sample international dishes from food stalls scattered around the farm.
Live music and daily performances keep the atmosphere lively.
At the same time, each weekend brings its own flavour – from retro Rock ‘n’ Roll with 50s tunes and dance contests, to an Irish-themed weekend filled with Guinness, Celtic folk music and Irish dancing among the tulips.
With free entry for kids under 16, plenty of open lawns for picnics, tractor rides, and quirky sculpture displays, the festival makes an easy and family-friendly day trip.
The combination of vibrant gardens, entertainment, and a relaxed rural backdrop gives everyone a reason to slow down, wander, and quite literally stop and smell the flowers.
💐 Kings Park Festival (Perth, WA)
Each September, Perth’s Kings Park transforms into a showcase of colour for the Kings Park Festival, Western Australia’s biggest wildflower celebration.
Running from 12 to 29 September 2025, the park’s botanic garden comes alive with native blooms, from carpets of everlasting daisies to delicate orchids and kangaroo paws.
First held in 1964, the festival has grown into one of Australia’s longest-running floral events, attracting about half a million visitors each year.
The program is as vibrant as the flowers themselves.
Free guided walks and talks give insight into WA’s unique flora, while outdoor photography exhibitions and art displays highlight the connection between nature and creativity.
Garden workshops, yoga sessions among the blooms, and hands-on craft activities for kids add even more variety.
Families can enjoy discovery trails and play spaces designed for younger visitors, making it an easy day out for all ages.
With free entry, the festival has a welcoming, community feel.
Many people bring a picnic or settle in with coffee and treats from on-site stalls, soaking up the spring sunshine and taking in the sweeping views over the city.
💐 Shinju Matsuri (Broome, WA)
In Broome, late winter and early spring bring one of Australia’s most unique celebrations – Shinju Matsuri, the Festival of the Pearl.
From August 23 to September 7, 2025, this 16-day event honours the town’s multicultural heritage, shaped by the pearling industry.
Broome comes alive with parades, performances, and feasts, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of Cable Beach, Roebuck Bay, and the red Kimberley cliffs.
The festival opens with a Yawuru Welcome to Country and the dramatic waking of Sammy the Dragon, a giant Chinese dragon puppet that signals the start of celebrations.
Signature events include a lively float parade through the streets, cultural showcases with Japanese Taiko drumming, Chinese lion dances and Aboriginal storytelling, as well as art exhibitions and live pearl harvest demonstrations.
Food lovers are drawn to the Sunset Long Table Dinner on Cable Beach, where hundreds of guests dine together as the sun melts into the Indian Ocean.
Families and travellers alike enjoy the carnival atmosphere at the festival hub with multicultural street food, markets, and free entertainment.
Add in camel rides along the beach and the natural wonder of the Staircase to the Moon – a rare optical illusion of the full Moon reflecting over tidal flats – and Shinju Matsuri becomes an unforgettable celebration of Broome’s community, culture and stunning environment.
💐 Ceduna Oysterfest (Ceduna, SA)
Seafood takes centre stage at Ceduna Oysterfest, a much-loved community celebration on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula.
Held over the Labour Day long weekend – 4 and 5 October in 2025 – the festival makes the most of Ceduna’s reputation for world-class oysters.
On the foreshore, visitors can enjoy two days of food, fun and entertainment with free entry and a welcoming country atmosphere.
Freshly shucked oysters are everywhere, from simple au naturel tastings to creative dressings and cook-offs that highlight local talent.
The “Ocean to Outback” markets showcase regional produce and crafts, while oyster shucking competitions draw big crowds.
Live music from country and rock acts keeps the stage buzzing, and adults can relax with local wines, craft beers, or oyster shooters at the pop-up cocktail bar.
Families are well catered to with a Kids Zone filled with rides, games, and face painting, giving the festival a laid-back, all-ages feel.
As the sun sets over Murat Bay, the celebration continues with more music and a fireworks finale over the water.
Now in its 35th year, Ceduna Oysterfest has grown into more than just a seafood festival – it’s a showcase of coastal living, regional hospitality and the simple joy of gathering by the sea.
💐 Darwin Vietnamese Lantern Festival (Darwin, NT)
Darwin’s tropical evenings are the perfect backdrop for the Vietnamese Lantern Festival, a cultural celebration that lights up the Waterfront on 6 September 2025.
Inspired by Vietnam’s Mid-Autumn Festival, the event fills the night with hundreds of glowing, handmade lanterns and a giant moon installation that reflects on the water.
Crowned Community Event of the Year in 2024, it’s a free, family-friendly night that blends tradition, food and entertainment in the heart of the Top End.
The program is rich with cultural experiences.
Traditional lion dances and folk music share the stage with modern Vietnamese-Australian performances, creating a lively mix of old and new.
Children can join lantern-making workshops, play traditional folk games, or enjoy face painting, while adults wander through illuminated displays that provide stunning photo opportunities.
A highlight of the evening is the floating lotus lantern release, where glowing lanterns drift across the harbour carrying wishes and reflections.
Food is another major drawcard, with authentic Vietnamese street dishes such as pho, spring rolls, and sweet treats available from bustling stalls.
The night ends with a spectacular fireworks show over the water, bringing the community together under Darwin’s warm spring skies.
💐 Bloomin’ Tulips Festival (Wynyard, TAS)
Tasmania’s spring magic comes alive in Wynyard with the Bloomin’ Tulips Festival, a one-day celebration held alongside the famous tulip fields of Table Cape.
On Saturday 11 October 2025, from 11 am to 9 pm, the town’s Gutteridge Gardens will host a full day of music, food and family fun, perfectly timed with the tulips bursting into colour.
It’s a festival that captures both the beauty of the season and the welcoming character of a Tasmanian coastal town.
The riverside gardens set the stage with live music running all day, from country tunes and local bands to children’s entertainers.
Food vans line the streets with Tassie favourites – from gourmet seafood and Dutch pancakes to handmade ice cream – while artisan stalls showcase local crafts, produce and tulip-themed keepsakes.
Families are spoilt for choice, with carnival rides, games, kids’ entertainment and community displays celebrating Wynyard’s culture and creativity.
As the sun dips, the festival ends on a high note with a fireworks display lighting up the Inglis River at 9 pm.
Many visitors enhance their day by visiting the tulip farm on Table Cape, where the sight of vibrant blooms rolling towards the ocean makes for a truly unforgettable spring experience.
Conclusion: Australia’s Best Festivals in Spring
Spring in Australia is all about community, colour, and celebration, and these festivals showcase the best of it.
From floral displays in Canberra and Toowoomba to cultural spectacles in Darwin and Broome, and from seafood feasts in Ceduna to cool-climate wines in Orange, each event highlights something unique about the region it calls home.
With so many options, it can be tough to choose where to go, but this guide has narrowed it down to the festivals that truly stand out – the ones that combine atmosphere, local flavour and unforgettable experiences.
Now it’s over to you. Start planning your spring adventure, mark the dates on your calendar, and make sure one (or more) of these festivals is part of your travels this year.
