Festivals, Events, and Why Canberra Surprised Me

By Lily Amos, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

Before I moved to Canberra, my expectations for its social calendar were, honestly, modest. It’s a planned city, a government city, famously described as “a good sheep station ruined” — not exactly the language of a thriving events scene. I was wrong, and I’m glad about it.

Canberra turns out to have a genuinely packed festivals calendar, and the city’s layout — all that green open space, that lake, the mountain backdrop — actually makes it a spectacular setting for big outdoor events. Here are the highlights worth knowing about.

Canberra Balloon Spectacular

Every March, hot air balloons launch over the city at dawn as part of the Canberra Balloon Spectacular, and if your budget allows, I would strongly recommend going up in one. I did, and it was one of those experiences that’s genuinely difficult to describe without sounding like you’re overselling it. Around forty balloons fill the sky at once, which is a spectacle in itself, but being inside one of them is something else entirely. Flying over Black Mountain and the Telstra Tower as the sun comes up, with Lake Burley Griffin stretched out below, Parliament House unmistakable in the middle distance, and the national galleries and museums dotted across the landscape — it’s a completely different way of seeing a city you think you already know. The planned element of Canberra is also so interesting to see from above! People on boats waved up at us from the water, which added something lovely to the whole thing, as you really felt part of a community event.

I went solo, which I’d slightly nervous about, but my friends weren’t interested and I didn’t want to miss my opportunity! Everyone on my balloon was lovely and we ended up going for breakfast together in the city afterwards. On the ground, huge crowds gather to watch the balloons launch, so even if you don’t go up yourself, it’s absolutely worth heading down to the lake at dawn. The whole city comes out for it.

Enlighten Festival

Also in March, Enlighten transforms Canberra’s cultural institutions into light installations after dark. The national buildings and galleries get projected onto with large-scale light art, there are night markets, live music, and the whole thing runs across several evenings. What I liked most about it was how it uses spaces you might otherwise walk past during the day — suddenly the National Museum or the National Gallery becomes the centrepiece of something genuinely festive. It’s one of those events that makes Canberra feel properly buzzing in a way that can catch you off guard if you’ve bought into the “boring government town” reputation.

Skyfire

Skyfire is Canberra’s big fireworks event, held over Lake Burley Griffin, and it is considerably more than just a fireworks display. The programme includes helicopter presentations, aircraft flyovers, dragon boats, and market stalls, so there’s plenty to do before the main event even begins. I went with friends, and the atmosphere around the foreshore was brilliant — busy, festive, and genuinely exciting in a way that built nicely as the evening went on. Then the fireworks start, and the reflections on the lake effectively double the show. Find a good spot early, because it gets busy, but it is absolutely worth it. Sitting at the edge of the lake to watch the fireworks with Parliament House in the distance is a memory I won’t forget.

Floriade

Running through September and October, Floriade is arguably Canberra’s most famous festival — a celebration of spring that transforms Commonwealth Park into an enormous, meticulously planted floral display. It draws visitors from all over Australia, and for good reason: the scale is genuinely impressive, and there’s far more to it than just the flowers. Market tents from local businesses line the park, there’s food, crafts, a music stage, and more photo opportunities than you’ll know what to do with. It’s free to enter, which makes it easy to spend an afternoon wandering at your own pace. One practical note: if you have hayfever, learn from my mistakes and bring tablets. You will need them.

Honestly, Canberra’s events calendar was one of the last things I expected to be writing home about. Before I arrived, I’d braced myself for a quieter life — and in some ways, that’s exactly what I got, but in the best possible way. There’s a slower pace here that I’ve genuinely grown to love, one that makes you actually notice things: the mountains on the horizon, the lake at dawn, the beautiful wildlife and birds on your way to class. I came here expecting to miss the noise and chaos of a big city, and instead I’ve found myself appreciating the quiet, the space, and the beauty of somewhere completely different. If you take nothing else from this post, book the balloon (or a kayak during the balloon festival). It’s worth every penny.