Enlighten Festival is back for 2024 – here’s what you need to know
Posted on
Canberra’s beloved Enlighten Festival is back this autumn to light up our 2024, and this year the program is jam-packed.
Taking place from Friday 1 until Monday 11 March, Enlighten Festival is once again bringing breathtaking illuminations, interactive activities, music, the Canberra Balloon Spectacular, Canberra Day celebrations, and family fun to the Parliamentary Triangle.
So what do you need to know?
The illuminations will be bigger (and more ‘gram-worthy) than ever
Lighting up the National Triangle with colourful and creative imagery, the Enlighten Illuminations is one of the most draw-dropping and photogenic elements of the festival.
This year, highlights include the facade of Parliament House will transform into an animated creation inspired by the popular LEGO® brick model of Parliament House (designed by LEGO Certified Professional Ryan ‘Brickman’ McNaught). LEGO® lovers will also be treated to a creative hands-on print making workshop inspired by LEGO® bricks and the iconic architecture, run by arts educator Naomi Zouwer on the forecourt of Parliament House.
Other must see illuminations include the National Portrait Gallery, which will feature Yuwi, Torres Strait and South Sea Islander and legally blind artist Dylan Mooney. Transforming the building into a giant digital canvas via a livestreamed drawing performance, against an animated backdrop, Mooney will undertake a nightly portrait drawing session which will dynamically appear in real-time on the building.
Along with lighting up Canberra’s most iconic buildings (don’t forget to visit the National Library of Australia, the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, the National Gallery of Australia, and Questacon), there will also be additional lighting displays on show around the city in celebration of Enlighten Festival – including:
- Royal Australian Mint.
- Malcolm Fraser Bridge.
- Canberra Times Fountain.
- John Gorton Building.
- Canberra Airport.
- Treasury Building.
- All of Canberra’s light rail stops.
All inviting visitors to stop, reflect and interact, it promises to be an illuminating experience (pun intended).
The Enlighten Festival Hub will be a foodies delight
AKA ‘that part of Enlighten with all the bars and stages between Questacon and the Portrait Gallery’, this year the Enlighten Festival Hub is overflowing with food.
Celebrating the some of the best the region has to offer with a range of food and drinks from the beloved BentSpoke Beer Garden, but in very exciting news, there will also be a new wine and spirits bar: Bar Berra.
Quite literally a playground for foodies, Enlighten Food Park, is not to be missed, featuring a lineup of food trucks and innovative restaurateurs from across the east coast of Australia as well as local favourites. And with the main stage located right in the centre of the Enlighten Festival Hub with live music entertainment from local and interstate acts, roving performers and more, there will be plenty to keep your vibes high and stomachs full.
Keep an eye out because there’s more info to come!
Lights! Canberra! Action! and Symphony in the Park is back to serve up a slice of local talent
For film and music lovers, these two talented packed events are back with a bang. Taking place from Friday 8 March, the short film festival Lights! Canberra! Action! will showcase our talented local film makers interpretation of this year’s theme ‘A Sense of Purpose’ while on Saturday 10 March Symphony in the Park will see Australian rock legends the Hoodoo Gurus take centre stage with the Canberra Symphony Orchestra in a world premiere of their greatest hits reimagined by Alex Turley.
As always, both events are free but it is outside and is therefore BYO camping chair, picnic rug or cushion, so get planning.
The Canberra Balloon Spectacular will take to the skies once more
Everyone’s favourite aerial extravaganza is not to be missed this year! Running from Enlighten’s last weekend on Saturday 9 through to Saturday 17 March (weather permitting, of course). Around 40 hot air balloons will lift off from 6.15 am and launch around 7 am each morning from Patrick White Lawns and – as always – a hot breakfast and will coffee available from the food trucks and coffee carts.
You’ll need to keep an eye on enlightencanberra.com and via the Enlighten Festival and EventsACT social channels each morning to see if the balloons will indeed be taking off.
And. So. Much. More
As the Festival wraps up Monday 11 March, with Canberra Day celebrations, there will be plenty more to see and do during the captivating event. Visit enlightencanberra.com for more information.
Feature image: Snaps by Sal.
