Hold up! There’s a whole part of Enlighten you didn’t know about

Posted on 8 March, 2022

Sure, you’ve probably got your Enlighten visit (or two or three) all mapped out.

But if you want the full experience this year, you may need to briefly go back to the drawing board before you finalise your plans.

This year, the Enlighten Festival is expanding across the lake, with Civic Illuminations @ Enlighten Festival popping up in the city. From 4—14 March, an illuminated trail experience will run through Civic and surrounds with impressive lighting, sculptures and interactive experiences.

The best bit? Because they’re all in the heart of Civic, you can pair up each exciting illuminated installation and artwork with a delightful culinary experience.

The centrepiece of Civic Illuminations is the world premiere of Ephemeral, a major illuminated installation of giant ‘bubbles’ centred in Civic Square. Each evening, Ephemeral will be shrouded in sound, bubbles and smoke, as they pulse and change colours, with a show every half hour.

You can take it all in with a drink in hand at Canberra Theatre Centre’s appropriately named Bubble Bar, which is also popping up in Civic Square for the duration of the festival. Or want to really make a night of it? It’s a very short amble next door to Constitution Place where you can indulge in some of the very best cuts of steak paired with fine wines from around the globe at The Meat and Wine Co.

Ephemeral.

Not far away in Garema Place will be another artwork, Kin. The sculpture is by Sydney artist Edison Chen and inspired by Kintsugi, a Japanese practice of repairing broken objects with precious metals.

You could match it up and take the family for a ‘Kin’ themed night with delicious Thai at Kinn Thai on Bunda Street. It’s just a skip away from Civic’s newest offering, and Canberra’s first ever progressive Asian BBQ, Wilma.

Every Friday night in March, you can also enjoy live classical music from Italy and Spain on the lawns of City Walk, near the Canberra Times Fountain. There’s plenty of space for the kids to run around, while the parents get to enjoy another Civic newcomer, premium wine bar and European bistro Brunello.

Ephemeral.

If you’re wandering around Canberra Centre, keep an eye out for Mini Beasts, spread across various locations. You might hear them before you see them, and the beautiful installations are a treat for both young and old.

Then a little to the west, a beautiful kaleidoscope of butterflies have made their home around the Sydney and Melbourne buildings. Some flutter their delicate wings, while others silently assess the world around them. The Fluttering Home installation will be in place from March 4-20.

Kin.

Looking for a drink or bite to eat nearby? Linger over crafted cocktails and antipasti at Amici Wine and Cocktail Bar, or find something to keep everyone in your group or family happy at gastronomic food hall Verity Lane Market.

Want to easily get around between the Civic and National Triangle festivities? There’s a free hop-on-hop-off shuttle bus to help you do just that. After you’ve had dinner and drinks in the city and explored the installations, you’ll find the shuttle outside the Sydney Building from 5 pm during Enlighten. It’ll take you over to King Edward Terrace, and travels around on a loop until 10 pm weeknights, and 11.30 pm Friday and Saturday nights.

All images supplied.