Lights up! Here’s your ultimate guide to what’s on at Enlighten Festival 2022
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The moment the leaves begin to change, every Canberran knows it’s time for the ultimate celebration of autumn to take over the city.
Enlighten Festival, Canberra’s vibrant, jam-packed celebration of light, colour and food is back for 2022. Taking place from Friday 4 to Sunday 20 March, the city will come alive with a massive program of diverse and exciting events—including some new attractions, all under the banner of @Enlighten Festival.
While the classic festivities we know and love will still be going ahead, Canberra After Dark, Van Gogh Alive and Surface Festival are just some of the new attractions that will infuse the city with food, art, and culture.
Not sure where to start? Here’s HerCanberra’s ultimate guide to what’s on at Enlighten Festival 2022.
Eat and drink
It’s one of the best foodie events of the year, filled with hawker-style stalls, Insta-worthy dishes and live entertainment—and now the Night Noodle Markets @ Enlighten Festival are finally back for the opening weekend of Enlighten.
From Friday 4 to Sunday 6 March, the West Lawns of the National Triangle will be transformed into a vibrant, bustling Asian street food festival. Open from 5pm nightly you can feast on some legendary meals from an exciting mix of popular local, national and interstate eateries, including Korbq, Gelato Messina, Wonderbao, and more. Yum.
From Friday 11 until Monday 14 March, The Forage @ Enlighten Festival makes a welcome return, offering an exciting new food precinct that showcases street food (and other food products) by local cafés, food trucks, wineries and breweries.
The lakeside experience will be centered around the ever-popular BentSpoke Beer Garden @ Enlighten Festival, where you can relax enjoying stage entertainment while soaking up the refreshing autumn evenings. Open from Friday 4 to Monday 14 March, it’s the perfect place to meet, gather, eat, and enjoy the festival vibes. Did someone say Sunday sesh?
See
Image: Photox – Canberra Photography Services
Kicking off Canberra’s autumn festival of culture and creativity, this year Enlighten’s opening weekend includes a brand-new experience. Running from Friday 4 to Sunday 6 March Canberra’s new urban street art event Surface Festival will see street art, graffiti, portraits, stencils, Indigenous art, geometric and abstract art transform 30 walls and structures.
Spreading colour across the built environment of Braddon, Civic and the National Triangle, it’s a celebration of the raw energy and rich diversity of the local arts scene.
Of course, a visit to Enlighten isn’t complete without exploring the stunning displays of light, sound and movement.
Lighting up some of Canberra’s iconic buildings including Australian Parliament House; the National Library of Australia; Questacon, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Gallery of Australia and the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, this year the Illuminations @ Enlighten Festival will also be expanding across the lake to create a winding trail that will take visitors through Civic as part of the City Illuminations @Enlighten Festival..
But wait—there’s more. Some of the capital’s major attractions will also present exclusive ticketed events during the festival, giving access to areas normally closed to the public, all a part of the Canberra After Dark @ Enlighten Festival program.
Taking place from Friday 4 until Monday 14 March, festival-goers can experience an amazing array of Enlighten-themed installations, events, and illuminations at attractions and businesses throughout Canberra.
For film lovers, Friday 11 March will see the weekend kick off with Lights! Canberra! Action! @Enlighten Festival Shining a spotlight on local film-making talent, the short film festival is located in the open-air surrounds of the Senate Rose Garden where you can enjoy the creations of up-and-coming local filmmakers with a craft beer in hand.
One of Enlighten’s most popular events is also returning for 2022. Taking place on Sunday 13 March, Symphony in the Park @ Enlighten Festival will see The Canberra Symphony Orchestra take to the stage and perform with special guest, multi-award ARIA winning singer-songwriter Lior. Bring a picnic or enjoy the food and drinks available while enjoying a free autumn evening event featuring modern and classical performers.
Do
Photo: Photox – Canberra Photography Services
If you’re looking for activities during the Enlighten Festival, the good news is there’s plenty to choose from. The Canberra Day long weekend and beyond offers a packed program of events, celebrating the unique city of Canberra with something for everyone.
On Saturday 12 March turn your gaze skywards as the Canberra Balloon Spectacular @Enlighten Festival lifts off and fills the skies. A spectacle of colour, over 25 balloons from around Australia and overseas will come together to make this a morning to remember. As always, the balloons’ inflation is weather-dependent but there will be the all-important coffee and breakfast available to enjoy as the balloons lift off and drift across the dawn sky.
Monday 14 March will see Commonwealth Park come to life with a showcase of local multicultural community activities with fabulous food, beverages and performers from around the globe. Canberra Day @Enlighten Festival brings exciting inclusions to the program including performance stages celebrating cultural diversity and vibrancy, local community groups, and roving and family entertainment.
From Saturday 5 March you’ll be able to immerse yourself in the life and works of Van Gogh thanks to a spectacular multi-sensory experience, Van Gogh Alive, which will run for the duration of Enlighten. With a display of more than 3,000 artworks throughout the exhibition, the unique experience combines multi-channel motion graphics with cinema-quality surround sound so art lovers can saturate themselves in the paintings from new angles and perspectives. Tickets will be sold separately.
As always, entry to Enlighten will remain free but COVID restrictions may apply.
With plenty to see and do, make sure to plan ahead—March is going to be Canberra’s best month yet.
For more information go to enlightencanberra.com
