What not to miss this week at Floriade
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There are flowers, there’s food, there are garden workshops… and there’s Duck Cake Day.
That’s right, the iconic Women’s Weekly Duck Cake is getting its very own moment at Floriade this week, with bakers invited to recreate the 1980s cult classic and compete for the People’s Choice award.
Add in cooking demonstrations, native ingredient workshops and plenty of spring gardening inspiration, and there’s a lot to squeeze into your visit.
Here’s what not to miss at Floriade this week.
Ruffle some feathers
First baked in the 1980s, the iconic Women’s Weekly Duck Cake has been brought to life this year as one of the garden bed designs at Floriade!
Duck Cake Day on Sunday 27 September celebrates this classic cake by bringing together an array of home-cooked masterpieces for visitors to admire before they are judged by the panel.
For each age group, cakes will be judged on their resemblance to the original Duck Cake and best Floriade interpretation of the Duck Cake. All available competition places have now been allocated, but you can sign up for the waitlist for the opportunity to participate if a spot opens up.
Don’t miss the chance to see all the entries and be part of the People’s Choice vote for the finalists on the day!
Cook up some culinary inspiration
Big names in Australian food and local legends continue the vibrant Floriade cooking content this week.
Chef, television personality and author Justine Schofield will share her approach to fresh, seasonal cooking through two live appearances at 11 am and 1:30 pm on Saturday 19 September. The demonstrations are free and you don’t need a ticket.
Missing Onzieme? Put 3 pm on Sunday 20 September in the diary. Award-winning chef Louis Couttoupes (former owner and chef of the acclaimed woodfired restaurant) will be hosting a live cooking demonstration on the power of elemental cooking. Louis is known for his hyper-seasonal menus and fire-driven kitchen hearths, and will demonstrate how ancient wood-fire techniques can be brought into modern cooking. The event is free, but you must book a spot online before you come.
Get closer to culture
Tasting Australia: Feast of Flowers with Wiradjuri man Adam Shipp is a seasonal cultural experience inspired by the National Museum’s Christina and Trevor Kennedy Garden. This year, the experience comes to Floriade, where participants can enjoy the spirit of Australia’s native ingredients and First Nations knowledge in a vibrant spring setting.
Celebrating the Feast of Flowers, this one-hour workshop explores the connections between people, plants and food through a curated tasting and storytelling experience. Guests will discover Australian native plants, their traditional uses, cultural significance and role in everyday life while engaging in sensory exploration and shared learning.
It’s on Friday 25, Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September at The Garden House by Bunnings Warehouse in Commonwealth Park. Buy your tickets here.
See what’s growing at Majura Valley Farm
The Majura Valley Farm Kitchen Garden is a working seasonal garden planted and looked after by the Majura Valley Farm team throughout Floriade 2026. You can wander through beds of spring vegetables, edible flowers and herbs, and find out how the crops grow, when to harvest them and how to eat them.
On Sunday 20 September, get a little more hands-on at the Majura Valley Farm – Cut Flower Workshop. The team will show visitors how to grow snapdragons, zinnias or cosmos from seed, with each participant taking home a custom Floriade seed packet ready to plant.
And on Saturday 26 September, you can also pick up some growing inspiration at the Majura Valley Farm – Tomato Workshop. Visitors can learn how to plant and care for a tomato seedling, with each participant able to take one home in a compostable pot.
Floriade About Town
Floriade blooms beyond Commonwealth Park this year as part of Floriade About Town, so there are a whole lot of ways to immerse yourself in Australia’s biggest celebration of spring.
Inspired by Floriade’s Feast of Flowers, Lunetta’s elegant aperitivo experience brings European flair to one of Canberra’s most scenic settings. Imagine Wheeler’s oysters and Cloudy Bay wines poured in the sunshine – a little Floriade ritual, high above the city.
Just out of town, you can savour a sweet taste of Floriade at the Murrumbateman Chocolate Company in everything from botanical gin truffles to floral chocolate-making workshops.
Our national cultural institutions are also being inspired by the festival. The National Library of Australia is serving up floral-inspired café menus, botanical window displays, family activities, and collection treasures, while the A Feast of Flowers in Portraits tour at the National Portrait Gallery runs daily at 1 pm until 11 October. This free 30-minute tour features three portraits from the National Portrait Gallery’s collection that embody the theme of Floriade!
Want even more? Visit floriadeaustralia.com to explore the program.
Program details are subject to change. Check the Floriade website before visiting for the latest information and booking requirements.
