By Jorian Gardner
TOURISM Minister Andrew Barr has launched a new experience for Floriade aimed at getting visitors to extend their Canberra stay during the popular spring flower festival.
Titled NightFest – a five-night, ticketed event running September 24-28 – it is seen as a new way of addressing the criticism of the event not offering night-time activities.
NightFest will cost $15 a ticket, all of which will go towards running the event.
Both Minister Barr and Australian Capital Tourism head Simonne Shepherd were adamant that the event would cover its costs out of its gate takings – a very big ask, given that this is the event’s first outing – saying that they have budgeted “conservative figures” to ensure that this is the case. 
Minister Barr even expressed his hope that it would be a valuable income stream for Floriade.
However, neither would make an iron-clad guarantee that NightFest would even break even, leaving the question of where the money will come from if budget estimates for the event do not ring true.
“Floriade NightFest promises five nights of entertainment, film screenings, night markets and food and wine – all within the gates of Commonwealth Park after dark,” Mr Barr said.
“The Floriade organisers, Australian Capital Tourism, have put together a program set against the backdrop of colourful floodlit garden beds and glowing lanterns.
“NightFest also incorporates movie screenings – a program of short films has been specially created, with the best of the best on show from each genre of comedy, animation, TropFest finalists and children’s’ screenings on the final evening. These will be complemented by a special feature screening of the Australian classic ‘Strictly Ballroom’, setting the scene for a theme night with big-band music, ballroom dancers and an Australian film-character costume competition.”
Each evening of NightFest will culminate in a performance by outdoor performance company Strange Fruit, where performers will bend and sway on giant lit globes perched four metres above the ground on flexible poles. Not an original idea, given that the same group played at Canberra’s World Cup Rugby games in Canberra, and has played at almost every major festival in Australia.
Mr Barr hoped that the event would also attract a large group of Canberrans as well.

Floriade NightFest tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster at http://www.ticketmaster.com.au or by calling 136100.