Floriade NightFest was a
special treat for eight-year-old Megan Dempsey, of Melbourne,
a self-described lover of nature and ''all the pretty things''.
''In springtime, we always learn about nature at school,''
she said.
''Nature always looks so green and bright.''
Megan, visiting the capital in her school holidays, enjoyed
the inaugural night festivities with her grandmother, Eileen,
of Braidwood, and her aunt, Odette, of Higgins.
Her aunt said, ''It's wonderful to be able to do something
beautiful after winter with your family.''
Commonwealth Park was filled with people enjoying the glow
of lanterns sitting in trees and coloured spotlights over
flower beds last night.
A jazz band, an outdoor screening of Tropfest films on a
big inflatable screen, a glow bar, and performance artists
including a human-powered bus full of drag queens providing
tours of the grounds, kept the crowd entertained. A performance
troupe on stilts, Strange Fruit, dazzled with its act later
in the evening.
Giralang public servant Marcus Sandford said, ''I am not
a big flower person, but I think they've managed to combine
the whole flower thing with some good music, some good food
and some entertainment.
''It makes it a much more attractive evening for people
like me who are not so flowery.''
Head gardener Andrew Forster said about 8000 visitors were
expected over the course of the evening. NightFest is expected
to boost visitor numbers last year, a record 395,000 attended
Floriade
Mr Forster said NightFest offered something special and
different from the daytime.
'The flowers are pretty at night; they close up and there's
a different atmosphere to enjoy without the heat of the
sun.''
The 75 different kinds of tulip would be at their best later
this week and early next week, he said.
Tonight's NightFest will feature Comedy Festival short films
on the big screen. Classic love story Strictly Ballroom
will screen on Saturday night.
Floriade NightFest is at Commonwealth Park until Sunday
from 6-10.30pm. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com.au
or by calling 136100.
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