The Carnival of Flowers & the gardens
Toowoomba is the "Garden City", and nothing shows it off like the Carnival of Flowers — Australia's longest-running floral festival, held every September since 1950. But the gardens are a joy year-round: grand heritage parks, a serene Japanese stroll garden and streets that turn purple with jacarandas in November. Here's how to experience the Carnival, and the gardens worth visiting any time.
The Carnival of Flowers
The Carnival of Flowers runs 18 September to 5 October in 2026, across three spring weekends. Its heart is the free flower displays at Queens Park and Laurel Bank Park, planted with millions of blooms, joined by the Grand Central Floral Parade (Saturday 19 September), the Chronicle open gardens, the FEASTival food weekend (26–27 September) and live music. It draws hundreds of thousands of visitors, so book accommodation and tours months ahead. It's the single best time to see Toowoomba at its most spectacular.
Queens Park, Laurel Bank & Ju Raku En
You don't need the Carnival to enjoy Toowoomba's gardens. The heritage Queens Park Botanic Gardens — about 26 hectares in the centre of town — is the city's green heart and the Carnival's main stage. Nearby Laurel Bank Park is famous for its intricate carpet-bedding displays and scented garden. And the exquisite Ju Raku En Japanese Garden at the university — Australia's largest traditionally designed Japanese stroll garden — is free and open daily from dawn, lovely in every season.
Jacarandas in November
There's a second flowering worth planning for. Each November, a month or so after the Carnival, Toowoomba's jacarandas burst into lilac-purple bloom, lining streets around the parks and the older suburbs — a photographer's delight. Nearby Goombungee holds a Jacaranda Festival in early November. So while September is for the Carnival, come in November if it's the jacarandas you're chasing — either way, the Garden City delivers.
Carnival & gardens: your questions
The Carnival of Flowers 2026 runs from 18 September to 5 October, across three weekends, with the Grand Central Floral Parade on Saturday 19 September. It's billed as Australia's longest-running floral festival, first staged in 1950. Most of the flower displays and open gardens are free. Accommodation books out months ahead, so plan early — see our where to stay guide.
A lot. The centrepieces are the free flower displays at Queens Park and Laurel Bank Park (planted with millions of blooms), the Grand Central Floral Parade of decorated floats through the city, and the Chronicle Garden Competition, when prize-winning private gardens open free to the public. There's also the FEASTival food event (26–27 September 2026), live music, and family events. See the Carnival of Flowers page for more.
Mostly no — the flower displays, open gardens and the parade are free to enjoy. Some events within the Carnival, such as certain food, music or ticketed experiences, may be paid, and they can sell out. The best approach is to check the official program closer to the dates and pre-book anything ticketed, plus your accommodation and any tours well in advance.
Year-round, the pick are the heritage Queens Park Botanic Gardens (about 26 hectares in the heart of the city), Laurel Bank Park with its famous carpet bedding and scented garden, and the tranquil Ju Raku En Japanese Garden at the university — Australia's largest traditionally designed Japanese stroll garden, free and open daily. During the Carnival, dozens of private gardens open their gates too.
The jacarandas peak in November — a little after the Carnival of Flowers — when streets around the parks and older suburbs turn purple. So if the jacarandas are your goal, aim for November rather than the September Carnival. Nearby Goombungee even holds its own Jacaranda Festival in early November. Either way, spring into early summer is Toowoomba's most colourful season.