Tickets go on sale today for this year’s NightFest, Floriade’s Dark Side, with an exciting program of after dark live entertainment and stunning horticultural illuminations over four nights, Chief Minister Andrew Barr announced.

NightFest runs from 28 September to 1 October, from 6.30pm to 10.30pm, transforming Commonwealth Park into a ‘Floral Wonderland’ of lights, colour, entertainment, and fabulous food.

Lighting installations will highlight the garden beds; giant neon butterflies will alight in the rhododendron garden; and scores of illuminated flowers will float on Kangaroo Pond.

There will be many local and interstate live music performances. Legendary vocal duo Vika and Linda, two sisters, will perform on Stage 88 at NightFest on Sunday, 1 October from 8pm.  

Three stages will be live throughout each night featuring Canberra-based acts including First Nations singer / songwriter Monica Moore, musician / songwriter Finley Geach, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Harry Cleverdon, and indie folk musician Ben Drysdale.

The Wonderland Spiegeltent will run two shows per night of Popcorn Underground, a world-class cabaret. The adults-only show requires an additional ticket for entry, which can be added when purchasing NightFest tickets online.

NightFest offers something for all the family with roving entertainers from the Fool Factory and Warehouse Circus, children’s favourites the Gecko Gang, and free children’s activities in the Floriade Sprouts zone.

“Floriade, along with NightFest, continues to be one of Canberra’s biggest tourist attractions extending visitors’ stay in Canberra and contributing to our target of $4 billion in visitor expenditure by 2030,” Mr Barr said.

“Events like NightFest attract people to visit the city area and add to Canberra’s night-time economy, benefiting hospitality and other night-time businesses.”

More than 187,000 interstate and international visitors went to last year’s Floriade, and nearly 30,000 people attended NightFest.

NightFest tickets: $35 for adults, $27 child, $30 concession, and $97 for a family of four. Children under five are free.  Adults-only Spiegeltent tickets are also available for an additional $49 each. Transaction fees will also apply.

For more details on the entire NightFest program information and to purchase tickets, visit www.floriadeaustralia.com.