Griffith's Festival of Gardens Planning Progressing Well; ABC's Tino Carnevale Special Guest

To find out about all the great events happening over the Festival of Gardens weekend and how to enter the window-display competition, call into the Griffith Visitor Information Centre to collect a program or phone 1800 681141. Details are also available at www.visitgriffith.com.au.

Griffith City Council’s Festival of Gardens Committee is delighted with the progress of plans for the 2014 Garden Festival, featuring new elements, nine lovely gardens to explore and the return of ABC Gardening’s Tino Carnevale.

“We are excited to welcome Tino back to Griffith this year as he was a real hit last year,” said Councillor Pat Cox, Chair of the Festival of Gardens Committee. “Everyone loved him – he freely parted with great gardening advice and was most knowledgeable. This year we have created opportunities at all of the gardens for garden enthusiasts to meet Tino and hear an informal walk–and-talk pertinent to each garden,” Cr Cox added.

The 9 gardens in this year’s festival range from small cottage-style plantings to large, rambling country estates. Dry stone walls feature in many gardens in the region. If you have ever wanted to craft your own wall or gabion rock wall there are workshops over the Festival weekend to teach you the necessary skills.

A popular way to see the gardens is to join the garden tour bus, which leaves from the Visitor Information Centre daily. The bus is driven by a most knowledgeable local resident who doubles as a tour guide. As seats are limited, bookings are essential. Please call the team on 1800 681 141.

A first this year is a Friday-night Festival launch on Friday, October 17 amongst the Citrus Sculptures with live music and entertainment, and local foodie Steven Bertoldo creating wonderful paella dishes for the evening. The Real Juice Company Citrus Sculptures are always a highlight during the Festival of Gardens.

“This year more than 60 sculptures, including many new ones, will line Banna Avenue creating a magnificent gateway to the CBD,” said Greg Lawrence, Manager Tourism & Economic Development, Griffith City Council.

In addition, the Festival of Gardens Committee is inviting local businesses to join the celebrations by creating shop window displays with the theme of “Up The Garden Path.”

“This year we would like to ask every shop in the CBD and the shopping centres to get creative and design wonderful garden-inspired windows for the month of October when we host the Festival of Gardens and the Citrus Sculptures,” Councillor Cod said. “Not only will the shop-front window displays become an added attraction for the thousands of visitors that come to Griffith for these events, the Griffith Business Chamber and local firm Pebbles B&B have generously established prizes for the best dressed windows."

The Chamber is offering $750 for first prize and Pebbles B&B has provided $250 for second prize. Councillor Cox said businesses can join the excitement by creating their own sculpture displays, mini gardens or simply decorating their front windows with props.

Entries close Wednesday, 1 October 2014.

 

Key Dates:
12 - 25 October, Citrus Sculptures exhibition
17 - 20 October, Festival of Gardens – nine open gardens, garden tours, Tino walks & talks
17 October, Festival Launch Party
18 October, Italian Table with Tino