Organisers of Australia’s largest sub-tropical gardening event – the 2017 Queensland Garden Expo – are predicting what they hope will be the event’s largest crowd yet, with the sunny skies forecast for much of the weekend expected to drive gardening enthusiasts to the Nambour Showgrounds in droves between 7 and 9 July.
Event Manager Marion Beazley said with visitor numbers at last year’s event having increased by more than 10 per cent since 2015, she was hopeful of setting the bar even higher this year and attracting 40,000 attendees, providing a substantial boost to the Sunshine Coast economy.
“So far, the weather is shaping up well for the final weekend of school holidays and we’re keeping our fingers crossed that the beautiful, clear July days we’ve been blessed with so far stick around,” Ms Beazley said.
“The warm weather we experienced at last year’s event saw more than 38,000 people pass through the showground gates, generating an estimated economic benefit of more than $4 million for the Sunshine Coast region.”
“We find roughly 60 per cent of visitors journey from outside the area, so local businesses benefit significantly from spending associated with accommodation, food and other discretionary purchases.”
“There really is nothing quite like wandering among the colourful garden beds, landscape gardens and displays on a sunny winter’s day.”
Ms Beazley said with the expo now just days away, the landscape gardens were beginning to take shape and the watering cans were undoubtedly getting a work-out in readiness for the tens-of-thousands of gardening enthusiasts to descend.
“The landscaping teams have been hard at work for days now, transforming their patches of grass into functional, relaxing places to unwind and entertain,” she said.
“We’re beginning to see hints of hot tubs and even in-built swimming pools as the spaces come to life, so it will be interesting to view the imaginative designs in all their glory once they’re completed and on display at the expo.”
“The landscapers are battling it out for the title of ‘best in show,’ so with bragging rights up for grabs, plenty of hard work and planning always goes in to creating masterpieces that impress and inspire attendees.”
Ms Beazley said more than 120 lectures and demonstrations would be delivered throughout the three-day event, earning the speaker program the title of the largest of any gardening event in Australia.
“We find visitors want more than just the opportunity to take in beautiful garden settings and ideas; they’re also keen to learn more about gardening and hone their skills, regardless of whether they’re just starting out or have been growing for years.”
“Gardening greats such as Don Burke, Sophie Thomson, Jerry Coleby-Williams and Michael McCoy are just some of the high profile personalities coming along to share their horticultural expertise this year, with the speaker program covering everything from growing the perfect tomato, right through to planting in small spaces and cooking with fresh produce.”
Other popular elements of the Queensland Garden Expo include the plant clinic where attendees can speak to a dedicated team of gardening experts and seek free advice about their plants, the Old Macdonald’s Farm exhibit and the multitude of food stalls.
The event will also feature numerous children’s activities including a free playground with giant slide and merry-go-round, as well as the opportunity to dig for vegetables, plant seeds and participate in craft activities in the Kids Garden Patch.
The 2017 Queensland Garden Expo will be held on 7-9 July at Nambour Showgrounds, Coronation Avenue, Nambour. Children under 15 enter free with a paying adult.
To find out more, purchase tickets online or view the speaker program, please visit www.qldgardenexpo.com.au.
Fast facts — Queensland Garden Expo
• Three-day event
• 38,000-plus attendees
• 360-plus exhibitors and displays including 55 nurseries
• 120-plus free lectures and demonstrations
• Eight speaker stages
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Media contact: Kristen Roder, Fresh PR & Marketing M: 0406 546 461 E: kristen@freshprm.com.au
EVENT DETAILS:
Where: Nambour Showgrounds, Coronation Avenue, Nambour on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
When: Friday, 7 July to Sunday, 9 July 2017.
Opening times: Gates open 8:00am daily.
Gates close: 5:00pm Friday and Saturday, 4:00pm Sunday.
Disability access: The showground offers excellent facilities for wheelchair visitors with on-site disabled parking, easy access and ground level exhibits along with disabled toilet facilities. Guide dogs are welcome.
Tickets:
– Adult entry – $18.
– Aged concession – $16.
– Children 15 years and under – Free.
– Groups of 10 or more – $16 each.
– Two-day weekend pass (Saturday and Sunday) – $30.
– Three-day pass – $40.
