Editing Canberra (section)

==When to visit?==

Canberra has four distinctive seasons:

[[image:Floriadewiki1.jpg|frame|right| <small>flowers at [http://www.floriadeaustralia.com/ Floriade]</small>]] Every '''Spring''', the stunning [http://www.floriadeaustralia.com/ Floriade festival] is a huge event that draws 350,000 people each year to admire pictures consisting of flowers (mainly tulips), following a certain theme. Other festivals during this beautiful season include the [http://www.manuka.com.au/events/item.php?pid=604 Canberra Nara Candle Festival] and [http://www.bestrestaurants.com.au/food-events-australia/canberra-wine-roses-jazz.aspx Wine, Roses and all that Jazz] as well as several sporting events.

'''Summer'''s are warm/ hot (depending on your definition) and can be very dry.
In January, car fans get their lot at [http://www.summernats.com.au/ Summernats Car Festival] in Exhibition Park and of course there are big celebrations (including a free concert on Parliament Lawns) on the Australia Day weekend. 
In February the [http://www.multiculturalfestival.com.au/ Canberra Multicultural Festival] takes place on and around Garema Place in Civic. There are different acts and events for a period of 10 days and some of them are FREE!
Also, it involves what's called 'Food and Dance Spectacular' and is basically a one-day international food fair. Don't miss out on it! 
The [http://www.multiculturalfestival.com.au/fringe_festival Fringe Festival] and [http://tropfest.com/eventinfo/events.aspx?tabid=47&location=Canberra Tropfest], a short film festival, take place in February, together with the [http://www.multiculturalfestival.com.au/windows_on_europe_film_festival European Film Festival].

'''Autumn''' is lovely but can be damp - The local rugby games (rugby union and rugby league) are fun events. 
This year, Canberra turns 95 and from 8 March there will be all sorts of activities and events going on under the theme of [http://www.celebratecanberra.com/ Celebrate Canberra], with Celebrate in the Park as the next 'big thing'.
On 15 March [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyfire_(Canberra) Skyfire], an amazing show of fireworks synchronised to music will be held on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin. 
In April, the [http://www.balloonfiesta.com.au/ Baloon Fiesta Australia] will take place on the front lawns of Parliament House. On the first weekend, the Canberra District Wine Harvest Festival will take place at various venues throughout the wineries and in May the [http://www.cicmf.org/ Canberra International Music Festival] will rock the capital for a week.

'''Winter'''s are chilly - by Australian standards! Temperatures will be below zero most nights but will increase quite rapidly to at least 10, 15 degrees during the day, and you will be rewarded by a bright blue, cloudless sky.
Events include sporting activities (AFL, Kanga Cup Youth Soccer Tournament, National Capital DanceSport Championships, UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Round) as well as [http://www.nla.gov.au/vivid/ Vivid], Australia's first ever national photography festival, and Fireside Festival, which revolves about firesides, flavours and friends.

For more detailed information, look [http://www.canberraonline.com.au/download/CanberraOnlineCalendar08.pdf here] or [http://www.events.act.gov.au/ here] or [http://www.canberraonline.com.au/events/ here].

Canberra is a good jump-off point for an Aussie skiing experience as regular buses run upto the resorts and hire of all gear needed may be included in the price.