The beloved gardening festival Botanical Bazaar is back in 2023, amidst an explosion of horticultural activity and a colourful, sensory overload for our Gold Coast community.
The Gold Coast’s premier gardening and sustainability festival Botanical Bazaar returns to the Gold Coast in August, creating once more the lush and creative environment where naturally wild, urban gardeners and nature lovers connect.
Botanical Bazaar is truly a community driven day with all profits raised being directed to community causes such as youth development, domestic violence, homelessness, and very our own Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens.
Set in the magnificent Country Paradise Parklands in Nerang, the event will be held on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 August, from 9am to 4pm both days.
“This event caters to the needs of all nature enthusiasts and is a highlight on the Gold Coast event calendar!” says Nikki Murphy, Botanical Bazaar’s Creative Director.
“The conveniences of modern society have led to a rapid regression of skills and knowledge, and we have become dependent on the system to survive.
“Growing your own food is an important life skill, gardening supports your physical and mental health, and wellbeing and we have everything you need over the festival weekend to help you on your journey of productive, organic gardening and sustainable living,” continues Nikki.
This year the festival will welcome back ABC Gardening Australia's Sophie Thomson and Jerry Coleby-Williams, along with rockstar in the gardening world, MC and Speaker Phil Dudman.
An amazing and diverse line-up of speakers across three stages this year will cover topics such as gardening for mental health, living off the grid, permaculture in the garden and in the wardrobe, plastic pollution solutions, cooking demonstrations, the beauty of bonsai, mushroom and superfood growing, food sustainability and security in Australia.
Expert panels will answer audience questions in the ‘Let’s Stalk’ Q+A Sessions.
And that’s not all, folks!
There will be approximately 100 green inspired exhibitors, industry experts, garden walks and talks, workshops and demonstrations, botanical art, community groups and of course plants galore!
Explore varied plant nurseries and landscape designers, shop for garden materials and tools, organic beauty products and botanical homewares.
From composting to keeping chickens, creating habitat gardens to beekeeping, bushfood to food preservation and survival skills, you can learn how to live off the grid and many other sustainable living concepts.
In between sessions, you might like to relax around The Musical Tree and enjoy live music and entertainment.
On Saturday, headliner act Joseph Brown and SatisVibes will bring their dynamic, soul-humming vibe to the event. Sunday brings the welcome return of favourite local music artist Kate Leopold (& Treats) with some earthy, indie, acoustic folk music.
Look out also for performances by gypsy/folk duo Jinn Baron and Mr Brown’s Vintage Vibration group. There will also be buskers, stilt walkers and street entertainers throughout the weekend.
As for the mini greenies in your life, the Birdwing’s Kid’s Hub will be offering family entertainment with a bunch of nature-inspired arts and crafts. The legendary floral swing will be back, created by the fabulous Julia Rose, along with Flower QUEEDOM!
As always, expect a few surprises too!
There will be lots of food and drink vendors to keep you fed and hydrated.
Remember to bring your re-fillable water bottle with you as they will have water filling stations throughout the venue.
This is a plastic free event, and organisers engage Climate Wave Enterprises to help divert festival waste from landfill. Their waste to landfill was reduced to ‘less than 10%’ in 2022!
Tickets are on sale now! Jump onto botanicalbazaargc.com.au. Botanical Bazaar is presented by Rotary Gold Coast and Councillor Peter Young – Div 5.